WHY???????? (Summer Riots 2001)

Member Name: Biffa

Product:	Summer Riots 2001
Date:	13/07/01 (56 review reads)
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The brief summer heatwave has obviously had an adverse affect on people this year as 'Race Riots' continue to hit the headlines. At the risk of offending people, I'm going to share my thought and opinion with you all, afterall that's what Dooyoo is about isn't it.

The theory behind the race riots I can understand in a way. There's too much feeling of 'us and them', too much segregation and not enough integration. However, it's not that simple is it? A lot of it is down to mindless, brainless idiots who turn out to throw bottles, bricks and abuse at the police and each other because they think it's fun and beats sitting down the pub/youth club etc for a night. This side of the argument I am totally against and cannot understand.

So let's go back to the theory behind it. If it's a case of us and them, which it isn't always I know but for the sake of argument let's imagine that's all it is. Whilst I'm NOT racist, I do believe in equality for all.

Here are a few examples. A white friend of mine was being harrassed and threatened by a group of black youths in his area. He was given NO help by the authorities. However, if he had been black and being hassled by white youths, the local council would have installed a burglar alarm; double glazing and other security measures as it would have been classed as racist attacks. Even the council representative admitted that this was wrong - he should have been treated qually, but wasn't. As aresult, he was forced to move out of his flat.

A local woman, quite a few years ago, had her colelction of porcelain pigs confiscated by the police. Why? Because despite living in her house all her life, and being white, the area had become predominatly asian, and complaints were made about aforementioned procelain pigs being on display in her front window. They were considered offensive and attagonistic, and so were confiscat
ed when she refused to remove them herself. Now, is it just me or does this seem ludicrous to anyone else as well?

Schools are not integrating students of different religions because they have a catchment area predominatly white/asian/black etc. They don't have sufficient mix of race in the area to be able to integrate the children together. Not their fault, but down to society because we subconsiously create our own exclusion zones. Our area is predominately white, whilst the majority of the coloured community, be they black, asian or of other background, live on the other side of town.

How then can children be expected to accept each other for who they are and not the colour of their skin?

I don't know. I do not have all the answers, merely questions.

Why the riots then? Apart from being brainless, I can only imagine that people have got fed up of nopt having their voices heard and opiniosn listened to and have opted for the violent "hello I'm trying to say something are you listening now" option of rioting, looting and burning. It's certainly worked - it's caught the attention of the media for starters.

And what of those left to clear up the mess? Of the police officers merely doing their job, being met with an angry mob throwing bricks and petrol bombs, burning everything in site. Of the residents, who have to clean the mess up in the morning; have their property damaged and cower behind the sofa for the night wondering if they'll live to see the morning?

There has to be another way, but what that is I don't know. Like I say, I have no answers, merely questions. But until we can all learn to live in harmony, with people of all colours getting along together, then this problem will keep on rearing it's ugly head time and time again until we all say enough is enough.

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