day #2 reflecting on the Riots.

In my Sociology class we're expected to share our opinions regarding the UK Riots, but of course not just share our opinion, it has to be an educated one. So, as I researched the Riots and tried to learn more about them, I was able to form an opinion.

     I can see how the police would get blamed for starting the destruction that ensued. The tragic and unexplained shooting of Mark Duggan by the police appears quite suspicious. Particularly because they refuse to discuss it. But without all the facts there is no possibility of accusing the police, as we do not know what the actual events were, which makes comprehending all the chaos even more confusing.
     While there are numerous YouTube videos which depict the Police in a negative light, we cannot assume that the police were the only ones with violent actions or the reasons behind their depicted brutality.
    This being said, I also do not believe that it is entirely the Rioters fault. Imagine, you're poor, can barely manage to pay for a post-secondary education and then all of a sudden, paying for that education becomes impossible because of the raised price. Furthermore, if you did manage to pay for it, the unemployment rates are so high that the chance of you finding a job after graduation is slim-to-none.

How would that make you feel?

If I was in that situation, I would be frustrated, angry, and feel almost imprisoned by my lack of options. The government keeps removing options for these people and in that way, taking more and more freedom away from them. Until they're all pressed up against each other forced to face their dismal reality. No wonder the London Citizens were livid, they felt extremely restricted and there was no way to fix that, unless of course, they captured their government;s attention.

Then, with one bullet, the one that unfortunately killed Mark Duggan, the citizens were given the perfect reason and the spark that ignited the blaze, metaphorically. And so, the madness began.

While I do not think that either party had the right to cause such damage, physically and emotionally, to London, I do understand at least to some extent why the events unfolded in the way that they did.

Restriction always leads to rebellion, and when the government finally took the time to listen to their people, it was already too late.

But, now the government seems to have cleaned up the Rioters' mess, there's only one question left: Will they be able to clean up a mess of their own?

#wewishwewereexperts