Riots and Weddings

[annwfyn]

I have two semi-connected rambles to post, which seem to have taken totally different directions and will probably make me look like a stinking hypocrite.

The international response to the London riotsI find it darkly amusing that Iran and Pakistan are expressing concerns about human rights and the government’s need to listen and understand

Comments

[eniel]

Am a bit ambivalent about the whole wedding story. And feeling rambly, so apologies for the long answer.

I agree with you in that we tend to "glamorize" history and only remember what we really want to. I mean, if you went to a Medieval-themed Wedding, you'd be expecting a banquet and troubadour, not the peasant's fare that was proportionally more common at the time, right ?
I think that couple was treated unfairly by the Regretsy community. I think they really tried to find a ceremony and style that reflected them.

That said... I don't know. Part of me has a hard time understanding the whole "one-upmanship" going on with weddings. This video goes too far, but the premise is something I sympathize with. And I'm not saying that every couple getting married should have the same cut-and-paste wedding. But really ... at the end of the day, a slightly cynical voice whispers that organizing a themed-wedding, no matter the theme, isn't very unique. Because you're making sure everything matches, and giving attention to little details you'll

[twicedead]

And it should be remembered that hobos were itinerant workers, not just bums, there was a proud history of hobos.

[lanfykins]

I also believe that if you tell poor people constantly that they are scum, that they don't deserve homes, or jobs, or any kind of safety net, and that things will not get better, then they might actually listen.

I think this also. The media/government portrayal of certain segments of society is appalling. And constantly treating people like they're lazy/shiftless/dishonest/good-for-nothing just because of where they live, or how old they are, or what they like to wear, tends to have major long-term effects.

[annwfyn]

This goes a bit more into this, and is really really spot on, I think. Basically, if you don't listen to people, if you tell them they can achieve nothing, and they discover that by burning things they can make people listen, can be powerful, why would they not?

[pmp]

You may also appreciate this article from the Independant.

http://www.independent.co.uk/opinion/commentators/camila-batmanghelidjh-caring-costs-ndash-but-so-do-riots-2333991.html

However, you do have to contrast it against the statements taken from the people actually involved. Such as this one - http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-14458424

[nothingtoyou]

I'm going to be totally shallow here, and say: Wow! The Journey of Natty Gann! I'd forgotten all about that. Would quite like to see it again.

[annwfyn]

I now want to see it again. I loved that film when I was a kid.

[chrisvenus]

I have no idea what a natty gann is but I'm going to be shallow and say that wedding looked awesome. I wish I could have been there. :)

[mannheimblack]

The Daily Mail also did its part to sensationalise and publicise the initial riots with typical poorly-disguised glee, going as far as to selectively edit Twitter quotes to create a misleading impression of the extent to which people were inciting violence on social media.

For them to start accusing other people of making things worse by distorting the story is...impressive, even by the standards of that small-minded and sordid rag.