Tuesday 9 August 2011

Tuesday 9 August 2011

Here's a phrase you won't hear from me very often: "I'm frightened."

And this has nothing to do with the cancer, which has latterly - and foolishly - decided to take on in battle the mighty Jasper Horatio Stafford.  No, I am most unsettled by the vast and violent rampages presently taking place in London and moving also to Manchester and Birmingham.  Streets and buildings are burning, chaotic, and hugely unsafe.  Public transport and sporting fixtures in the affected areas have been cancelled and almost industrial-scale looting is taking place.  Why?

I mean, I am all for free speech - even for humans - but surely the majority of the miscreants are not even attempting to stage a moral uprising, bring down a government or simply make the strength of their arguments heard.  No.  They are heading straight for PC World, the Carphone Warehouse, HMV, off-licences, sports-wear shops, restaurants, banks, et cetera ad infinitum and trying to steal as much high-priced booty as possible.  What kind of public statement is that?!

Entire areas, along with vehicles, local amenities, etc., have been left burnt-out and gutted.  Do not the thuggish masses, whilst high on the euphoria of destruction and anarchy, pause to consider that they - as well as their mothers, fathers, and grandparents - will have to go on living in these now battle-scarred ruins?  How can the already-impoverished taxpayers rebuild the destruction wrought by the cities' own residents?

Should even these questions prove insufficient to trouble the mind, take a look at this news report:


"Blood was flowing in the [streets]. Five or six thousand…, stirred up by a diabolical cabal that aimed to destroy the [authorities]…, gathered at ten o'clock in the morning. Armed…, they furiously attacked the house of a man named ---, who is the manager of a factory… that makes fine wallpaper.
Howling, and screaming…, the rioters scaled the walls and broke down the doors. They looted everything they could find, burned the wallpapers and the designs and even bonds, ransacked the gardens and cut down trees. The house was splendidly furnished — mirrors, books, chests, tables, everything was smashed and thrown out the windows. --- and his wife and children escaped over the garden wall.
The [Police] fired several rounds, but this only stirred up the mob even more. They climbed up onto houses and threw stones at the troops. The [Police] advanced… The rioting lasted until four in the morning…

Another body of five or six hundred… were scattered throughout neighbouring streets. They stopped [vehicles]…, heaped vulgar insults at them before taking their money and their watches… The rabble set off in [another] direction. Luckily most of them were drunk and they soon changed their minds and continued to roam the streets. All this makes one tremble for the unhappy kingdom. It is a tissue of horrors and abominations."

A vivid picture of the ongoing, troubling, events in our major cities - which only seems to be spiralling further and further out of control.  But this news article was not a recent piece.  Oh no.

It is taken from a report written in Paris in 1789 by the Marquis de Ferrières and describes the earliest stages of the foul, bloody, and horrific French Revolution - La Terreur.

And THIS is a world in which I am battling against cancer to survive.  Ye gods.

Let us hope for better things, and offer kindness and sympathy to those who are trapped, terrified, in their own homes by the savagery of their ignorant neighbours.

Good night.

5 comments:

Lance said...

The world can, unfortunately, be a terrifying place to be sometimes Jazz. I'm just glad that you and your Ruth (and her family) all live in a much more peaceable place. I would be REALLY terrified if these things were happening in your neighbourhood.

BIG hugs & love all around.

XXOO, Lance

Keetha Broyles said...

OH goodness, Jasper! You may be a dog but I must be an ostrich -- - with my head in the sand - - - becausesI hadn't heard/read/seen anything about this!

You andd Ruth stay safe,OK?

The Animal Doctor said...

Jasper and Ruth, we thought about you when we saw the news last night. Lets pray the mayhem will be contained and stopped ASAP!

sending you pawsitive vibes,
The Secretary

Lady Miss Till said...

Sir Jasper

Lady Miss Till here.

I've had the pleasure of reading two editions of your blog now, though I foolishly looked at the pictures of the contents of your nostrils....hmm. Better out than in is the best that can be said. The remainder of the pack were fascinated, I withdrew to my basket to get over the shock.

The hooman works ( with us) in Salford and we departed a trifle early on Monday evening with rather a large congregation of young men on the corner of our road wearing hoods - and not a spot of rain on a rather delightful warm afternoon. Said darlings burnt down the part constructed morrisons across the road only last week, so I think we are used to 'upsets', on a minor scale. Personally I think they are bored and realise that their lives aren't going to amount to much, despite the opportunities around them which they cannot comprehend, so desire status by either causing trouble and looking 'big' to the rest of their pack or by the acquisition of some stolen electronic gadgetry and items that have a logo. Such is the shallowness of society generally that this equates to importance.

Your philosophically
Lady Miss Till

Lady Miss Till said...

Hello Sir Jasper

Two blogs at once for me to respond to, you spoil me! Though after examining the pictorial evidence of your nasal offerings I had to retire to my basket for a lie down. The remainder of the pack wanted to know if it was available in 3D. Tsk.

The hooman works in Salford and we all assist and on Monday departed a trifle early to avoid any unpleasantness. Around about 30 young men wearing those silly hooded things - odd because it wasn't raining and was distinctly warm - were lurking at the end of our road. Personally I think they are bored and trying to achieve status by either appearing 'big' in front of their pack or by the acquisition of electronic gadgetry or branded goods, which in the shallow society we live in, equates to importance. Just the musings of my furry mind.

Yours philosophically
Lady Miss Till