As we all know, there has been rioting in England for the past several days. About 1,000 people have been arrested thus far with more to come. Besides having a son-in-law stationed with the Air Force in England and our youngest daughter over there with him right now, I also have several friends. Two days ago I was chatting with several of them over the Internet and was saddened to have one comment that the rioting in his city was taking place only about 150 yards from his house. He is OK, but it was troubling.
As the riots appear to have died down, the post-riot analysis is beginning. I wish to be cautious about making any final statements because Great Britain is another set of cultures from USA culture. Thus, I do not fully understand their culture. But, at this point it appears that all three major parties (Conservatives, Labour, and Liberal Democrat) are agreed that youth disenchantment and unemployment is a major problem for their society. The unemployment rate for adults up the late 20’s is higher than that in the USA. According to the parties, this contributes to a sense of helplessness, hopelessness, and a feeling that they do not have any ownership stake in British society as it now stands.
Please note that none of the parties are in any way excusing the behavior of the rioters. Nor are any of the parties suggesting that they are any less guilty. Rather, there seems to be a basic agreement that if Britain cannot come up with some solutions and some hope that there may be further and/or increasing social upheavals to come. Note that the parties have not agreed on any solutions yet. It is too soon. But at least they are apparently agreed on what the basic problem is, which is a good beginning.
So, let’s remember to offer up our prayers for the three main parties, that having made that good beginning, they may be able to come to an agreement on some ways to address that feeling of hopelessness, and some practical solutions to the employment problems faced by those in their 20’s.
This may also be an early cautionary tale for us, though again let me remind all that we are a different culture and the British experience may not apply at all. But, it may be good for our country to look at our high unemployment adults in their 20’s to make sure that they do not lose hope and that there will be an American Dream that they can inherit. Lest some are tempted, please do not take the avenue of saying that “they” could simply find jobs if they wished to or that they could better themselves. The reality is not that simple in either Great Britain or here.
For instance, our Iraq veteran daughter who won the Bronze Star and has a good Bachelor’s degree is, like many younger veterans, unable to find employment after returning to this country in January despite an impeccable resume. She is now taking some Master’s degree classes, but there is no guarantee that even a Master’s might help. Could she get a job at a McDonald’s or some such? Possibly, and she may someday have to. But, where is the hope and the future in that? At best she would be marking time, and she is but one example of many of our adults in their 20’s who find themselves in similar situation, particularly after our country has requested them to put their lives on hold for a year and then put their lives in danger. The situation is the same for many in their 20’s who may not have served, but graduated from high school (or college) with the hope of the American Dream. Those who are college graduates are in a particularly bad way because many are in serious debt from their college studies.
Do I have a solution? No, but I can make the same suggestion as I did for Great Britain. Let’s pray that our political parties may also be able to make a good beginning and find agreements that can be used to build a solid America. If we believe that “prayer changes things,” then this is a good time to pray. It is a particularly good time for the Orthodox, as we are in the season in which supplicatory canons are offered on Fridays (and Wednesdays). So, let’s get praying.
Father, As you requested-Your daughter and her family in the UK are in my prayers-as is your returning student daughter-and the leaders of the UK and USA-val
It makes me sad reading this- and I ask myself, how long would it take for something like this to happen in the US? (which with all of the post 9-11 security and jacked up police forces is very doubtful) but the people can only be pushed so far but their government. It also makes me sad for your daughter – in what kind of world do we live in when someone who has done all that comes home and cant find work. (I know the feeling well as I am 30, and unemployed and not eligible for unemployment as I worked freelance.) It disheartening.
It is a cautionary tale because we too could face similar situations if current trends continue. I found it interesting that in a country where I had thought Christianity was losing ground, the response has been to ask for prayer…and they have my commitment. I’m happy to add your family to my list. I certainly understand as my son in the Air Force (currently in Italy) had considered getting out but after evaluating his employment options (not much call for ammo at American Airlines lol) he has decided to re-enlist and probably make the military his career for now.
Praying!
One of the main roots of our problem is that almost all decent jobs that offer a living wage to support a family are high tech now, or at least require higher education. Many people simply don’t have the aptitude, not to mention the money, to pursue the necessary levels of education for those jobs. And, obviously, even those with the educational credentials are having trouble finding work.
There should be no shame in not being suited for college-level studies. Being not inclined towards academic study does not make a person lazy or bad, but you’d almost think it did with the contempt our culture seems to have developed towards working-class jobs and people who don’t want to or can’t go to college.. It used to be that people could graduate from high school and make a respectable career with a living, family-supporting wage in factory work or the trades. Now that we’ve outsourced most of our manufacturing to other countries and have shut down thousands of factories, so many of those jobs are gone for good.
This is a terrible situation, and until we find a way to fix it, we’ll be in deep trouble and getting deeper.
That is very true. The USA allowed a lot of manufacturers to outsource their manufacturing to another country and then bring the product back in as though it were a USA product. It has fairly well destroyed the working class in this country. People will tell stories of the young adults who have made it, but almost every story is a story of a college graduate or an entrepreneur. There are no “tales” today, like there used to be when I was growing up, of the high school graduate who got a factory job, got married, settled down, and raised a happy family. We have destroyed that story under the guise of the free market and letting the “job creators” be unbridled.
My daughter who has a BA is still working at the job she had all during college–as a waitress. There are simply no jobs. She is currently taking courses for a certificate in another field, but even then, the jobs are scarce. She is blessed in that she had scholarships and so has no student loans. She has looked into a Masters, but is reluctant to incur the student loans when she knows folks with a Masters in her field who do not have jobs. It is disheartening.
Alix