Student riots

[Hugh Spencer]

What a disgraceful spectacle on the streets of London yesterday! Even those students who wanted to make a peaceful demonstration are not excused, if they continued to be amongst the others who started attacking the building. If they had thought " Is this what I want to be involved in" they could have withdrawn from the immediate area and let the police arrest the criminals causing the damage. These are the people who will be replacing their parents as the next generation. What a hope!

[sandyRoe]

Riots are just another way of saying: 'I'm not happy with this'. There were Poll Tax riots, Grosvenor Sq riots protesting about the war in Viet-nam, riots in Brixton and Liverpool. The Countryside Alliance even attacked police officers in Parliament Square. They were concerned about their right to kill foxes being restricted, I believe.

[jno]

as I said (or rather, cut and pasted) on another one of these blogs yesterday, if it hadn't been for violent protest, women wouldn't have the vote.

[bobjugs12]

Totally agree Hugh,

In fact I think I may go down to Portsmouth Uni, invade the Student Union and trash it, whilst beating up soap-dodgers at the same time!! Anybody fancy joining me?

[oscarina]

I hope the universities find out who the rioters were and expel them, these people are the next generation of doctors dentists etc. Pity they can't have a peaceful demo to explain their plight, any excuse for violence.

[bobjugs12]

On a more serious note, what exactly were they protesting about? I still fail to understand why the increase of the cap on tuition fees has caused so many ill-feelings.

[MickyMacgraw]

Oscarina can the universities get involved with what happens outside it's walls? I would've thought not.

[jake-the-peg]

Violence often effects change.

We now have the spectacle of those who supported the invasion of Iraq and the consequent killing of thousands upon thousands of civillians violently condemning students for their violence in smashing some windows.

Without a shade of irony

[jno]

yes, the huge protests against getting involved in Iraq were peaceful. The politicians ignored them. This protest included some violence and the politicians have noticed. It's the only way to make a point.

[Hugh Spencer]

I don't agree with any of the remarks made about the justification of VIOLENT protests. Everybody should be prepared to confront the people concerned if they are making decisions which are unavoidable or unjust. The last government 'left the pot empty' so do all of you live above your means to finance your lifestyle? Where do you think the money is coming from to finance everybody's wishes. As for the 'red herring' about civilian casualties in war, I did not agree with going to war in Iraq without a UN mandate. And don't forget ,in war, many, many casualties are caused because civilians are used as protective shields.plus if any bullet is fired it is quite possible that others are killed instead of the target.

[jake-the-peg]

Civillians are used as Human shields eh Hugh?

You do know that when the US believed Sadam Hussein was at a particular restaurant they tgetted a tommohawk missile and blew the entire place up full of diners

Is that the sort of Human shield you're talking about?

As for a red herring - Is that a new term for facts inconvenient to one's argument.

To see politicians with their hands dripping with innocent blood going on about the violence of some broken windows and burning placards is hypocrasy of the highest order

[jno]

so do you think women should have their vote removed again, to teach them that violent protest is unacceptable?

[Hugh Spencer]

The Suffragettes stood their ground and made their protest in order to demonstrate that women should have the vote but I don't remember reading anywhere that they were prepared to destroy innocent people's property. They were prepared to sacrifice their own lives which was a different matter.
With regards to the subject of human shields, it has been proved that the Taliban have mixed with innocent civilians so that they hope for some protection. I am sure that if I knew that somebody living near me was the target of the military, etc., I would not be staying around very long. I repeat that I did not agree to the invasion of Iraq.

[sandyRoe]

The suffragettes were famous window smashers and also dabbled in arson. Valuable aims don't come easily.

[sammmo]

the whole point of the riots was to demonstrate against the fact that the students were having to pay more towards there own education.. So welcome to the real world..nowadays nobody gets anything for nothing.. Why should the taxpayers have to subsidies there education..they have already had free education at school at the taxpayers expense.. If you want to get a degree and then go on and get a well paid job just pay for your own education its as easy as that ..I actually think they should pay more..They always seem to have money to take a year out don't they?

[pastafreak]

Granted-education does not come cheap. I have relatives on my exe's side who are academics,and I know that British universities need to pay very well,and at a particular level if they want to keep good professors in this country. They could all easily get a far better salary and standard of living in the States,for example.
But to see your fees go up to three times what the current rate is,can be hard to take. Imagine if we all saw food prices go up by the same rate...and most of us know that food is cheap...we also would be upset and angry.
Maybe a gradual,stepped program of fee increases would have been better. Do not forget that these increases affect not only students,but in many cases -parents who may have hoped to help with the cost of fees and other expenses....which can vary greatly according to what part of the country you are in.
My daughter just finished four years in London...and she is more than £40,000 in debt which included living grants. A potential doctor is looking at debts of £70,000........and that's before the proposed increases.

[jomifl]

jno.. there is no excuse for violence, and it wasn't violence that got women the vote.