Social Networking Must Be Used, Not Controlled, By UK Establishment

The recent unrest seen in England has once again highlighted the terrible inequality of those living in conditions of poverty within one of the richest and most powerful countries in the world. Soul-searching must be met with a renewed dialogue between the disadvantaged inhabitants of areas like Tottenham and Toxteth and their elected government; the completely avoidable plight of Britain’s poor brings shame on the UK governments, both past and present and points to a larger problem in our society, a complete failure to provide worthwhile help to those who need it most.

There currently seems to be a rise in right wing language in some aspects of the media and from politicians, in attempt to reduce, through powerful and combative language, UK citizens into something “other,” with phrases like “rioting scum” or “feral youths” serving to increase friction amongst the working classes and heighten the poor of Britain’s sense of detachment from society at large. We must harness the tools of communication at our disposal to really communicate, share ideas and thoughts with these people, rather than just as a modern soapbox which pushes out ideology fully formed in boardrooms and mens clubs.

While each segment of the political spectrum have their own position and perspective on such events like this, if there is one thing which should unite both the left and right, it is the complete rejection of any governmental plans, however vague and uncertain to stifle the free use of social networking tools such as Twitter, Facebook and Blackberry’s instant messaging service BBM. To cut off the tools of communication under any circumstances is unacceptable and will stifle the free exchange of thoughts and the reaching of a common understanding amongst UK residents. One need not be an Orwellian paranoiac to understand that it sets a very dangerous precedent.

Britain has always been a multi-cultural society and that is one of its key strengths. The current government’s bloody minded refusal to acknowledge the real problems faced by areas with a strong minority population is self-defeating and ensures that somewhere, sometime soon, the riots shall return.

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Photo Credit: Flickr CC Beacon Radio