BS: Southport tragedy

Subject: BS: Southport (UK) tragedy
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 08:44 AM

I thought there may be a thread already but cannot see one. For those that do not know a 17 year old boy went on a rampage with a knife in this lovely Lancashire seaside resort. This link gives the reaction of the community and is a good starting point.

It is simply awful and to make matters worse a right wing hate group is spreading the lie that immigrants are to blame and have started attacking mosques and the police. Another link for that side of it. More recently the youth has been named as Axel Rudakubana and will turn 18 next week. He was born in Cardiff to Rwandan parents and there is no known links to terrorism, Islamic or otherwise.

The parents of these children and loved ones of the adults are suffering enough grief without these scumbags hijacking the tragedy for their own sick ends. I don't know what has gone wrong with people in the last few years.

Greatly saddened by the tragedy and angry at both the atrocity and the mob reaction to it :-(

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Doug Chadwick
Date: 01 Aug 24 - 09:36 AM

Greatly saddened by the tragedy and angry at both the atrocity and the mob reaction to it :-(

I'm with you on this DtG. I know Southport well. My mother ended her days in there and I couldn't imagine such a horrendous act taking place in the town. I am sickened by the violence which has attached itself to such a sad event.

DC

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: keberoxu
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 02:23 PM

This brings back memories of, I think it was Dunblane,
and the schoolmaster who said to the press:
"Evil visited us yesterday, and we don't know why."

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: The Sandman
Date: 02 Aug 24 - 09:40 PM

according to BBC NEWS the prosecution said he had an "autism spectrum disorder diagnosis"

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 01:47 AM

Its about a lot of bad things in our society. Scrimping on spending for mental health; the anti-hero status we cede to violent criminals for whatever the cause; teachers with nowhere to turn when they find they have a 'time bomb' like this in their class.

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Georgiansilver
Date: 03 Aug 24 - 06:17 AM

I find it hard to understand what makes people behave in this manner. Not just in the UK but wherever. What motivates the thoughts that bring such incidents about? I'm at a loss.

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 06:10 AM

I have moved the political discussion to the Brexit and UK politics thread where it belongs. Let's leave this thread to pay our respects to those poor little girls and their grieving parents. Someone mentioned Dunblane earlier. It is reminiscent and, as that tragedy had massive repercussions, let us hope that some good comes out of this one. I am in no way justifying what Rudakubana did but when we find the motives and have a fuller picture of what caused this, maybe, just maybe, we can take a step towards making sure it never happens again.

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Big Al Whittle
Date: 04 Aug 24 - 08:34 AM

I think some people do have unhappy and difficult lives, and it all goes wrong and they become cruel and vicious.

Or as I imaine Dave would prefer - they do cruel and vicious things.
( abit like the distinction of me not being a racist, but saying something racist.)

I suppose the effect for the person on the end of the racist remark or the cruel action is much the same whoever perpetrates it.

Anyway you pays your money - yo takes your choice.

You can go the way of America and the company making lethal injections becomes part of the great capitalist success story.
Or you can wring your hands and say we can't afford to help parents and teachers and social workers who find themselves guardians of social misfits.

And of course whatever you do, you can't afford to do it for everyone in the world. The Health Service and the Welfare State was put there for the ciizens who defended and paid taxes to and loved our country.

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Neil D
Date: 09 Aug 24 - 06:00 AM

Watching from a distance the right-wing thuggery over the last week on the streets of Britain, I kept thinking England needs a new Cable Street reaction. Then yesterday I was encouraged by the massive response by anti-racism counter protesters who came out in big numbers in cities all over the country. Everywhere the fascists tried to start trouble they were met by antifascists with superior numbers. Not only does this take the winds out of the black sails of intolerance, it demonstrates to the world that the vast majority of British people are not far right hooligans. In one particularly heartwarming incident pub goers openly embraced a group of Muslims who happened to be walking by the pub.

Subject: RE: BS: Southport tragedy
From: Dave the Gnome
Date: 12 Aug 24 - 08:42 AM

It was the funeral of Alice da Silva Aguiar yesterday and it brought a tear to my eye as I am sure it did to all but the most hard hearted. Lovey piece here in the Guardian

Let her dance to heaven