I completely agree with so much of what is said! I just despair at the examples being set by many high profile individuals, made worse by media coverage etc. We need wholesale change that starts from the top down, before it is too late and this spreads even further through our society! In short, an entire cultural change is required - and it starts with those at the top, taking responsibility for THEIR actions and how that sense of greed at the expense of others without concern eventually filters down - and just like all kids, they use an adult phrase to justify bad behaviour with no sense of its true definition. The UKs anger over taxes/greed etc has become an excuse to pinch a 50inch plasma TV. I am afraid this is just a reflection of deeply dark and intrinsic issues, that have been swept under the carpet. Things I've been seeing for years in different community projects I've been involved in, but getting worse and worse, this time something blew the lid right off the pressure cooker. All is now out in the open, and time is right to deal with it.

We need to reframe our thinking and our sense of 'being'. "How?" I hear you say...well look at countries that are financially insecure - they value education because they have hope and believe an education will open new pathways for them. They place a high value on learning and wisdom. In the UK we have become increasingly financially insecure and education (in the broadest sense) has lost its focus. Is education about qualifications or character-building? To answer that, we must also ask ourselves 'What is the purpose of life?' To acquire the latest fashion or fad items or to be happy and content in ourselves for who we are? To find fulfilment and satisfaction in who we are and what do, to serve and to be grateful for the abundance that surrounds our life, every day! This I believe will bring about a longer lasting happiness and a greater sense of community and togetherness.
My hope is that from these incidents we can move forward in forgiveness and illumination. As a nation, we can look back and not ask ‘Who is to blame?’ but more ‘What can we do to help heal and serve our nation?’ Do you have what it takes to help build a nation? I think you do. No sorry – I believe you do and so do I. In the words of Marianne Williamson:
“Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate. Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure. It is our light, not our darkness that most frightens us. We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented, fabulous? Actually, who are you not to be? You are a child of God. Your playing small does not serve the world. There is nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you. We are all meant to shine, as children do. We were born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us. It's not just in some of us; it's in everyone. And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same. As we are liberated from our own fear, our presence automatically liberates others.”
‘Be the change you want to be’ – Mahatma Gandhi...I certainly am going to try...are you? Let us take pride in our nation and who we are...let’s dream a bigger dream for our country. Let us promise a legacy of peace, kindness, joy and happiness to the next generation. Together we will make a difference :D

As ever, Andy, thought provoking stuff!!! Sometimes things come along which shake us all out of complacency. There are no magic wands, just as there are no immediate causes. and no-one immediately to blame, except perhaps all of us, because we like to shut the problem away out of sight! This is complex!

But what is for sure is that there are communities out there which are totally dominated by Mood hoovers: "There ain't nothing to do round here, we ain't got no decent education, we ain't got no jobs, no hope...unless you want to join a gang, do drugs, nick stuff." These folk are disenchanted, alienated, disengaged, without hope of escaping from a subculture of despair. Their only salvation is... to choose to be positive! Now where have I heard that? Oh yes, some smooth geezer came and did a talk in our school!

What a message we have got to tell!

riots, what riots? A bit of rain seems to have washed them away