(Associated Press/Matt Dunham)
The news out of Britain sure isn't pretty, and neither is this picture. But as my husband remarked this morning, "That is the photo of the year." Indeed, I think it sums up the future of the western world.
Charles and Camilla, out for a night on the town, probably weren't expecting to be confronted by a rampaging mob. I guess that they weren't aware of the massive protests taking place over the proposed tuition hikes for university students. Why would they be concerned about such a thing? (However, I'm sure their security detail is going to have a lot to answer for.)
According to a report on Today, the head of the Royal Police said that officers at the scene "exercised restraint" in not opening fire on the crowd. But how much longer will such restraint continue to be exercised?
Class warfare is certainly nothing new. History is full of countless examples of great wealth being amassed on the backs of the poor and powerless. Sometimes the poor revolt, and the privileged are reduced to huddling in their castles, waiting for the hordes to storm through the gates. Then, if everyone is lucky, there's a brief period of egalitarianism before the whole cycle starts all over again.
I think we're seeing the end stages of the current cycle in Europe and the United States. There is no longer even the pretense of governments working toward the common good. Budget cuts and austerity for the masses. Bailouts and tax breaks for the wealthy few.
And here we are, four missed meals away from anarchy.
From The Guardian, the story behind the photo.
And also from The Guardian, a much better commentary than mine.
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Comments
Great post, Scarlett. I have been reading great articles about the end of our empire, and what the (bleak) future might look like.
Ought to be on the cover.
Do not know if this plays into it at all; however, Bonne Prince Charles recently said that his wife, who has been called the third member of Diana's marriage, could wind up as Queen.
Rotten monarchy.
Great piece/r/
aka, indeed! (But, of course, it may be that some of this anger is misdirected. Prince Charles doesn't make any government policy. But, as a member of "royalty", he is going to be a target of this kind of rage. That's just the way it is.)
Just Thinking, I agree. It seems like something new.
Stellaa, I think the whole WikiLeaks thing is an example of this too. When the government can tell a private business like PayPal to cut someone off (someone who hasn't been charged with any crime here), and that business complies immediately, we are seeing a dangerous complicity.
Owl_Says_Who, I keep wondering that too. I'll admit to having a small stockpile of food in my house. Am I being foolish?
Alison, that would have been something for sure. I think he may very well have been risking his life if he had done so. (I've been reading a lot of those kinds of articles as well. I don't know if I'm doing myself any favors.)
o'stephanie, thanks very much. I think any and all recognition, though, goes to the AP photographer who got this shot. The rest is just something I tossed off quickly.
Steve, isn't it though? I bet this will make a lot of "best of" lists for this year, and I wouldn't be surprised if it eventually becomes an iconic image.
sophieh, exactly. There really is nothing new under the sun.
Now I must listen to "White Riot" followed by "Anarchy in the UK."
R
I don't think it can be articulated any better than that.
Bravo.
That photo speaks volumes about what is wrong with our world....
R