Sunday 20 October 2013

This is England

"All that is necessary for the triumph of evil is that good men do nothing"
 


“Teenage girl admits punching frail Sikh pensioner, 80, to the ground, knocking off his turban and then SPITTING in his face in vile daylight attack filmed by shoppers” 

Quote from the Daily Mail yesterday.

 
Well, that says it all about community spirit, doesn’t it?

I’m not talking about the fact that someone would senselessly attack a poor old codger in the street just because he looked different, the English have been doing that for decades.  When I arrived in England with my younger brothers in tow, the natives abandoned Paki Bashing and added to their list of sports (the victories which, as they never failed to remind us, included one World Cup and Two World Wars) Nazzie Bashing.  As a youngster, therefore, and with what would now no doubt be classified in a detrimental light as Teutonic efficiency,  I quickly realised how useful a sock with a rock in it in one’s school satchel was compared with a pencil case and a geography book,  To my mind, the English were bloody animals and to defend myself and my brothers, I resorted to my own form of Blitzkrieg.  Nowadays, and with the benefit of years of experience, I would dispense with the rock and just stab them in the eye with a pencil.  But in those days I was still civilised.

What I am on about, in part, is the fact that passers-by would film the assault and presumably sell the footage to the Daily Mail, rather than step in and help the poor sod.  After all, the assailant was only a teenage girl.  Are there no men left in England with the courage to take on a teenage girl?  If my Mother had seen that in her younger days she would have told us kids to hang on to the shopping while she slapped the shit out of the assailant.  But then, she lived through Cristall Nacht and saw what happened to her neighbours who had, from one day to the next, been classified as legally different.

Instead of the headline the Daily Mail posted perhaps they could have, unusually for them, been honest and simply stated,

‘Uncaring, Cowardly and Venal English People Watch Old Foreign Looking Person Who Has Lived In England All His Life and Made a Contribution to Society Being Beaten by Uneducated Dopey Stupid Kid Redolent of English Youth and Do Nothing Except Ring Us to a Cut Lucrative Deal for the Vídeo Footage and Photos!’ 

To be fair to the Daily Mail, they did describe the attack as ‘Vile’, which it was.  But the Daily Mail missed the point (again).  These sorts of mindless xenophobic assaults occur daily.  How about all the Homophobic assaults?  How about the assaults on people with pink dyed spiky hair?  The story the spotty faced youth who penned this article, typically shallow, failed to appreciate was the deeper sickness, the evil virus infecting a society that allows one member of it to beat another, just because he is in non-compliance with their norm, while others just film it.

I am sure a decent Editor could tighten my strap line up a bit to something like: ‘Oh, The Shame!’

This reporting by the Daily Mail made the news in Angola.

The Angolans immediately picked up on the fact that English shoppers stood by as this poor old non-English looking guy was beaten up on an English high street and instead of diving in to help him, the natives just filmed the attack.

For the Angolans, the story wasn’t that someone got beaten up in the street, that happens all the time.  For them the story was that everyone would stand around watching it happen.

And do nothing.

24 comments:

  1. Unfortunately, that sums up a lot of people in this so called civilized country we call "Great Britain" and makes me worry for my kids future. I have in the past been able to step in now and again to help out. There are some advantages to being a big bastard at times. The other downer is that I still read the Mail on Sunday although I'm not sure for how much longer.

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    1. So long as they step in to help anyone regardless of Race, Creed or Colour, I think they'll turn out fine. Especially if they are as big as you are.

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    2. Btw, I read The Telegraph. The Matt cartoons are brilliant!

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    3. They are good kids and the oldest might turn out bigger than me!

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  2. It has happened here in the States as well. Those folks don't realize that they are no different than the people whose intolerance they hate. That the people around didn't step in, is as depressing as the act being committed. Ignorance has no boundaries. Sad thought that a turban alone is enough to pull some idiot's trigger. Unfortunately, the press feeds this sickness.

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    1. I don't often comment on press articles but this one got to me. The author missed the point entirely.

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  3. The mood I am in....... I would have taken said turban and shoved it RIGHT up HER ARSEHOLE

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    1. I was thinking about this. I have never struck a woman in my life. Your idea sounds far better to me.

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  4. The incident you allude to is extremely unfamiliar to me. I have never seen anything like it and I have lived in England nearly all my life. You say "These sorts of mindless xenophobic assaults occur daily" but I have never seen one or been aware of one. In my English neighbourhood people get on nicely together. The English are generally very tolerant and civilised people and I am saying that in all honesty. I know your childhood was partly blighted by a bunch of ignorant bigots but they are in no way typical of the English. There are different ways of looking at things and "The Daily Mail" has a reputation for putting a negative, sensational slant on things.

