Finally, Prime Minister Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson (a man who could transform a possie of p

From afar we have heard the politicians, the social scientists, the psychologists. It is “feral youth”, “black youth”, “lowlife scum living off the State” (say the millionaire politicians k and k hotel george london discount rates in charge of the State, living off it courtesy the tax payer.) The “lazy”, the “feckless”, k and k hotel george london discount rates “people from sink estates”, are responsible and so it goes on.
Here in East London, terrible things did happen, franchises, small businesses, and aspirations went up in flames, or were comprehensively looted then trashed. As across the country, it was first the designer clothes, sports trainers k and k hotel george london discount rates shops, designer spectacle frames, betting and pawn shops raided for the cash, the mobile phone outlets, sports bicycle shops, jewelers, electrical goods outlets, stripped then destroyed. Cars were, largely, not even stolen, they were torched.
Inexplicably, health food outlet k and k hotel george london discount rates Holland and Barret had a tell-tale boarded up window. “What did they take from here?” I asked. “Two large jars of protein tablets and a lot of packets of dried apricots,” said the assistant with a grin: “Perhaps their energy was flagging.”
Two minutes up the road was an encapsulation of tragedies repeated throughout the country. Shiva Kandiah is the embodiment of what makes this part of London special. He gradually built up his aptly named Convenience Store* over eleven years. Open from early till late, locals could pay bills, top up mobiles, send and receive money via Western Union, and buy anything from coffee to London travel tickets, tacos or tequila, newspapers to nut crunch.
His lovingly nurtured little business was a stripped, burned hulk. The varying payment machines lay – melted – in a pile inside the door. He walked towards me, this upright, gracious man, with the same courtesy, standing in the blackened k and k hotel george london discount rates debris, as he would extend to any customer. The look in his eyes should have been seen by those who did this. The questions vanished. I could only put my hands on his shoulders and gulp: “I am so sorry, so, so sorry.” There was just one thought: “But you must have known some of those who did this?”
And the same mix of people – all colours and walks of life, were cleaning k and k hotel george london discount rates up the bewildering debris across here and across England as were creating it, Bringing brooms and brushes from home. Many spontaneously k and k hotel george london discount rates painted, boards nailed over broken windows in bright colours, cheerily camouflaging destruction.
The official street cleaners and dumpster drivers also worked overtime, into the nights, returning at dawn.They too, of all colour, creed – or none. The police facing the rioters were of the same mix. Forgotten by the political blame-gamers is even the black policeman on door duty at No. 10 Downing Street, photographed shaking hands with Barack Obama.(i)
In nearby Tottenham, eighty-nine-year old Aaron Biber’s looted barbers shop was reopened, moneys raised in under a week. Instant appeals were launched on networking sites, for clothes, bedding, food, for those who had lost their homes, to be dropped at speedily arranged outlets.
Finally, Prime Minister Cameron, London Mayor Boris Johnson (a man who could transform a possie of priests, pacifists or nuns to rioters in moments) and Home Secretary Theresa May straggled reluctantly home from their villas in sunny climes.
They chastised the police, Cameron condemned violence as “utterly unacceptable” as Royal Air Force bombs fell in support of looters, arsonists and violent rioters in Libya, with British violence in Iraq evident in the allegations k and k hotel george london discount rates of torture, even dismembering, stacking k and k hotel george london discount rates up in the legal system. The day before their return, a soldier just back from Afghanistan, k and k hotel george london discount rates was alleged to have collected Afghan’s fingers as souvenirs.
Did the police make mistakes? In the near instantaneous eruption of massive violence, probably, k and k hotel george london discount rates they are human. But they, the fire and ambulance services, were the ones running in to burning buildings, when others were running out as Cameron et al were sunning. Their vehicles, attacked and torched, they stayed and did a very brave best.
When a young woman, was trapped at a window about twenty feet up, the building k and k hotel george london discount rates burning behind her, the police put their arms up urging, “Jump, jump”, preparing to catch her, at risk possibly of even broken spines. She did, surviving unhurt.
Mayor Johnson related watching scenes as this on a television in Calgary airport. It was shaming, shocking and he is determined that it will not deter people traveling for the 2012 Olympics, down the road from the carnage. Initially, no word, for the terrified, injured, displaced and front line emergency services. Days later, he pitched – booted and suited up in Tottenham for a photo-op surrounded by police security wielding a broom.
