meanwhile back in the real world…. this is NYE for “townies”
London Ambulance report 35 stabbings and many alcohol related incidents
multiple incidents of violence in Reading filled our local Emergency Department – one lad was beaten until he had a fit and left in the street. Group violence erupted at Brannigans and other town centre venues, many casualties.
in the provinces there were plenty more stabbings amongst young angry people, a mini riot in grimsby (650 999 calls, 81 arrests!) [1]
incidentally violence figures are more accurate via NHS sources as many people sort things out themselves rather than go to cops or criminal justice system, but injuries which draw blood often require medical treatment….
naturally the extended licensing hours are being blamed for this – but is this really the cause? Most cities have had extended opening on NYE since the mid-90s and it became more common since the millenium (which was relatively trouble free!)
what is more likely is that violence is getting worse and worse in society, over the year more people are seeing it as a solution and using weapons than ever before. [2]
we can’t even gloat and say “free parties and the people who attend them are better” – this is no longer the case; people just seem to be taking all their stress and anger to them and exploding when the drugs/alcohol take effect…
people are bringing years old grudges and their relationship disputes to events, crews are now having to be peacemakers as well as set up parties…
Worst of all NYE is supposed to be a night of celebration in Great Britain – where an old Scots song associated with the celebrations (and sung UK-wide) actually claims that old grudges are to be forgotten!
where will it all end? crews can try to stop the scuffles (at least if there are not too many weapons), but hate still remains, it appears to be getting worse, and if someone really goes off particularly with all the weapons it there’s actually very little stopping them murdering someone in a corner over the din of the rigs…
it only takes one blow with a bottle or knife to a vital organ and people appear to strike first and think later – but such an incident would go unnoticed until the body was found in the morning – by then the killer may have left and the crews will be all being interviewed by the cops (maybe even as potential suspects).
Rigs will be seized as “crime scene evidence” and people bailed for months with a potential “suspicion or murder/manslaughter” charge hanging over their heads.
(this already has happened after a stabbing in London) – this sort of thing makes people wonder whether putting on raves is worth it!
WTF is going on? thought it was supposed to be about having fun!
I know liberals often say the violence is because of the the war and tony blair / duyba thinking its OK to bomb Iraq” – but thats an excuse really, just because they have power doesn’t give anyone the right to use violence other than in self defence… nor does a “bad background” or any of the other excuses heard these days…
A lot of lads appear to be still fascinated by fighting and terrorism (particularly as the terrorist attacks worldwide are mostly produced by gangs of angry young men) – many boys/men today come across sounding as if their idea of an ideal society is a male-run society where the best fighter wins by any means possible (weapons/firearms as well as physical strength) and everyone else is subordinate…
I can understand this as I was like this as a boy (of about 10) but surely you mature when you reach your teens or 20s and become a better citizen?
But whilst people might think violence gives them power but its only short term, ravers/youths are a minority in a wider society who do not have that much power.
If we continue turning our social spaces into battlegrounds, the conventional authorities and wider society will strike back for “the greater good”
Extended licenses will be revoked and replaced by curfews, ASBOS and other legislation will be increasingly used to prevent unlicensed gatherings, and our movements will be monitored and curtailed.
When we protest, wider society (not just cops) will simply say “we gave you many chances and you screwed it all up”
Are we going to just sit back and watch this happen?
sources..
[1] http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,1676521,00.html
[2] http://www.guardian.co.uk/crime/article/0,2763,1676910,00.html
