With a royal wedding 4 weeks away, British citizens erupted into a flurry of violence in London today that presages the promised civil disruption planned the actual day of the nuptials.
The Daily Mail summed up today’s violence in London succintly:
Hooded anarchists attack London landmarks linked to luxury and wealth
Welcome to the first wave of violent class warfare. Cutbacks in social programs have driven labor unions and anti-capitalists into the streets. The time of peaceful demonstrating has passed. Hooded radicals attacked a Starbucks, symbol of US Capitalism as well as the Ritz Carleton Hotel and other business interests before being quelled by police.
Ritz Carleton Hotel Under Attack
A peaceful Union demonstration was replaced by a large group of disorderly people chanting “Welfare not Warfare.” Hooded gangs outnumbered police swinging large pieces of lumber and hurling, among other objects, light bulbs filled with ammonia – clearly not benign.
Civil unrest within the borders of one of our chief allies. What will follow in the rest of the capitals of the West where people are struggling with high food prices, unemployment, and homelessness is now being considered out in the open. Do we really believe that what is playing out in the middle east cannot happen here – or in Europe?
We cannot stretch ourselves any further. The Saudis and the other kingdoms of the Middle East need to protect their own assets. We will loose everything if we try to save the oil for our short term benefit. We need to develop strategies and contingencies that refocus us on the needs of the homeland and its people. We cannot hope to stem the tide of change in the Arab world.
No matter what course we ultimately take, there will be a prolonged period of sacrifice and hardship ahead. Our leaders do us no favors in not preparing us for this but letting our fears run wild. We know the other shoe has not dropped. We need leadership that is there for us when it does.
And don’t kid yourself. Republicans may be out there fighting each other but Barack Obama is cool and calculating in his preparations for 2012 and legislatively beyond. Wake up America. Smell the smoke from Trafalgar Square and beware.
samiam60
March 27, 2011
Evil is being unleashed upon the world and now there can be no doubt of that. This is going world wide rapidly and even here in the US we are seeing a groundswell of hate, anger and violence. Seems that even the Earth is in a state of rebellion. No one wants to believe the end times could be upon us and yet one has to wonder.
samhenry
March 27, 2011
Thank goodness it is a big world and that scheduling larger more dangerous demonstrations successfully takes time and planning so we have time to consider alternatives. The attack in London was pre-meditated by the group that claimed responsibility.
blackwatertown
March 27, 2011
There’s often a bit of bother on big high profile demonstrations like this, but I think we’re talking only 0.4 (at most) of a per cent of those who took part in the main protest that were involved in violence, mainly against property. So we should keep things in proportion. People I know from around the UK who took part in the main demo had a fairly enjoyable time. For those there later in Trafalgar Square it was inconvenient and a bit frightening to witness clashes between the police and a very small minority of rowdies.
So no Middle East style risings in the UK just yet.
blackwatertown
March 27, 2011
Though admittedly, you never know when things will escalate out of control over some relatively small grievance…
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-us-canada-12869141
samhenry
March 27, 2011
Sadly, Roo, itl’s monkey see monkey do and others with equal parts of anger join in the next time. It is a small number of radicals that keep the fires burning in the Middle East.
Speaking of monkey do, I read with delight your article about the men who shot each other over the dog of one pooping in the other’s yard. The line from the police is pertinent to my life:
“If a dog did that in your yard, call the law. Don’t take matters into your own hands.” This more than reminds me of my mother’s words when one of us would push, shove or hit the other “come to me I will take care of it.” Ah, but youth has visions far greater in scope than adults. After the first time doing tis and Mother did not respond in nuclear fashion to the offending party, it was back to taking chances with all out war with my siblings. I told Mother that she felll far short of the mark of punishing sins for which a God-like force should be unleashed. She did not cotton to my interpretation. Hence stealth operations after that. LOL
samhenry
March 27, 2011
Well that’s the question isn’t it. Within the microcosm of yesterday’s violence that forced the peaceful protesters off the streets stronger voices were heard and felt. This is what happens on a larger scale demonstration. So stock up on chocolate and movie discs and await the future that will see people in the streets complaining due to shortages of or high prices for bread alone.
samiam60
March 27, 2011
I am going to try and feature this post at the Village for the evening SH.
samhenry
March 27, 2011
Thank you Sami. My blog has benefited from your care.
bydesign001
March 27, 2011
What a waste of energy. All the hell raising will not change a thing. Darned freeloaders.
samhenry
March 27, 2011
You should have seen one of the pictures. This young man had an expression worthy of a Greek drama involving lots of universal pain as he banged a policeman over the head with a 6 ft. plank. Dumb is right. But the world is full of dumb and dumber people these days. Thank goodness for our literacy and love of ideas and history etc. – what a gift we have been given and to enjoy it with others of the same bent.
bydesign001
March 27, 2011
Good evening SH, I posted this on my blogs and linked them back to you.
D.
samhenry
March 27, 2011
Thank you D. I am very grateful. I am sorry I don’t get around much for linking like I used to. I will when the weather breaks and I can rest in the warm. My work schedule keeps me pretty pooped. Thanks for your visits D.