Tuesday 9 August 2011

Songs and films pop into my head in troubled times


It is ok on a film but not so good when it becomes a reality. All this is so shocking. There are so many shocking things in the world and I suppose it is a selfish but understandable thing to be most concerned about the one happening just down the road. I went for a little drive today to look at the local area and all the local parades of shops have their shutters down, and many are closed. I have not been personally threatened or anything but it is all most disturbing. In teaching it is the cooperation of the majority of the children that keeps things running smoothly and in society it is the same, but when large groups suddenly realise that they can get away with things, even if in the short term then it is the way to chaos and disaster.
As well as this scene from The Warriors, these two songs keep popping into my head Panic on the Streets of London by The Smiths and London's Burning by the Clash.
Wish London luck for tonight-they are putting 16,000 police on the streets tonight compared to 6,000 last night so they might have a bit more of a chance. Though with all the police being drafted in from other forces let's hope the places they have come from don't have their own riots.
Rain is forecast for tomorrow so that at least would make fires less possible.
Woolwich last night(contains minor swearing and really scary behaviour and completely outnumbered police officers.)
Wetherspoon's pub in Woolwich burning.
This video is a sweet local reporter type.

9 comments:

Yiota said...

I was just telling my husband about the riots in London. Yes, it's all really very disturbing; we've seen it ruin Athens, now it's London. These outbursts are all over the world in different places. So sad!

jabblog said...

There doesn't seem to have been any leadership so the police have been seen to be ineffectual. It really needs some strong decisions and strong action. Just going through CCTV footage is not good enough!

Leenie said...

Worried for you and everything good in your city. Take care!

Anonymous said...

It is quite frightening to see the news footage - it is all just criminal activity ...... a lot of it carried out by children!

→lisa said...

I've been thinking about you over there, and I'm glad you haven't been directly affected.

This whole mess made me think of the Paris suburb riots a few years ago. I certainly hope the UK gets a handle on the situation more quickly than the French government did. Yikes.

Stay safe, Sarah.

rebecca said...

oh sarah i have been thinking of you for days. are you right in london?
how horrible for everyone...
stay safe and smart.

love you...

Lori Saul said...

So sorry to hear the troubling news- I hope you are well and safe. Events like these send the world for a loop and we all share in the fear and dismay. It's true that most of us go along with the flow and we draw strength from that. I do hope the increased police can put an end to this chaos . Our thoughts and prayers here in the US go out to you for peace Sarah.

Lynne said...

Ahh Sarah, it is a dreadful, dreadful business. Mike and I have been watching aghast at what has been happening in London and other cities. I do hope that order is restored soon, and that problems can be solved, as surely there must be serious underlying problems.
Stay safe.

Linda Sue said...

crazy pent up frustrations...sometimes you can see it coming but this summer seems to have been the culmination of years of stuffing feelings- the stuffing has popped!