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In the recent riots we have seen the worst and the best in human nature. The worst has been seen in the ‘couldn’t care less about anyone else’ attitude of the rioters. There has been complete disregard and disrespect for other people, their property, their safety and their community. To see the damage to people and to their communities has been disheartening and has brought a feeling of disgust and disbelief to all right minded people.

 

The descent into violence and disorder is truly frightening, especially for those who have suffered loss of life and property. We are left feeling angry and deeply disappointed and upset at the behaviour we have witnessed.

 

We have also seen some very encouraging responses to the violence. Did you see the army of people coming out onto the streets with their brooms? Here good people responded by coming together to clear up the damage and to support their community in the process of rebuilding. We saw community leaders and people out on the streets, who wanted to protect their community from further riot.

 

As a country we have had a wake up call, but we need to respond to the riots in an intelligent and wise way. The last thing we need is a simplistic knee jerk reaction to the violence. Punishment without understanding is not what is needed. The attitude of ‘let’s lock them up and throw away the key’ will not get us very far.

 

We need to understand that there is a cycle of deprivation involved and that those who live in deprived areas and poor communities are in a bad place. The inequalities in our society are too great, and it is very difficult for those who are well off to understand what living in a deprived community is like. We all need to strive to make our country a more equal place as inequality in itself breeds discontent.

 

We have all become too selfish. The rioters were only thinking of themselves and were only too ready to raid and to loot without thinking, or even caring, about the consequences for others.  Those who are well off are often very selfish. I have enough for myself, and my family, so why should I care about the poor in my country or the world?

 

We need a revolution in our attitudes and thinking. We need a moral revolution. The sort of revolution we need is not a return to a puritanical, hard line punishing society, but a revolution of loving and caring for one another.

 

The message is age old and simple. We need to understand why those in deprived areas are in such a bad place and through love, wisdom and understanding, heal our communities and give them hope for the future. This means those with money and intelligence need to be generous with their money and with their thinking and actions.

 

We need community heroes, both rich and poor, who are willing to give themselves to building strong and inclusive communities. If we just live for ourselves we become narrow and isolated. If we live for others then we are renewed and refreshed.

 

Jesus has shown us the way. He was the man who lived for others. If we follow his way, not only do we free ourselves from narrowness and selfishness, but also we help to free others.

 

Let us turn to what is best in our own human nature and help build a better world.