What is happening to the UK?

August 10th, 2011 · No Comments

In this last week there have been many blogs, tweets, and posts about the horrific sights of the rioting in the UK. Well, I can’t resist one more, but perhaps observing the situation from a distance I can bring a different perspective. One of my very wise consultancy colleagues always said ‘there is no perception without contrast’.

I was in the UK up until a few days ago. Over the last 3 years I probably visit at least once a year. Before I left the UK I lived in middle class house in a middle class county town, yet in the year before leaving I had to call the police a couple of times to complain about drunkenness, excessive noise and disturbance – was I getting ‘middle aged’ or was there a problem with deteriorating behaviour? Walking into the local shopping area I frequently had to steer past pools of vomit from the excesses of the night before, and when driving home through the town late at night at the weekend, we had to be careful to avoid the staggering drunken youths crossing the streets. Each year when I return I see further evidence of respect for others and basic good manners being diminished.

Now switch to Qatar – no riots here, even in the heat of the Arab Spring, all has remained calm – ok, things are not perfect and some people are treated worse than others, but my observations on the culture here might be indicators on what’s wrong with the UK.

In Qatar there is:

very strong family relationships – families eat together, meet together, have fun together
controlled drinking laws
strong religious faith
high employment
strong economy

Ok, the UK may not want to ‘import’ a wholesale change of culture, but there are elements from which the UK can learn – for me the priority would be parenting. Strengthen the role of the family and give teachers and police back the authority to discipline bad behaviour.

So, personally rant over – the good news to come out of this is the strengthening of community spirit in those areas who got together to clean up their streets. Hopefully this unity and communication will continue – if 2012 Olympics are to be a success, the UK will need to encourage these initiatives!