The Issue: Rioting, looting and arson that have struck several major British cities and overwhelmed police.
As former British PM Margaret Thatcher once said, “The veneer of civilization is thin” (“Lessons of London’s Riots, Editorial, Aug. 12).
How right she was. England’s middle class is now being brought to its knees by roving gangs of criminals.
When the fires of London burn out, the world will realize that the light of democracy burns weaker in Europe.
Edmond Day
Rotterdam
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It seems that the UK rioters see no value in other people’s property.
That might be because they’ve never had to work for any of the schooling, housing, food and medical care they’ve been given all their lives.
Maybe they are “entitled” to have what others have, simply because it seems fair.
But when society no longer values individual effort, the value of property decreases to zero.
In the end, if the rioters want something badly enough, someone somewhere will be willing to provide it.
Brian Daniel
Manhattan
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The only lesson to be learned from the riots in England, or anywhere else, is shoot to kill.
That’s a message the rioters will truly understand — and they’ll either stop their mayhem or be brought down.
Steve Becker
East Meadow
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It saddens me to see our friends in Britain harmed by thugs and domestic terrorists who are using the death of a criminal at the hands of the police as an excuse to bring anarchy and hooliganism into the streets.
Under these untenable circumstances, the government has a right and a duty to declare an emergency and order rabble-rousers off the streets.
If it means that some of the rioters are wounded, so be it. Protecting innocent people and their property must be the first priority of the government.
The coddling of violent criminals foments mayhem. A powerful, massive police presence free to put down the insurrection is essential to restore order and respect for authority.
Oren M. Spiegler
Upper Saint Clair
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The looting and arson in English cities by criminal thugs of the permanent underclass are the fruit of the Labor Party’s radicalism and welfare-state entitlements and come thanks to the insane immigration policies pursued by Great Britain since the end of World War II.
Robert Sieger
Manhattan