Being out of the country over the past few days I spent considerable time reading the news about the “riots” in London. I’m surprised at how all of the newspapers’ attitude changed.
Even the ones that are usually prone to forgiving youths behaviour as an expression of youthful energy and lack of support have taken a tough stance.
Then I got to the comments section, and I suddenly started frothing at the mouth.
Most of the opinions I found on the BBC website read something like this:
“It’s the governament fault because it’s not doing enough to keep the kids occupied and it’s not giving them a chance to become part of society”
Now I’m sorry, What a load of b*****ks.
This kind of thinking is the very reason why we now find ourselves facing a lost generation. A generation that never learnt the values of respect, money and hard work.
I do a fair bit of volunteering for charities and if you call these families disadvantage then I there’s no word in the English language to describe the condition of the people I have met in Africa and India.
It’s time we recognise the opportunities this country offers us, we just need to be prepared to work hard for it.
Let me finish with this story from my youth:
One day at school (I was probably 6 or 7) I was, as usual, being noisy. The teacher turned around and threw the chalk she was using at me. Hit me square in the forehead for the joy of the entire class. Needless to say I was quiet for the rest of the day.
When I arrived home that afternoon, just before ringing the bell, I prepared a drama-scene that would have impressed the most successfull broadway producers, and as soon as my parents opened the door I started crying.
I showed them the red mark on my forehead and while sobbing told them “Look at what the teacher did” (pointing at my forehead).
My mum looked at me for a few seconds… then picked me up by the ear and said “What did you do?!”.. Luckily I was grounded just for a few days.
I don’t particularly care about the punishment these yobos will receive. What I want to see on my television is a procession of their parents , looking straight at the camera – at the entire nation in the eyes – and apologise for the behaviour of their kids.
