The Bishop of Manchester, the Rt Revd Nigel McCulloch, said on Wednesday that riots in Manchester and Salford on Tuesday night were acts of “thuggery, vandalism, and theft”. Greater Manchester Police said that its officers had faced “unÂprecedented violence”.
Speaking on Wednesday morning, Bishop McCulloch, who had been in Manchester city centre since 7 a.m., said: “Here in the Manchester area we have young people out fighting in Afghanistan, putting their lives on the line for our freedom, and here we have these kids in a society that has put self-interest above everything else.”
He said that one of the lessons that had been learnt after previous episodes of violence in Manchester ”” including the IRA bomb in 1996 ”” was that “it is crucial for local morale that by the time people come in the next morning the city is looking as normal as can be.” He said that it was “heartening” to see hundreds of young people who had come to the city centre with brushes and pans, having been alerted on Twitter, the social-networking site. “It shows the majority of young people are law abiding.”
I am not sure the Bishop is right, although I understand the sentiments.
Both those who are serving in Afghanistan and those rioting in the streets are drawn from the same pool in our schools, communities and families. The same drive for meaning, direction in life, community and for a group to belong to will negatively drive a young man to join a gang and positively to join the Army. Both find acceptance, close ties, and an outlet for loyalty and purpose. One goes in a direction which is negative, destructive, morally caustic, and the other goes for comradship, direction, service and ultimately to do some good in the world.
Our task is to show a positive role model and outreach for our young people to join Christ’s ‘gang’; Christ’s ‘batallion’ where they will find community with Christ and with one another, life to the full, and a future and a hope.
I would also rather hear from some inner city clergy, youth ministers and perhaps some laity, although pontifications from various bishops’ palaces and Downing Street are OK as far as they go.
Pageantmaster,
I wonder about your “drawn from the same pool” supposition. While the rioters and the soldiers may both be young, I wonder if they are from the same socio-economic and cultural groups, have the same school graduation rates, the same percentage of close family members who are or who have been incarcerated and the same percentage of intact families. I have no knowledge of the comparisons, but it would be interesting – and perhaps useful, in fashioning solutions to future versions of this mess – to know.
Today’s London papers carries the sad news of a 20-year-old serving soldier who is charged with trying to sell a valuable looted guitar. If convicted he faces six months or more in prison and dismissal from the army. He has already served one tour of duty in Afghanistan. An army spokesman is quoted as saying that they are bracing themselves for similar cases as young men can get caught up in this kind of thing. I have been left wondering though about those prosecuted. Many, perhaps most of those cited in the newspapers are from decent backgrounds. Few are gang members. Is this just the media cherry-picking? Or it is possible that the hardened gangstas were cleverer about disguise and escape? When the soldier mentioned above appeared in court his mother wept and his father shouted that he had always been a good lad and never in trouble before. It is so very sad.