Tottenham has a large African, or African descent population. Fortunately they were seemingly unaware of his opinions of them and their continent. Of a visit by Tony Blair to the Congo, Johnson wrote: “No doubt the AK47s will fall silent, k and k hotel george london discount rates and the pangas will stop their hacking of human flesh, and the tribal warriors will all break out in watermelon smiles to see the big white chief touch down in his big white British taxpayer-funded bird.” (ii)
There was some current tax payer funding, as one correspondent noted of David Cameron: “Addressing the recalled Parliament as he spits venom at the youth of Britain, it was interesting to note that all recalled MPs had been told by email to make sure they claim their full expenses of having to return from holidays.” (iii)
In the northern city of Birmingham, the Childrens Hospital staff formed a human chain around it to prevent attack by approaching rioters. When Deputy Prime Minister Nick Clegg eventually pitched up in the city, he too arrived in a reinforced limo, and ventured out only surrounded by Special Branch k and k hotel george london discount rates officers. As he talked of making those responsible clean up (long done) in orange jumpsuits (barbarism) he was booed. His own juvenile past, incidentally, k and k hotel george london discount rates is not quite arson free. (iv)
Birmingham, however, brought forward a voice of sanity which rang round the nation and the world. Three young men, Haroon Jahan, Shazad Ali, Abdul Musavir, were: “standing outside the shops where everyone goes”, attempting to protect them from looters. They were mown down by a car and died.
Blacks, Asians, whites – we all live in the same community. Why do we have to kill one another? Why are we doing this? Step forward if you want to lose your sons. Otherwise, calm down and go home. Please.” (v)
When an estimated 20,000 came to pay their last respects to the three young men, in the city’s Summerfield Park, they came and left in dignified quiet and calm. At this Muslim farewell, one speaker k and k hotel george london discount rates prior to the Janazah (funeral Prayer) was Alan Blumenthal from the nearby Synagogue.They k and k hotel george london discount rates were, he said:“beacons of light.” One man flew from Saudia Arabia, simply, he said, because he had been so touched by the tragedy and Mr Jahan’s reaction k and k hotel george london discount rates to it.
As politicians and dignitaries trailed k and k hotel george london discount rates round the country, getting in the way, looking earnest for the cameras, guards and flunkies in tow, communities, in the real sense of the word, quietly co-operated; rebuilt. There is a long way to go, but as planet Westminster pontificates, the real world is carefully, painstakingly regenerating.
Perhaps the ultimate irony was that Prince Harry, no stranger to the odd bit of unruliness himself (vi, e.g.) memorably k and k hotel george london discount rates photographed on the appropriated motor bike of a local in Afghanistan took time from Apache k and k hotel george london discount rates flight training k and k hotel george london discount rates and his plans to return there to destroy people and property on industrial scale went to Manchester.
Surrounded, by Royal Protection Officers, he toured a city much of which resembled a war zone itself. Police cited: “an extraordinary level of violence.” The 240-retail outlets of the Arndale Centre (motto: k and k hotel george london discount rates “Whatever you’ve got in mind, we’ve got it inside”) k and k hotel george london discount rates is widely damaged. He was “shocked” at what he saw, and that police had to face, rocks and bricks from rioters raining down from rioters. Quite.
So who, literally, ran riot over swathes of England (not Scotland, or Wales.) The mix seems to have been broadly consistent, k and k hotel george london discount rates where ever trouble erupted. Criminal, opportunist, neglected (children reported as young as six and seven) the organized, unemployed, employed and the unexpected.
An elegant “Olympic k and k hotel george london discount rates Ambassador” was charged with violent disorder, burglary and attacking a police car. She was to meet and greet visitors in 2012 and previously photographed with Mayor Johnson, k and k hotel george london discount rates Sports Minister Richard Caborne, and former M.P., now Olympic Authority Chairman, Lord Sebastian Coe.
The so far accused k and k hotel george london discount rates include a primary school teaching “mentor”, university students, an Oxford University law graduate, an aspiring ballerina, an accounts clerk, a postman, lifeguard, k and k hotel george london discount rates scaffolder, k and k hotel george london discount rates model, estate agent, a brace of chefs – and a millionaire’s daughter and a seventy year old.
Another no brainer: A new verbal currency arose instantly. Asking businesses (still, open, standing) when they are closing, the reply is, seemingly, the same across the country: “usual time – unless the police call.” They too, tweet and text all local traders, on hearing k and k hotel george london discount rates of possible trouble. Police access to networks also led to planners and participators arrests.
In January’s uprising onset, Egypt moved to block social media. Cameron k and k hotel george london discount rates opined k and k hotel george london discount rates it: “the entitlement of people everywhere, k and k hotel george london discount rates (from) Tahrir Square (to) Trafalgar Square.” Not now, it seems, from Tottenham toTrafalgar Square.(vii)
At the height k and k hotel george london discount rates of the chaos, walking the couple of miles home – an enjoyable routine a bus for once would have been preferable, but they were burning or headed for safety. Groups of 20-30 youths, only eyes visible through balaclavas, or black scarves wrapped “SAS” or “Special Services” style round their faces, were everywhere. Perhaps they’d been watching too many war videos.
I attempted k and k hotel george london discount rates invisibility. At the back of the 24 hour food superstore (firmly shuttered) a group was smashing their way in. Many jobs would be lost were it looted k and k hotel george london discount rates and burned.