Have we lost our moral compass?

Summer Riots - unfortunately these not uncommon in the UK and once again we're living through general mayhem and ridiculous nonsense. If you can think back to the 1980s and particularly 1981 you might recall the spring and summer unrest in Bristol, Liverpool, Leeds and Birmingham. More recently in 2001  the north of England erupted at this time of year in what some media called ' the summer of discontent'.

So is it a case of 'plus ça change'? No, this time I believe there's  a shift change. It's different.

At least in the past there seemed to be a point to most of the trouble. Some of the unrest was in the name of race relations in our ever evolving British society. Economic differences and a sense of unfairness at the split between 'rich' and 'poor' have also played a part. This, of course, is not a British phenomenon. Historically across the world people have shown their anger at economic inequalities. It has even led to the creation of new economic systems like communism which have desperately tried but failed to create a more equitable society.

But this recent spate of trouble across England doesn't have a political agenda, or an economic motive, however much some of the political or media commentators would like that to be the case.

Watching the tv and listening to the radio - and that's as close as I've got to the trouble - this just looks like common-and-garden illegal and criminal activity and disrespect. The people - the kids - running riot through our cities in the past few nights appear to have just a couple of aims. To destruct and create havoc for havoc's sake and to steal stuff which doesn't belong to them. They call it 'looting', like that makes it any more legitimate. But it's theft!

After the first night of riots in London I had this thought:

I wonder how many of the kids at home this morning using their stolen IPod, or IPad or IPhone, or widescreen HDTV, or wearing their stolen trainers and designer tee-shirts or stolen jewellery, have even a SMIGDEN of conscience about how they got their 'new stuff' ?

What's happened to conscience? What's happened to 'right' and 'wrong'?

On the mainstream and social media there are lots of conversations about how this has happened, why this happened, who's to blame.

Parents, of course, have a huge responsibility to know what their kids are up to and to teach them right from wrong (if they know the difference themselves, which may also be in question). Some commentators are blaming the police, the prime minister, Uncle Tom Cobbly and All..... It's the fault of Twitter and Facebook because people have used social media to facilitate their illegal activity! Everyone is using these events for their own agendas. And I guess I'm doing the same in writing this little rant.

A wise friend of mine, however, reminded me on Facebook that it all goes much deeper than personal agendas.

This guy spends his life helping the impoverished and marginalised of the world and he wrote:

'Why do some young English people think it is ok to take\trash other people's goods? They are not facing absolute poverty as I see regularly in Africa and Asia. This is essentially caused by a loss of "moral compass". If I thought I was the only person who mattered, if I thought I would not be held accountable for my actions and if I thought happiness came from luxury goods or alcohol why would I not join the mob?'

He said it - we've lost our 'moral compass'. We've become more self centered, and in many cases, utterly selfish. Life is all about ME, ME , ME. If I want it, I'll take it. I don't care if it doesn't belong to me, I want  it. It doesn't matter how many people are hurt in the process, I'll have it.

I want it, I'll have it, I'll take it!

I'm reminded of the Respect agenda that was floated some years ago.  It's extremely complicated but the bottom line is - if we grow respect for ourselves, our environments and other people, we begin to be less selfish and our behaviour and relationships, interactions, communities and environments alter.

Perhaps we live in a society which puts too much emphasis now on possessions and image as a way of defining ourselves. Our media led celebrity culture encourages us to gather 'stuff' around us - that's the way we'll gain credibility and respect. Today, if they did not think so before, many people believe it is their RIGHT to have stuff that others have, even if they have not earned it. Perhaps this is part and parcel of the development of the 'something for nothing' culture which some people warned us about when the UK gambling laws were relaxed some years ago. But this doesn't account for the vandalism which we've seen in recent days. It isn't just about looting shops, or stealing from innocent bystanders while pretending to help them. In some cases it appears that the perpetrators have just destroyed property for fun.

Some say that anarchists are somehow driving the agenda - using social media to round up, and fire up, bored and impressionable young people who appear to have no focus. That's no surprise. There have always, in human history, been those ready to take political and moral advantage of others when they see that they are without purpose.

Culturally, I ask, are we beginning to be morally and ethically defunct?  Have the  differences between 'right' and 'wrong' really become so blurred? Do children learn today that the word 'No' means 'No'?  That it's WRONG to take something that doesn't belong to you, even it you want it or think you deserve it? What part of WRONG don't they understand when they smash their way into or burn down a baby's clothes shop, or a fancy dress party shop or an old, established furniture store which survived two world wars? Do they have no little voice inside their head (their conscience) which says 'Stop! This isn't right' ?

But it's not just kids and young people. Apparently (according to some media) in some places in recent days whole families have gone out looting together. A Family who Loots Together, Stays Together? It's beyond ridiculous!

Of course, there is still much good in our culture, let's not forget that. There ARE still whole families and communities where a night out ransacking the local shops is unacceptable behaviour. There is still much good done every day. The people on our tv screens do not represent British society. The kids raging through our town centres do not represent the youth of Britain!  It's up to us to ensure that ultimately, the good wins.