Barriers...

I got mad this morning. It was because I read an article about some rioting that is going on in England. In the article, the gentleman went on about the "have's and have not's". How he could see why these people might riot, hurt people, and steal because of their lot in life. That they were stealing that flat screened tv because they could never afford to buy it. He went on of course to condemn their actions, and stated that all those who are caught should be prosecuted to the full extent of the law.

It really did not set well with me. I was so irritated by his article, but at first I could not figure out why?. Then it hit me, he seemed to view these people as unable to do the right thing because they were poor and uneducated. That because they did not have much in life, they were unable to resist the temptation of stealing those electronics or taking out some frustration on someone else's property. He grouped them all together whether he intended to or not, and that did not set right with me.

While there were many people out on the streets, from all accounts that I have read, there were many more at home. Those neighbors that would also be considered "have nots", were not on the streets setting fires, looting or defying police. They were home with their families behind the safety of locked doors, or like some they banded together to protect their neighborhoods. These people, who are in the same socio economic class as those causing the problems, knew that what was happening outside was not something that they wanted to be a part of.

His article seemed flawed. Once again we have grouped an entire population of people together, and assume that they will think and act
the same. Haven't we learned that within the group there are differing opinions, personalities and morals. That grouping people together, while it makes us feel like we can then understand the "group" and it's problems, all it really does is build a barrier that pits us against them.