Tottenham riot ... 'absolutely manic'

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Permalink Reply by Alan Stanton on August 13, 2011 at 9:24

David Starkey made an interesting point about culture and the crossover influence of Jamaican speech on other groups - especially young people. I've seen Darcus Howe on TV making a similar point.

Starkey then went on to give a public demonstration of not only what a grotesque and loathsome self-caricature he has become, but how not to have a reasoned and useful discussion about anything at all. Let alone a vital public issue.

Meeting two other invited speakers, Dreda Say Mitchell and Owen Jones - I assume for the first time - he seemed totally lacking in curiosity of what they might know or have to say. He was unable to listen for a few seconds to anything with even minimal politeness, but interrupted and talked over them in order to repeat his own views. Which - it seemed to me - grew increasingly wild and angry. 

Mr Starkey's behaviour is an enormously helpful model.

We should watch him carefully. And then make a promise to ourselves that we will behave in exactly the opposite way. And when someone else is being loud, boorish and overbearing, try to bring them gently back to basic good manners and a listening/learning mode. By saying: "I think you're starting to do a David Starkey".

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Permalink Reply by matt on August 13, 2011 at 9:47

Strangely I have not found any debate/discussion on the radio/TV this week about the riot/looting particularly enlightening. Not sure why that is. Seems guests to various shows were scrambling around in the dark for answers.

Maybe the answer is simple; it was a massive crime spree. People saw the midnight shopping without cash or card in Wood Green, without any police presence at all and decided to franchise the activity across the UK. And yes, there is a massive wealth gap here in the UK which is the driver.

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Permalink Reply by matt on August 31, 2011 at 10:35

Mark Duggan's funeral is Sept 2nd. Here's hoping it stays calm in the neighbourhood. And with a little more time Haringey can hopefully move on to more positive things.

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Permalink Reply by William Booth on August 31, 2011 at 10:39

That's a Friday so hopefully that will mean there's not hordes of people out and about. Fingers crossed it stays calm. And fingers crossed the police don't make their presence felt, I don't think that will go down too well.

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