To Assume Makes an Ass Out of U and Me
Declan Harvey is ashamed that he let his assumptions about some Peckham teenagers get the better of him.
17 Aug 2011, 00:16
Never assume
There were cries for more jobs and affordable homes. Heckles came for the multi-millionaire mayor to donate some of his spare change to help ease life in SE15. Boris promised to speak with his besuited buddies in Westminster about helping parents regain authority over their kids by removing the threat of child protection legislation where children need to be disciplined.
After giving me a quick interview in the relative calm of a clothes shop Boris returned muttering to the crowd outside. As chaos grew a team of Scotland Yard bodyguards decided it was best to abandon plans to return to City Hall by train (as is normal) and instead bundled BJ into a police van and drove off.
The rabble soon returned to normal mid-week busyness and I was interested in getting some reactions. There is a certain type of middle aged woman who will always give a good vox-pop when approached. They tend to be louder than most and get easily distracted. There is also a certain type of gentleman – usually wearing tracksuit bottoms – who is equally willing to bestow his thoughts upon a radio audience but I spotted a group of Peckham ‘yoof’ standing across the road. They were numerous, some had hoods, they stood with their backs to the world and they were in Peckham. They bore the stereotypical hallmarks of a gang – hallmarks, with respect, I’ve come to recognise as a reporter who spends most of his time navigating the streets of our fair city.
[The author at this point begins to cringe as only a foolish man can.]
Weighing up the potential dangers I reasoned that in a busy street in broad daylight I would be safe enough so I chanced to chat. Admittedly as I walked towards them with my work-experience-tag-along a nervous joke was exchanged… something to do with this being potentially my last ever interview should their welcome be unwelcoming. My glib comment now taunts me.
I’ll cut to the chase. I introduced myself and instantly the group opened up and began to energetically give their thoughts on the Mayor’s tour. They instantly described it as a “political stunt” asking why he was in Peckham today and not in the weeks and months before the riots. They explained that since the Coalition removed their Education Maintenance Allowance (EMA) a bitter taste had remained with young people in the area. One said he saw no evidence of City Hall’s much trumpeted £15m of investment in grassroots sports. His pal accused Mr Johnson of “taking up space” on their street.
The group was smart, articulate, informed, clever, charming and yes, numerous, some had hoods, they stood with their backs to the world and they were in Peckham.
I am not an ignorant man but somewhere along the line my experiences and the rhetoric from the powers-that-be merged to make me an ass.
For hours after I left the group I professed “wow, weren’t they amazing?”. They made a real impression not because they were super-human but because I’d approached with little expectation of who and how they’d be. I don’t do that with politicians or bankers. For example I’ve long stopped checking their individual expense claims and I regularly ignore the colourful headlines they once created. And to be honest I’m ashamed.
The thought struck me: why do we so easily remember the negative attributes of the young and yet forget the trespasses of the powerful? Perhaps they’re better at distracting us. It’s a real worry – because I’m a member of the press. I have a large degree of editorial control over my work. I don’t believe my presumptions have dictated an angle of story to date – in fact I’m sure they haven’t - but today was a wakeup call, like realising your eyes are closing whilst your driving a car just before you drift off to sleep and off the road.
I’ve not converted to a patron of young people; we know they’re not and never were perfect. But I did get a start when I realised how easily one can begin to accept the opinions fed to us by Westminster, local authorities, numerous interested parties… and yes, the media.
We’re in for a tumultuous few months. We’ll see those who burgled, injured or damaged last week face the consequences. Elsewhere there’ll be a frenzy to “learn lessons”. This frenzy I suggest will lead to sweeping statements about what now needs to be done about gangs on our streets and disillusioned young people going off the rails.
The teenagers I met today were disillusioned but they were far from off the rails. They were very much capable of deciphering what the solutions to their problems are. For example, one said there’s a need for local youth centres. Another suggested the Mayor help advertise the few centres that do exist. (In fact, they told me how they were among a small group of teenagers trying desperately to keep their local drop-in centre open). A third guy was no older than 16 and angry at the number of betting shops allowed to open along the street where we stood – it was taking advantage of his vulnerable neighbours, he said. The mayor agreed with him and in Boris’ defence he’s been among the few voices suggesting any new policies are put on hold until a full dialogue to identify the root causes of the riots is complete.
As we wade through the coming weeks of accusation and blame, solution and cure let’s make sure we keep our heads. To assume makes an ass out of you and me. ASS.U.ME
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