"Through the Looking Glass"
“Through the Looking Glass”
I hope as you read this in October we are experiencing an ‘Indian Summer’. As I write this in September I am considering whether the Ark I am building in the back yard should have two or three levels. The leaves are changing colour – at least those that haven’t been blown off the trees by the gales. The few remaining summer flowers have been turned to sodden mush by the torrential rain. The nights are drawing in and we are again hunkering down in the evenings behind closed curtains, doors firmly shut against the cold, wind and rain. Summer is definitely over.
It was a summer dominated by the riots in our cities. The media shouted loudly that this was a sign of a disaffected youth. A sub-class forgotten by mainstream society, bereft of education, money, jobs, opportunities and a future. We are seeing the end of civil society as we know it, a disintegration of manners and acceptable behaviours. These riots were a demonstration from the ‘have-nots’ against the ‘haves’. My solution using water cannons filled with purple die proved unnecessary when the weather changed and it stated raining. Apparently these ‘protestors’ didn’t like getting wet. It is the end of our world as we know it. The next generation will be one of individual opportunism, secular materialism and hedonistic criminality.
Now, shall we step through the looking glass?
A friend has two sons. The eldest has just graduated with a Distinction from an Art foundation course and is about to start university. He has spent the summer working in a restaurant. The youngest son has just achieved outstanding results in his GCSE’s and has just started college, he volunteers on a Sunday afternoon in his local Age UK shop. A friends daughter has just started Dance school 3 days a week, the other two days she works in her Dad’s company doing admin work and at weekends she works shifts in a pub. My niece won a place on a Girl Guide expedition to Italy this summer and had to raise the funds to pay for it with sponsored walks, bake sales and jewellery making. She also went to an international Guide camp. My 11 year old nephew is the kindest boy you could meet, he is an excellent sportsman and academically gifted. This is the next generation.
England has a current population of around 52 million people. 2,700 were arrested in connection with the riots. Of these 75% had previous criminal convictions. 1 in 8 had more than 10 previous convictions. Were they really ‘disaffected youths’ or ‘protestors’? Is there really a dangerous sub-class taking over and becoming the norm? In the parable of the Good Samaritan we learn about the thieves and beggars, the blinkered and self absorbed, the compassionate and the generous. Jesus himself was crucified alongside criminals, a common punishment at the time. In biblical times people fell away from God, tabernacles emptied. Criminality, lawlessness, different standards of morals and behaviours have always existed. In London, during the Blitz, crime increased significantly with the black outs and a reduced police force providing an increase in opportunities for the criminal classes. Those so inclined realised that passing themselves off as ARP Wardens could ease access to locked shops and houses. Is society more broken now than in any era before?
The garden centres are currently full of bulbs to plant now for Spring and Summer. Gardeners are pouring over their catalogues in a last minute frenzy, planning next years ‘treats’ and displays. The Children have just started a new academic year, moving classes or schools. Evie is beside herself with excitement that she has just started Brownies, swimming lessons and is now a ‘Junior’. We are celebrating the harvest and planning Christmas celebrations. Summer ? Pah! Autumn is where it’s at! Autumn looks to the future. Autumn is about hope, expectation, thankfulness, celebration!
It’s all about perspective.
Kate Bentley