Events of the last week or so caught most of us by surprise, not least Jacqui and me, because we were away from home and knew nothing about the unfolding story for several days.
While some people have been quick to give their opinions and explanations for the riots and looting, it’s clear that the reasons behind them are complicated and there can be no one easy solution.
One thing is certain, though: loss of hope, belief and ambition has a disastrous effect on many people’s lives and some people’s behaviour is a reflection of their frustration and anger. The comments of some of those involved reflect a horrifying level of disengagement from their own communities, however much they use the word ‘community’ to explain their own involvement in the violence and destruction.
This ‘them against us’ attitude is a warning to all of us. However misguided we might think they are, if their perception is that they are in some sense fighting for ordinary people against ‘rich business owners’, we must listen, because it’s that perception that drives their behaviour.
However, it was ordinary people who died defending their families’ and friends’ businesses against the looters and arsonists, and it was ordinary people who lost their homes and livelihoods. Chain store owners (the real ‘rich business owners’) weren’t affected nearly as much in comparison.
But we need to help the rioters and their apologists to see this, and we can.
First, we need them to see the damage they have done, then we must give them the hope and belief they need that they can share in the wealth of what is still, in global terms, a prosperous country with wonderful opportunities.
It has to start at a local level, by local businesses being helped and encouraged to prosper and to employ local people and spend money in the local economy. The more local businesses prosper the more the local community benefits.
The attitude that all commerce is corrupt and all business owners are rich and undeserving has been promoted for far too long. Businesses create jobs, wealth and security.
There’s more to life than possessions and more to wealth than money but the more people can share in local prosperity the more involved, secure and optimistic we can all feel.
I don’t make any philanthropic claims for what we do to help local businesses (although I am proud to have contributed a little to Crack on’s success so far) but I am more certain than ever that what we do has a real value, not just to business owners but to the communities they serve and support.
Roy
PS. Meanwhile, Crack on and their friends at Pay it Forward in Business are doing great things to give immediate help to those affected by the riots and to give hope to the young people who might easily be involved.
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