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    1. So to add - looking at your blogpost title - in no way is this England, no way at all.

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    2. http://socialistworker.co.uk/art/34654/Man+seriously+hurt+in+racist+assault+in+Harlow

      http://www.lbc.co.uk/woman-fined-for-racist-assault-on-burka-wearer-79168

      http://www.iengage.org.uk/news/2707-drunken-pair-chanted-edl-during-racist-assault-outside-takeaway-

      http://articles.timesofindia.indiatimes.com/2013-03-17/other-news/37786825_1_tram-cctv-footage-bank-worker

      OK, maybe not daily but certainly monthly. The point I was making, Sir Pud, is that this DOES go on and IS reported in the international press and DOES influence perceptions of UK citizens, rightly or wrongly.

      I am glad you agree that the Daily Mail, as a source of news, can sometimes be unreliable.

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    3. I wasn't saying that such things never happen but we must get them in proportion. Neighbourliness, kindness and getting along with people from different cultures doesn't make for interesting news items but THAT is the true picture of England these days - more the rule than the exception.

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    4. We both know you are right. I just think it is sad that this is what is reported.

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    5. I'm afraid that this sort of thing does happen daily. My last job gave me that insight and experience personally. I like to think that we are, as a nation, people who live and let live. Unfortunately, there are a small number of lowlife who let us down.

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  5. You know what?, I think this scene could be played out in many different places these days. I like to hope that I and my family would step in but so many "good Samaritans" have died for their goodwill that many hesitate and take films that might at least be used in evidence to punish the offenders. i agree with YP, it's not England. Perhaps it's 2013 !

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    1. A while back, some bloke tried to smash his wife to bits in front of my shop so I stepped in. I'm sorry, I can't help it, I guess it is a reaction that is hard wired into me. I used to think that this potentially suicidal trait was essentially English but I have my doubts now. Now I think it is just me and I happen to hold a British Passport.

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  6. Luckily I've only had to intervene ONCE in my life. I had to stop some chap beating-up his girlfriend, after closing time. Luckily it went OK, but that isn't always the case. In 'Caring Britain' you're more likely to be knifed or shot whilst helping-out, than do any actual helping. However, that wouldn't stop me from doing it again.... even at my advanced age!

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    1. You old pirate! I wouldn't argue with you!

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  7. Shocking at all levels. I'd have pulled her off...no doubt at the risk of being arrested for assault myself....such is the contrary nature of the law these days...

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    1. Even in Angola. I was tried by a Community Court for twatting a guy and then knocking him out with a brass ashtray to stop him assaulting Marcia. I was bound over to keep the peace so I guess I was lucky but the worst of it, the greatest humiliation was being ordered to shake the guy's hand. As I did so, I leaned in close and said, 'Come near my place again and I'll kill you'

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  8. Frankly that's pretty damn insulting! You appear to be suggesting that this vile act of assault somehow reflects on every English person alive today and also that England is the only country that such atrocities occur - I'm sure Angola has seen it's fair share of cowardly Angolans turning a blind eye or failing to step in - it's a worldwide problem I'm afraid. Had me or mine been anywhere near that scene we would have beat seven shits out of the girl attacking that guy, unfortunately we weren't.
    Now I'm off to read what actually happened, I do hope the poor guy is ok and that the girl gets punished....who am I kidding, of course she bloody won't. Grrrrr!

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    1. Linda, it's not me that is suggesting it. All I was saying is that this is the perception the foreign media have. It made the Angolan news!

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  9. There was a similar incident in the north here this week.
    http://www.thaivisa.com/forum/topic/676091-thai-teens-arrested-for-battery-after-slapping-elderly-foreigner-on-the-head-with-shoe/
    Perhaps not as violent, but insulting. Hitting the head is a no-no in Buddhist culture, but the culprits were hoisted by their own YouTube, caught, fined (albeit small) and made to apologise.

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  10. I agree it's disgusting to film this on mobile phones; sadly we have become a culture of phone obsessed ignorant people. I hate it. This attack is deplorable & I hope the girl was found & punished but really she needs educating.

    There are however still " Have a go Heroes " whom sadly often come off worst for intervening, there are good Samaritans & good neighbours and unsung heroes in this world.

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Please feel free to comment, good or bad. I will allow anything that isn't truly offensive to any other commentator. Me? You can slag me without mercy but try and be witty while you are about it.