London's Burning

You certainly cannot have missed the news reports of rioting, looting, burning, thieving, running street battles, civil unrest, murder on our streets? Did I miss anything? Their violence and terrorist activities (why can't they be referred to as terrorists when they are terrorising their own people?) is now being reported in several other cities across the nation. Everybody is asking why, and no one has any answers.

I know as a Christian, I am encouraged to lift up the fallen, and do good to them that hate, but.... really? Isn't the law there to protect the law abiding from the lawless? The civic leaders and politicians are starting already to spout platitudes. Saying things like, “We have to look closely at the situation”. And how about, “Lets not rush into any action”. Then there is the predictable “These poor people come from deprived areas, and need to be helped”. In other words, we have no clue at all how to handle the riots in the streets. Parliament will debate and discuss the problem! There are few people putting their heads above the parapet, and calling it like it is. These rioters are bad people. “Simple”, as the meercats would say. Lets try some other words like, evil, or angry, or lawless (now there is a word to get you Bible scholars going), or selfish, or hate filled, or maybe even sinful? Steady on now, we aren't supposed to say that last one! We are raising a generation of children and young people who know their rights, but know nothing about responsibility. We can't blame the police, but what about the parents? So what can be done?

How about these suggestions to try and quell the riots?

For a start, don't let them go too far before stepping in, then use the following steps progressively at 2 hour intervals if there is no change..

Impose a curfew of 8pm, and enforce it.

Use water cannon with bright indellible bright dye, high pressure hosing liberally on everyone who is rioting. Then the police can easily pick up the offenders later. When they get to court, and are sentenced, throw the book at them, and make the time in prison mean what is said, and not released for good behaviour after a quarter of the time given. As far as the 12 and 13 years old are concerned, treat them as adults, after all, they are behaving like adults.

Arm the police with plastic bullets. Oh dear, someone could get hurt, or even killed. Diddums! We can't have that in a city war zone now can we?

Allow the police to use their batons. No, encourage them to use their batons. I am sickened by the tactics which allows our peace keepers to come under sustained attack and if they take a step towards the terrorists, they are criticised and shouted down. They are issued with batons, so let them be used. I am tired of hearing the police being put down and blamed. They did not loot, burn and murder!

Employ the military, armed and mean, who will not sit there and take it! And, all those arrested should be conscripted into the Army. If they want a fight, let them have it in Afghanistan. Lastly, don't listen to the bleating of the liberals who want to understand and 'hug a hoodie' as has been said.

(The suggestions above, are partly 'tongue in cheek', but only partly!)

I know many poor people who lifted themselves out of the lifestyle mess they were born into, and made a good and decent life for themselves, and their families. Don't you? So, what is the difference? The ones I know saw that something inside had to change, and they started there. The fault doesn't lie in the actions of others, it lies inside you and me. So lets not get caught up any more, on changing the environment, and start emphasising a change from the inside. Now where would we get that kind of help and teaching? Oh, how about the Church of God, and the change that forgiveness and salvation bring to the heart? I know, it is all a bit old fashioned, and out of date, but we are trying all the social engineering we know, and have been doing so for the past 40 years. It hasn't worked, so is it not about time to try something different? Well it's not really new, is it? It's more than 2,000 years old and has stood the real test of time, and never been bettered. The big drawback is that this plan means a conscious decision involving, going to church, worshipping God, putting others first, and being different, and that is scary. Think you can handle that internal revolution? It is not for the faint hearted, and you won't hear it from the politicians. Only you know the answer to that, and no one else!