201 / Why?

When I saw the news with the London riots first, I asked myself that question: Why? Was it racial tension? Was it terrorism?

No, much worse.

An article in the SMH today explains it, and it's nothing short of shocking. The point is, the violence is not mindless, as the pollies would have you believe. For a taste of what's to come in England, take this: In one NBC report, a young man in Tottenham was asked if rioting really achieved anything.

''Yes,'' said the young man. ''You wouldn't be talking to me now if we didn't riot, would you? Two months ago we marched to Scotland Yard, more than 2000 of us, all blacks, and it was peaceful and calm and you know what? Not a word in the press. Last night a bit of rioting and looting and look around you."

The article is a reprint from a Penny Red blog.