Complain about the Community or Change it?

I've heard lots of comment, tweet and news reports this week from people telling others what they need to do to to solve 'the crisis' that we find ourselves in after the rioting. I've seen many tweets comparing rioters to bankers or even to MPs, citing lack of discipline in schools or lack of community schemes as the problem.

There's also been commentary about how this 'underclass' don't want to help themselves - that the benefit culture expect everything to be handed to them.   At the end of the day, it's pretty easy to sit around and complain and suggest that the problem is someone else's to sort out. But this attitude is not limited to the rioters. The general population are just as happy to see it as someone else's problem. It's easy to blame schools, to blame lack of community effort or even MPs for being corrupt. 

I just wonder how many people who criticise the discipline in schools or teachers for not instilling a sense of respect into these kids have bothered to look into helping out at their local school. Most schools have vacancies for Governors. A role which puts your right at the heart of the school, making strategic decisions on behaviour policies and discipline. You don't even have to be a parent - in fact it's often easier to make subjective decisions if you are not.If you don't want to make that sort of sacrifice, schools often want help reading with kids or getting involved in the fundraising for the school. 

I wonder how many people who still bleat on about MPs being corrupt and the expenses crisis actually bothered to vote. Each one of us had a chance to look at the person representing us and decide where to place our cross. How many peopel actually bothered to get out there, pound the streets and campaign. We all had a chance to remove anyone from parliament that we wanted but few got involved. In the end, it was easier to leave it to others and complain. 

I wonder how many people who say we need more youth projects, more funding for initiatives in the community have ever volunteered at one. How many have  even regularly put their hands in the pockets to help local initiatives. At the end of the day, its much easier to shoot from the sidelines

One of the most positive things that the past few days has been the clean up campaigns which have shown  that people are actually keen to support their community. Maybe that is the launchpad for others to get involved. Rather than blaming others and saying what's wrong with the country, go out and change it for yourself.