What is life? What value does life hold? What is it to end life? These are the questions – as panoramic and timeless as they are – I have found myself contemplating in recent weeks, particularly in response to the recent jump in juvenile knife crime (especially in the London area). Indeed, two more youths have so tragically and painfully lost their lives in recent days (including yet another since Ryan Castle’s recent post)…
Why? Why? Clearly we do not know the circumstances surrounding each of these deaths, but we can be sure that the victims were not worthy of such fatal judgements. Of course, by ‘victims’ I refer to more than just the recipient of the actual violation, but to a whole number of other people: the mother; the father; the brother and the sister; the girlfriend or boyfriend; the friend; the best friend; the teacher; the shop-owner; and also, the lonely individual in the future who now won’t meet the person to whom they were supposed to fall in love with… Perhaps also a thought for the aggressor(s), who will lose their liberty, lose any potential they had in life, indeed, they will lose their own life. It seems then, that every person loses. So, why? Who knows.
I shall resist trying to answer the aforementioned questions. Suffice to say, life is something worth holding on to, something worth celebrating, and so not to be extinguished. I must attempt to conclude constructively, and so I refer you to the unfailing words of Mother Teresa: “Spread love everywhere you go…”she said, before going on, “…first of all in your own house.”
The Police and other tools may well be the most suited to being “tough on crime…” But, if we are to be “tough on the causes of crime” (I praise Tony Blair’s recognition of the problem here, but not so much his subsequent record on it), then we simply must listen to these blessed words. David Cameron is abundantly right to stress the importance of staying together, to focus on the family, and on the relationships (and huge benefits) that lie therein. After all, as I have suggested, the beneficiaries of such a reaffirmation would not just be one or two here and there; but society would benefit. God knows precious lives may be saved as well.
19/03/2007 at 07:32 |
While it is possible to think of actual policy to deal with crime itself, dealing with the causes is more tricky, hence why Labour have found it so difficult. I’m not so sure that Dave Cameron placing more emphasis on the family will have any tangible affect.
19/03/2007 at 11:40 |
Whilst a range of issues need to be tackled I think visible and effective policing is a key part of dealing with the causes of crime. Many high profile crimes can be traced back to police failure to deal with lower level crime and so failing to nip emerging problems in the bud. In the case of London, much of the blame must lie with Ken Livingstone.
19/03/2007 at 12:14 |
I agree that better policing has an important role to play in tackling crime, but i maintain that promoting the family is central, and key. Further, i believe that family break-down is the true ’cause’ of not only raising juvenile crime, but lack of achievement in school, and wider unhappiness and discontent. This is not merely an ideological position either, there is a wealth of evidence linking family break-down with many of the problems that our society endure today.
19/03/2007 at 14:46 |
Furthermore, the amount of family break downs is increasing all the time and thus adding to the problem. I think the problem is trying to get people out of the cycle of crime and finding it acceptable to live in civilised society.
19/03/2007 at 15:27 |
Your piece is in tune with Cameron’s new Conservatism. A focus on the family and community as the best structure within which to pass on values, is something that has been lost in recent years. While the Thatcher Government’s main cause was transforming Britain economically, the Blair Government’s cause was to attempt a social transformation of Britain. In this the New Labour project has a poor record. The central idea behind the new labour revolution was investment in public services and welfare to deliver a more settled and cohesive society. Unfortunately while ample money has been invested, indeed, record amounts, the results have been less forthcoming. Leaving schools and hospitals to their own affairs; supporting charities; promoting localism; and a renewed focus on the community, are the politics of the future. And here, Conservatism draws on its old friend, One Nationism.
19/03/2007 at 15:34 |
One of the first things Cameron said after becoming leader was that the impact on the family of every policy would be considered. I fully agree.