Well, can you fix it for me
Twenty-four hour drinking
To keep us all off the streets
So tonight you'll sleep softly in your bed
You could try anything
And no one would know apart from you and me
And you could stop anything
It starts with just one and turns to two, then three
We are the angry mob
We read the papers everyday
We like who we like, we hate who we hate
But we're also easily swayed
We are the angry mob."
-- Lyrics from Kaiser Chiefs' Angry Mob
They say that great storms start with trivial causes -- a drop in interests rates preceded the Great Depression of the 1930's, warm moist air colliding with cold northern storms initiated Hurricane Camille in 1969, and failure to stop Khalid Almihdhar from boarding American Airlines Flight #77 led to the partial destruction of the Pentagon and numerous deaths on September 11, 2001.
Lately, there is the phenomenon of random, racially-motivated violence by mostly young black males, and the growing popularity of flash mobs where a large group of young people descends on a store and loots it. Recent examples can be found in Milwaukee, Minneapolis, Chicago, Philadelphia and Washington D.C..
What's going on, and is this the small cause that starts the great storm?
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| Photo courtesy of Pan-African Wire Service |
Compounding the problem for some middle and underclass blacks is the lack of a "moral foundation" -- found when parents (as in two: mother and father) instruct their children on discipline, dress codes, curfews and respect. Going to church was common place, as was the belief in God.
A few years ago, Bill Cosby drew the ire of black leaders when he criticized their "dirty laundry" including poor grammar, foul language, music and rude manners. More recently, the mayor of Philadelphia, Mr. Nutter (a black Democrat), said, "Take those God-darn hoodies down, especially in the summer." In an angry lecture aimed at black teens, he continued, "Pull up your pants and buy a belt 'cause no one wants to see your underwear or the crack of your butt. If you walk into somebody's office with your hair uncombed and a pick in the back, and your shoes untied, and your pants half down, tattoos up and down your arms and on your neck, and you wonder why somebody won't hire you? They don't hire you 'cause you look like you're crazy," the mayor said. "You have damaged your own race."
In light of the recent riots, my sons have been debating the origins of morality. It's an interesting discussion, leading to the following questions: Is it that our society has given up on teaching right and wrong? Has the abdication of God from schools and family life removed the concept of good and evil? Have we lost the authority to prosecute crimes (small and large)? Has the Great Society experiment of the recent past led to a "degeneracy without consequences?" Perhaps.
Consider that --
Other factors are contributing to the growing disenchantment of the racial/social divide in America, England, Greece, France and other parts of the world. Immigration reform and an economic downturn are leading the way.
Violent protests in Europe by Muslim youth and here in the states by illegal immigrants have sparked retribution against a perceived reluctance to enforce basic laws. Governments have resisted -- and in some instances passed laws --protecting the rights of illegal immigrants to give birth, attend school, practice religion and gain employment at the expense of natural citizens. As proof, today the Obama administration decided to stop deporting illegal immigrants on a case by case basis. This sends a clear message that illegal activities will be tolerated and in some cases actually protected.
In many instances, law enforcement is afraid to act because of "perceived" racism and bias. In France, disgruntled Muslim urbanites have resorted to violence (most recently in Grenoble, France on July 16) after police shoot or arrest a Muslim criminal. As reported by Pajamas Media, violence occurred after a Muslim robbed a casino and opened fire as he tried to flee the police, who then shot and killed him. This upset the mostly Muslim urban community who live in poor, unassimilated neighborhoods. The shooting was seen as an attack on Muslims, rather than an act of justice. Shortly following a speech by an Islamic cleric at a ceremony for the robber, youth took to the streets where they burned more than 50 cars, burned stores and used baseball bats to take over buses. When the police arrested one rioter, the protesters responded with more violence, using guns, stones and Molotov cocktails. The violence lasted for 4 days.
The financial meltdown and massive spending by Europe, Greece, Italy, Spain and America to maintain their social programs are leaving many of them on the brink of bankruptcy. To survive, politicians are being forced to put austerity programs into effect, angering a population of welfare addicts who depend on their government to provide almost everything -- from raising their families, providing free education, healthcare and pensions, and even jobs. In America, we have struggled to simply reduce the amount of spending increases much less institute spending cuts to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.
This is a new reality for many people who have become accustomed to government checks and benefits -- and they are not happy. In fact they are downright violent. It is particularly true for society's youth, who by nature are idealistic and easily motivated by social media events. "Flash robbing" has occurred by using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts to broadcast lawless activities before the police can step in and prevent theft, vandalism and beatings. Different events are being coordinated in different parts of the city, then moved to another location before police can respond. Almost all of these flash events have been black on white crime, putting additional pressure on black community leaders and law enforcement agencies to handle an explosive situation.
To understand the mindset of those rioting in France and London, and the recent "flash robbings" in America, consider this train of thought --
"I riot because I'm angry. Anger envelopes me like a blanket every day of my life. I'm angry because I'm poor, I've always been poor, and I know I will never be able to afford all those nice things people are supposed to have. I'm angry because my life is shi- and I know it's always going to be shi-. I'm angry because I know that there's no future for me. No one will give me a decent job or a handout in life. I will live in the same shi--y housing that my family has always lived in, drawing down the same shi--y benefits. I'm angry because I live in poverty,crime, vandalism, gangs, garbage, grime and neglect. Most days I take my anger out on myself. I engage in a wide and creative array of self-destructive behavior. But sometimes, like last night, I direct my anger outwards. I let my rage take over, and for a brief moment, I feel a profound sense of release."
