This is (still) London

The London riots are scary and senseless and all together just a whole lot of WTF-ery.

It’s times like this when I think of one of Scott’s grandma’s classic lines: “Life…I’m glad I’m on my way out and not my way in.”

We normally laugh and roll our eyes when she says it. But she’s got a point.

(Sign on doors of a Subway sandwich shop. Source.)

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Thankfully the riots were not where I live or where I work, although there have been reported incidents of looting, arson, and vandalism in between home and the office. But it is about time I wasn’t in the middle of a major event over here.

The headlines read as though the end of the world is near. But there are still stories about good will. People are joining together to clean up the vandalism, to organize clothing drives, to donate money to the victims and to even make tea for the police officers.

Some say the high unemployment rate is the catalyst for the riots. Others say it is the youth of today and/or the welfare state in Britain. And/or race relations. And/or because of politicians. And/or a knock-on effect of America’s credit rating. And/or just mob mentality. Everyone has something to say or tweet or update their status with. (If a breaking news event doesn’t make you reevaluate your online friendships, I don’t know what will because man, it is eye-opening, and jaw-dropping, what some “friends” have to say.)

There are more police around than usual. More sirens. But there are still lots of people going about their everyday business. I still can’t get a seat on my train in the morning. There are still swarms of tourists. And they are still laughing and smiling and generally looking like they are having a good time over here.

Please still visit. It’s still a great place and there is much more to it than what’s been on the news. There are still more good people than bad. It can still get better.

And I’m not just talking about London.