popular reaction

When I read, hear and see the general public’s reaction to events such as the recent London riots it makes me realise that the majority of people have never read any meaningful books or listened to any thought provoking music, they have never challenged anything in their lives or had a subversive thought. All they know is basic, standard, middle-class convention. They’ve never heard of people demonstrating their disgust. They have never imagined that there could be some form of underground sub-culture, some subversive groups, some diversity to society. To them, everything is a romantic comedy in which the main character pursues their dream career and dream lover. They never realised that people could be abused and mis-used and cheated. They never realised that animals were treated like waste. They don’t know there are people who can’t afford food and clothes and homes and education. They cannot contemplate the idea of having no future, no past, no hope, no dreams. When they see wealthy politicians on screen they admire the suits, the hair, the teeth, the homes and the smiles but they don’t think ‘they are lying to us.’ They don’t think ‘why are they so rich whilst so many people are so poor?’ They don’t wonder why innocent, poverty-stricken teenagers are sent off to die in a war that keeps the wealthy safe and secure.

When I see their reactions I would swear this is the first bit of civil unrest any country has ever seen. It falls in line with forever being told to ‘grin and bear it’... ‘shut up and tow the line.’ Well, it is impossible in modern society to speak out against popular thought but I, for one, am pleased that there are people who stand up and say ‘we simply will not continue to take your shit any longer!’