[MD] London Gangs

[Platt Holden]

Hi All,

Thanks to the recommendation by Jos. Laycock I went to  the internet
edition of The Guardian to see what was going on in jolly old England.
Imagine my surprise to learn that in this socialist paradise the PM
has found it necessary to address gang crime:

"Tony Blair today called on Britain's black communities to speak out 
against gang culture, as he promised further new laws against knife and 
gun crime.

"Following the violent deaths of seven black teenagers in London over the 
past three months, the prime minister said the killings were the "latest 
manifestations of severe disorder".

Now I wouldn't mention this except that it cames as news to me that 
England suffers from the same affliction as the U.S in this regard and 
that Pirsig's description of New York appears to apply to London as well: 

"Phaedrus wasn't sure but he seemed to detect a peculiar gentleness here 
on the streets now that he didn't remember from the past. It was an 
ominous gentleness found in old and corrupt cultures, the gentleness one 
hears in Neapolitan street songs and in old Mexican canciones. It comes 
not from an absence of violence but from an excess of it. Live and let 
live. Avoid trouble. It was the gentleness of someone who has given up 
fighting openly because it is too dangerous to do so. He had the sickening 
feeling that something like the fall of the Roman Empire was beginning to 
happen here. What was so sinister now about New York was that the patterns 
that built it no longer seemed understood-or those who understand the 
patterns are no longer in control of those who don't." (Lila, 24)

Well, live and learn as they say. You can bet from now on I will be 
checking the Guardian and the Independent for reliable news from Britain. 
For instance, I see that the Defense Minister and the PM both now regret
the decision to let the sailors sell their stories of captivity to the 
media. But late than never I guess. 

Thanks, Jos.

Regards,
Platt