Thanks Robert, I didn't know the song was on YouTube. I just thought it was appropriate because it was a plea for peace from the world over during the summertime. The reading of the population thing I never got,yet I thought it meant that's how many people were praying for peace in the countries mentioned, I've always liked the song and it shows how The Archies progressed from Sugar, Sugar!!
The news over here tonight is showing that is has calmed and I pray it does stay that way.
Riots, looting & burning in London
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Yes Eman, so far so good 
"My Tears Will Fall Now That You're Gone,
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
I Can't Help But Cry, But I Must Go On"
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
I did not get the significance of the reading of the numbers at first either---but after a while it dawned on me that it had to relate to that countries population--at the same time, you could say that we are all praying for peace all over the world.
Strangely enough, after "Sugar, Sugar" very little has been heard of the Archies since in the Uk-if anything--until now.
Strangely enough, after "Sugar, Sugar" very little has been heard of the Archies since in the Uk-if anything--until now.
Mariana
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
I've added it on my facebook page. Hope it helps spread the word.
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Nicely done Marian! Hopefully some of your friends on FB will spread the word of PEACE for London!! 
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
I was close to some of the trouble last week in London. I live in Forest Hill in south-east LOndon, and East Dulwich, which is next door, was attacked, and a Tesco convenience store just five minutes walk from my front door had its windows smashed! When I got home from work last Tuesday all the shops in Forest Hill had closed for the day and were boarded/shuttered up. A work colleague of mine lives in Woolwich, where a Wetherspoons pub was burnt to the ground, and she said she could see it from her front room window -uncomfortably close! But all is now back to normal, at least for the time being.
I can understand the feelings of others for a tough approach to the rioters but there have been riots in Britain before and they're usually a sign of some underlying problem - lack of discipline may be one of them but I'm sure there are others, and we shouldn't just dismiss the aggression displayed as the actions of a bunch of thugs. I dare say there was a copycat element to some of the troublle, and immaturity also played a part, but I'm sure there are genuine grievances that will need to be examined.
What I don't approve of is a knee-jerk reaction by government and the media, who are now talking about "National Service" but which in fact is not National Service in the recognised sense as it is a civil, not a military, scheme, and it should be clear to anyone with commonsense that to remove all benefits from someone means that they are more, not less, likely to go out and steal, which hardly contributes to a reduction in the crime rate. I also find it ironic that they are now talking about jailing people for offences which would not normally attract jail when until recently we were being told that the prisons were bursting at the seams and Kenneth Clarke was trying to reduce sentences for serious offences, even rape, by as much as 50%! (though as the result of pressure he has now backtracked on that). They are also planning to cut the police by 16,000 officers (the same number as are currently on the streets of London to deter further riots). The fact of the matter is that socio-economic policies have a cost to them that can sometimes outweigh any savings, and this is one lesson that will have to be addressed from this episode.
I can understand the feelings of others for a tough approach to the rioters but there have been riots in Britain before and they're usually a sign of some underlying problem - lack of discipline may be one of them but I'm sure there are others, and we shouldn't just dismiss the aggression displayed as the actions of a bunch of thugs. I dare say there was a copycat element to some of the troublle, and immaturity also played a part, but I'm sure there are genuine grievances that will need to be examined.
What I don't approve of is a knee-jerk reaction by government and the media, who are now talking about "National Service" but which in fact is not National Service in the recognised sense as it is a civil, not a military, scheme, and it should be clear to anyone with commonsense that to remove all benefits from someone means that they are more, not less, likely to go out and steal, which hardly contributes to a reduction in the crime rate. I also find it ironic that they are now talking about jailing people for offences which would not normally attract jail when until recently we were being told that the prisons were bursting at the seams and Kenneth Clarke was trying to reduce sentences for serious offences, even rape, by as much as 50%! (though as the result of pressure he has now backtracked on that). They are also planning to cut the police by 16,000 officers (the same number as are currently on the streets of London to deter further riots). The fact of the matter is that socio-economic policies have a cost to them that can sometimes outweigh any savings, and this is one lesson that will have to be addressed from this episode.
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Hi Jon-I do not remember reading about any of those cases--or trouble in those areas, so obviously it was more widespread than we all thought.
Your comments on this are thought provoking--but just what is the answer--innocent people are dead, homes and business ruined, families lives shattered. For what ??
It is a very difficult, and I think still a precarious situation.
Your comments on this are thought provoking--but just what is the answer--innocent people are dead, homes and business ruined, families lives shattered. For what ??
It is a very difficult, and I think still a precarious situation.
Mariana
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
They have been talking about reducing the amount of Police and Armed Forces for awhile, when you think of events which have happened in recent years that should never happen, better to increase than decrease - however I woudl welcome a reduction in fat cat politicians!
