Time constraints have meant that I have been a bit tardy of late on this blog and as such certain things I may have intended to write may not be quite so current but instead afford for some reflection after things have died down. Specifically the recent riots have seen plenty of column inches and items on news programmes filled with enough conjecture as to the reasons behind the disturbances but without any definitive answers. Now, in the aftermath, the human cost of those affected becomes more palpable as the reporting dies down a little but people are left to pick up the pieces of the damage caused whilst in an attempt to appear to act tough, but in reality making up for being slow to react, politicians seem to be making examples of those found guilty.
Whilst not seeking to condone the actions of those involved, some of the sentences that have been passed have been completely disproportionate to the crimes committed. In particular the two men given 4 year sentences for incitement after posting on Facebook encouraging people to meet and start a riot. Whilst they are idiots and the fact that nobody followed their advice should give some clue as to how dangerous they actually are making the punishment an example. They themselves were not prosecuted for causing any harm or damage and the freedom of speech, no matter how unpleasant, must take precedence in a civil rights issue.If we don't let people say things we don't like then you stifle debate and the really dangerous types go underground. As it stands the likes of Nick Griffin and the EDL can say their ridiculous things and we can point and laugh at them.
Similarly harsh is the case of a man given 16 months for helping himself to some donuts in the melee, which is all well and good as a symbol of not standing for the riots but where were the similar stands against bankers and MPs who were equally guilty of institutionalised criminality and it will be interesting to see the sorts of sentences that get handed down to journalists guilty of phone hacking. Talk of withdrawing benefits of those found guilty also acts as a double punishment and assumes that all guilty parties are on benefits. This was not the case and this would mean that poorer people would then be dealt worse than someone not relying on benefits. Aside from that if you withdraw housing and money from people already struggling and in desperate straits then you are only going to exacerbate tensions by making them worse off.
One thing that it has done is kick into touch the idea amongst the few that we were somehow different and more refined than other nations. News of atrocities in foreign civil wars are easily brushed aside as being so far away as not to be any concern of ours and that they can not be as civilized as us. Whilst the riots were in no way comparable to tribal warfare it does lift a lid on the human psyche and what perfectly civilized people are capable of when caught up in the moment.
On a lighter note the England cricket team are now rated number 1 in the world (actually the best of just over half a dozen teams) and the realization that they are actually quite good. It does not seem so long ago that Jimmy Anderson was only good for carrying the drinks out on tour and is now ranked behind Dale Steyn in the fast bowler stakes. I still think there is room for improvement as Eoin Morgan has yet to convince at 6 with my preference still being for someone who can bowl to take the pressure of the 4 man attack. Granted he got a century in his last innings but he was lucky to be dropped a couple of times and he was facing a demoralized Indian attack at the time. Ironically the man most likely to replace him and who fits my bowl a few overs bill would be Ravi Bopara who failed in the same innings.
No comments:
Post a Comment