A protest that starts for a good reason ends in shocking scenes of brutal, cold, unnecessary violence against all reasoning and sense. Is there something old underneath that we've been choosing to ignore?
Without agreeing with any of the violence or looting that happened anywhere and going beyond what is often said about the lack of values among young people today,
This group did not grow up like we did! They grew up watching hours of reality shows, TV games, and Big Brother-style voyeurism, where the underlying psychological atmosphere is how the host and audience will ridicule the guests in the most "cleverly" mocking way. Our TV is full of shows just for show, like singing, acting, cooking, cleaning, styling, or anything else you can think of. There is a lot of bullying and verbal violence on these shows. The "judges" curse the people who are taking part. This under-culture is almost the standard now, making it harder for teachers and parents to stop bullying and violence among peers.
How does this relate to violence in riots? It has to do with violence during riots. Verbal violence is linked to all other types of violence because they involve not respecting another person so that "I have fun" or "break from the monotony of my life."
Since adults, the government, TV stations, and video game companies all allow, promote, and SELL these goods so easily (and are fine with it), why is it so shocking to see young people DOING what they have been taught online for so long? The kids learned what the adults had been trying to prepare them for so long. This is more than just the parents' job (there might not even be any parents!
"Looting" happens on a much larger scale, with governments, corrupt leaders, corrupt and greedy companies, corrupt media, etc. Why does it shock us when kids do in public what adults do in private (dressing up and smiling for the camera afterward) when they get their first chance? But the kids' acts are just as bad as those of the "system" they are trying to change. They can't fight the system with the same tools. This is not the way. But the young serve us naturally and without meaning to because they show us where we are as a society behind the cover-up.
The neglect is apparent. I also see major disregard in the young people here, especially regarding having limits, borders, rules, and discipline. The group can only stay together with directions that everyone agrees on. Not teaching or fairly enforcing kids' practices is serious mistreatment, and kids don't see it as a favor.
Raising a child with clear rules takes a lot of work, care, and energy. Many parents and teachers seem too tired to do it anymore. One example is the father who doesn't set rules for his kids and lets them mix and mess up CDs at a music store. So, they learn not to care about what other people own. Worse than that, many parents don't have these beliefs themselves, which is a sad truth. This could be a way for them to get back at society or play out the stealing they would do if they could. How can we expect kids not to steal when adults do it in sneaky ways that kids see and pick up on?
Young people who steal may not need money as much as care, time, and a real interest in themselves. They try to get what is missing in people from things. When young people grow up in a culture of individualism, consumerism, and an "each man for himself" mentality, they will eventually "burst" to act out this mentality dramatically. But what they need is time, attention, and real human interest. Giving a child attention and time can always go right. It's that easy, it's always needed, and it works.
Regarding politics, riots don't always mean "revolution." Anger and hopelessness are not enough to get the young people of a country to change a fairly unfair condition. It's important to set limits and boundaries for those in power. But how can you set limits for others if you don't have any yourself?
There have been brave people in many places on Earth who gave their lives to help others during uprisings. They picked this path even though they often knew it was risky. How many Westerners are willing to take such a risk today? I'm not saying these things should happen to us, but would we be selfless enough to lose something important to us for something bigger? Riots that start with anger over all the good things that "I" as a person lose can't be productive because they are short-lived and based on self-interest. Once the offense is out in the open, it loses its power and purpose.
This will be the biggest problem in Western societies, which have been boiling in selfish consumption almost to death for decades.
Individualism, greed, and competition have been eating away at our sense of community, link, and shared fate with others, which has taken away our power. Finding the strength and determination to keep a real movement going might take much work.
It is possible, though. There are still some people who keep these things inside. They are not the ones who break shop windows and marble, that's for sure.
Art: midjourney.com