I watched the new last night, the first time for days as the riots were making me too angry - parts of London resemble a bomb site and it's very sad for thje people who lived and worked there.
There will always be problems in every country in the world but you DO NOT take it out on innocent people who are trying their best to live their lives and may not be that well off themselves, now they probably have less than the people who did such despicable acts. Can you imagine the reaction if someone came round and trashed and burnt their homes?
I was in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and even in the city centre I never saw one person begging!
I watched the new last night, the first time for days as the riots were making me too angry - parts of London resemble a bomb site and it's very sad for thje people who lived and worked there.
There will always be problems in every country in the world but you DO NOT take it out on innocent people who are trying their best to live their lives and may not be that well off themselves, now they probably have less than the people who did such despicable acts. Can you imagine the reaction if someone came round and trashed and burnt their homes?
I was in Amsterdam a few weeks ago and even in the city centre I never saw one person begging!
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Lena & Harry Smith
- Posts: 21514
- Joined: Tue Jul 12, 2005 10:05 am
- Location: London UK
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Hi Jon, we do agree with some of your comments, particularly about peoples grievances that definitely need to be addressed, and can understand to a point the reasons for looting, particularly in this money world that we are living in when the cost of living is escalating, utility bills are soaring, and jobs are difficult to get, (even though many of us experienced poverty and hardship growing up we didn't resort to these measures) but while there are many families who don't want to work and are content to live on benefits, there were many rioters who were prosecuted who came from homes and families that weren't on the poverty line, but were there to join in and burn down people homes and their businesses.
it is easy for those of us who weren't directly affected by these mobs, to take time and try and understand the reasons why people would want to carry out these acts, but i'm sure we would not be looking or thinking of things in the same light if our own innocent family and livelihood had been wiped out. !!!!
it is easy for those of us who weren't directly affected by these mobs, to take time and try and understand the reasons why people would want to carry out these acts, but i'm sure we would not be looking or thinking of things in the same light if our own innocent family and livelihood had been wiped out. !!!!
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Exactly Lena & Harry.
My mum's family were not well off when they were children but they never resorted to stealing or burning people's homes and businesses. We have all prospered over the years and I was brought up to save which I am glad about.
When I started work I wanted to save enough to give my granny a real treat as she was always so good to me, I never got the chance as she passed away when I was 16.
My mum's family were not well off when they were children but they never resorted to stealing or burning people's homes and businesses. We have all prospered over the years and I was brought up to save which I am glad about.
When I started work I wanted to save enough to give my granny a real treat as she was always so good to me, I never got the chance as she passed away when I was 16.
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Hi Karl, Marian, Lena/Harry
I certainly agree that one of the root causes of the riots would be a difference in values and in the way people have been brought up perhaps compared with yesteryear. Like you, I have always been careful with money and paid my way, going without if need be to pay the bills etc, and not too concerned about designer materialism the way some people these days seem to be, but in one sense you cannot put the genie back in the bottle and if people have lost these values it is much harder to restore them. Sure, some of the rioters had jobs and so had no particular need to loot or steal but I doubt that they were the majority of them or that the riots would have been started by them (even if the media wishes to portray things this way). I don't know what the answer is but let's hope that there is not a resurgence of trouble; otherwise I will be putting up the barricades myself!
I certainly agree that one of the root causes of the riots would be a difference in values and in the way people have been brought up perhaps compared with yesteryear. Like you, I have always been careful with money and paid my way, going without if need be to pay the bills etc, and not too concerned about designer materialism the way some people these days seem to be, but in one sense you cannot put the genie back in the bottle and if people have lost these values it is much harder to restore them. Sure, some of the rioters had jobs and so had no particular need to loot or steal but I doubt that they were the majority of them or that the riots would have been started by them (even if the media wishes to portray things this way). I don't know what the answer is but let's hope that there is not a resurgence of trouble; otherwise I will be putting up the barricades myself!
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
It must be quite unsettling living in London just now--especially if you live nearby some shops.
Mariana
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Well they say familiarity breeds contempt and there may be something in that.
Standards have fallen over the years, when I first started to work you never called your boss by his first name, people also had respect for the Police & Fire Services etc and you also respected your parents.
They say the wheel turns full circle, maybe one day we'll get back to basics?
Standards have fallen over the years, when I first started to work you never called your boss by his first name, people also had respect for the Police & Fire Services etc and you also respected your parents.
They say the wheel turns full circle, maybe one day we'll get back to basics?
Last edited by karl on Tue Aug 16, 2011 6:25 pm, edited 1 time in total.
Re: Riots, looting & burning in London
Exactly Karl, they days of yesteryear have long gone.