"I riot because it might allow me to loot a few shops. I know I could never afford all those beautiful things everyone else seems to have, but in a riot, you can just take them. I need some new trainers, a new phone, a laptop, clothes, money, games. It's a consumer society, my friend. We have all got to have these things, otherwise we won't be happy. I just want to be happy."
Those quotes are fictitious (thank you Richard Jackson, professor at Aberstwyth University in England), but they point to the helplessness of the welfare mentality being fostered in our youth. Without the proverbial teat to suck from, with no fear of retribution from police, and no enforcement of a moral code from parents, their response isn't all that unexpected, is it?
Will a summer of discontent breed a winter of anarchy? Time will tell.
Consider that --
. we don't need religion anymore because we have redefined sin
. we don't criticize failure in our youth because of esteem issues
. we don't penalize bad behavior or minimize consequences of wrong doing
. we glorify bad behavior as is evident in much of today's pop culture
. we have removed the stigma of divorce, abortion and unemployment
Black community leaders (Jesse Jackson, Louis Farrakan, and Al Sharpton) are quick to say that the behavior being exhibited by these youth is the result of racism, discrimination and profiling. In other words, it's not their fault. Traditionally, they have called for more money and intervention to aid the black youth. But I think whites and blacks are starting to see that spending more money on tradition liberal intervention programs doesn't work.
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| Louisa Gouliamaki / AFP / Getty Images |
Violent protests in Europe by Muslim youth and here in the states by illegal immigrants have sparked retribution against a perceived reluctance to enforce basic laws. Governments have resisted -- and in some instances passed laws --protecting the rights of illegal immigrants to give birth, attend school, practice religion and gain employment at the expense of natural citizens. As proof, today the Obama administration decided to stop deporting illegal immigrants on a case by case basis. This sends a clear message that illegal activities will be tolerated and in some cases actually protected.
In many instances, law enforcement is afraid to act because of "perceived" racism and bias. In France, disgruntled Muslim urbanites have resorted to violence (most recently in Grenoble, France on July 16) after police shoot or arrest a Muslim criminal. As reported by Pajamas Media, violence occurred after a Muslim robbed a casino and opened fire as he tried to flee the police, who then shot and killed him. This upset the mostly Muslim urban community who live in poor, unassimilated neighborhoods. The shooting was seen as an attack on Muslims, rather than an act of justice. Shortly following a speech by an Islamic cleric at a ceremony for the robber, youth took to the streets where they burned more than 50 cars, burned stores and used baseball bats to take over buses. When the police arrested one rioter, the protesters responded with more violence, using guns, stones and Molotov cocktails. The violence lasted for 4 days.
The financial meltdown and massive spending by Europe, Greece, Italy, Spain and America to maintain their social programs are leaving many of them on the brink of bankruptcy. To survive, politicians are being forced to put austerity programs into effect, angering a population of welfare addicts who depend on their government to provide almost everything -- from raising their families, providing free education, healthcare and pensions, and even jobs. In America, we have struggled to simply reduce the amount of spending increases much less institute spending cuts to Medicare, Social Security and Medicaid.
This is a new reality for many people who have become accustomed to government checks and benefits -- and they are not happy. In fact they are downright violent. It is particularly true for society's youth, who by nature are idealistic and easily motivated by social media events. "Flash robbing" has occurred by using Facebook, Twitter and YouTube accounts to broadcast lawless activities before the police can step in and prevent theft, vandalism and beatings. Different events are being coordinated in different parts of the city, then moved to another location before police can respond. Almost all of these flash events have been black on white crime, putting additional pressure on black community leaders and law enforcement agencies to handle an explosive situation.
To understand the mindset of those rioting in France and London, and the recent "flash robbings" in America, consider this train of thought --
"I riot because I'm angry. Anger envelopes me like a blanket every day of my life. I'm angry because I'm poor, I've always been poor, and I know I will never be able to afford all those nice things people are supposed to have. I'm angry because my life is shi- and I know it's always going to be shi-. I'm angry because I know that there's no future for me. No one will give me a decent job or a handout in life. I will live in the same shi--y housing that my family has always lived in, drawing down the same shi--y benefits. I'm angry because I live in poverty,crime, vandalism, gangs, garbage, grime and neglect. Most days I take my anger out on myself. I engage in a wide and creative array of self-destructive behavior. But sometimes, like last night, I direct my anger outwards. I let my rage take over, and for a brief moment, I feel a profound sense of release."
"I riot because it might allow me to loot a few shops. I know I could never afford all those beautiful things everyone else seems to have, but in a riot, you can just take them. I need some new trainers, a new phone, a laptop, clothes, money, games. It's a consumer society, my friend. We have all got to have these things, otherwise we won't be happy. I just want to be happy."
Those quotes are fictitious (thank you Richard Jackson, professor at Aberstwyth University in England), but they point to the helplessness of the welfare mentality being fostered in our youth. Without the proverbial teat to suck from, with no fear of retribution from police, and no enforcement of a moral code from parents, their response isn't all that unexpected, is it?
Will a summer of discontent breed a winter of anarchy? Time will tell.
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