Thanks again John.. Your analysis makes sense overall: communities that are left behind and designated for non existent levelling up are the locus for such outbursts
I think you need to add the gender, the street violence perpetrators seem to be overwhelmingly (though maybe not universally) male... and that has been the pattern in ritos throughout history. A lot, though not all are young, many adolescents or children, probably without much political thinking in their heads, but alinated in so many ways.
in the backround are the agitators, the obvious ones like Yaxley lennon, and the more plausible mainstream ones like Farge and Bravemean, the constant over decades right wing narratives of the Mail and Excess that have pushed the "overton window" of debate to the right, an the amplifiers of social media algorithms, and global networking.. especial now on X controlled by the Musk Rat
It's hard to knowhow best to respond politically and as Christians. The kind of country I want back is the one that showed up in Southport and Sunderland the morning after the riots to strat the clean up and the rebuilding. Do we encourage direct confrontation with racist thugs? Can we engage at least some of them in dialogue as the Imam in Liverpool manged to do? Should we concentrate on trying to dispute the narrative of the right at the cultural and political level, and what is the narrative that would win more people over to harmonious diversity?
As Christians it's easy to say prayers for peace... but I wonder Should there not also be a curse on the fascist thugs and agitators who are behind the current violence?
Psalm 58:3–8 CSB
The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth. They have venom like the venom of a snake… God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs. May they vanish like water that flows by… Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.
Thanks Greg. Sorry not to reply sooner - amazing how many disruptions can occur!
As things have settled down, a few observations:
1. Confirmation that a large - I think, mainstream - section of the population want a society freeform racism, at least in its most obvious manifestations. Though significant that the biggest pushback was from the south-east, like Walthamstow.
2. There is a deep-seated long-term low-income white alienation which won't be resolved quickly or easily - reflected in Brexit, Johnson taking the 'red wall', now riots victimising asylum seekers and Muslims. Which needs as a minimum significant levelling up. I found it significant how old many of those convicted are - this is an expression of deep-seated bitterness.
3. Whilst those who spread lies and misrepresent the situation need condemnation, there also needs to be a recognition of the injustice that sources the anger. In that respect I think the Archbishop's condemnation is unhelpful - it simply further alienates many working class people.
Hi John.. this is indeed complex and quite localised....In Preston an Southport the stronger response was anti racist, in Blackpool there was racist violence. While not all white working class people are bitter or racist, it's clear that lots are alienated especially against the political classes. My reading is that in areas which are only recently experience immigration and that have until now been segregated with 95% plus white English, locals are most likely to scapegoat minorities (Asylum seekers and Muslims) who they have not met before. It is when demographic change coincides with increasing inequality and poverty that anger peaks. In places with more history of multiculturalism, people are more likely to get along, want a peaceful life and even if struggling economically are less likely to riot or even vote for Reform. Preston fits this pattern by and large... Are you watching Freddie Flintoff and his Preston lads on tour in India? Even with the editing and editorial angle, it feels to me that that sums up our local ethos, and Afghan refugee is welcomed and included, and it is sad that the two Pakistani heritage lads, were denied a visa by the Indian authorities...
Thanks again John.. Your analysis makes sense overall: communities that are left behind and designated for non existent levelling up are the locus for such outbursts
I think you need to add the gender, the street violence perpetrators seem to be overwhelmingly (though maybe not universally) male... and that has been the pattern in ritos throughout history. A lot, though not all are young, many adolescents or children, probably without much political thinking in their heads, but alinated in so many ways.
in the backround are the agitators, the obvious ones like Yaxley lennon, and the more plausible mainstream ones like Farge and Bravemean, the constant over decades right wing narratives of the Mail and Excess that have pushed the "overton window" of debate to the right, an the amplifiers of social media algorithms, and global networking.. especial now on X controlled by the Musk Rat
It's hard to knowhow best to respond politically and as Christians. The kind of country I want back is the one that showed up in Southport and Sunderland the morning after the riots to strat the clean up and the rebuilding. Do we encourage direct confrontation with racist thugs? Can we engage at least some of them in dialogue as the Imam in Liverpool manged to do? Should we concentrate on trying to dispute the narrative of the right at the cultural and political level, and what is the narrative that would win more people over to harmonious diversity?
As Christians it's easy to say prayers for peace... but I wonder Should there not also be a curse on the fascist thugs and agitators who are behind the current violence?
Psalm 58:3–8 CSB
The wicked go astray from the womb; liars wander about from birth. They have venom like the venom of a snake… God, knock the teeth out of their mouths; Lord, tear out the young lions’ fangs. May they vanish like water that flows by… Like a slug that moves along in slime, like a woman’s miscarried child, may they not see the sun.
https://stonebrook.org/.../praying-the-psalms-of-justice.../
No easy answers, troubling times...
Thanks Greg. Sorry not to reply sooner - amazing how many disruptions can occur!
As things have settled down, a few observations:
1. Confirmation that a large - I think, mainstream - section of the population want a society freeform racism, at least in its most obvious manifestations. Though significant that the biggest pushback was from the south-east, like Walthamstow.
2. There is a deep-seated long-term low-income white alienation which won't be resolved quickly or easily - reflected in Brexit, Johnson taking the 'red wall', now riots victimising asylum seekers and Muslims. Which needs as a minimum significant levelling up. I found it significant how old many of those convicted are - this is an expression of deep-seated bitterness.
3. Whilst those who spread lies and misrepresent the situation need condemnation, there also needs to be a recognition of the injustice that sources the anger. In that respect I think the Archbishop's condemnation is unhelpful - it simply further alienates many working class people.
Hi John.. this is indeed complex and quite localised....In Preston an Southport the stronger response was anti racist, in Blackpool there was racist violence. While not all white working class people are bitter or racist, it's clear that lots are alienated especially against the political classes. My reading is that in areas which are only recently experience immigration and that have until now been segregated with 95% plus white English, locals are most likely to scapegoat minorities (Asylum seekers and Muslims) who they have not met before. It is when demographic change coincides with increasing inequality and poverty that anger peaks. In places with more history of multiculturalism, people are more likely to get along, want a peaceful life and even if struggling economically are less likely to riot or even vote for Reform. Preston fits this pattern by and large... Are you watching Freddie Flintoff and his Preston lads on tour in India? Even with the editing and editorial angle, it feels to me that that sums up our local ethos, and Afghan refugee is welcomed and included, and it is sad that the two Pakistani heritage lads, were denied a visa by the Indian authorities...