There's no excuse. No excuse for the mayhem and random acts of violence that marked the post-Stanley Cup riots in Vancouver. No excuse for those who have rioted in the United Kingdom over the past few days just because well, just because.
For some involved in the London riots, of course, there may well have been a purpose - to show displeasure over a police-involved fatal shooting or over cuts to government programs resulting from the debt crisis. Those causes will no doubt be analyzed in public inquiries, and in the media, in the coming days and weeks. But many London-area rioters we heard interviewed over the past few days were simply so-called "disaffected youths" in it for the thrill of watching something burn, or get smashed.
Forgive us if we fail to see the fun in that. But that's what they said.
Far be it from us to equate the Stanley Cup riot, or the mayhem in London, with a more localized act of vandalism, possibly involving young Squamish residents. There is, we're told, an investigation underway into the destruction this week of almost-new playground equipment at Pat Goode Park, a popular place for children from Garibaldi Estates and further afield to play. When that investigation is complete, we sincerely hope that the person or persons responsible face the full force of Canada's justice system for such a wanton act of irresponsibility.
If there's a connection to be drawn, perhaps it's just that those who derive some sort of perverse thrill from destroying things need to channel their energy into organizing a pillow fight or a demolition derby - or maybe get a job. "Random" acts of mayhem and vandalism almost always have very real, specific and multiple victims. In the case of the Stanley Cup riot: the businesses whose windows were smashed, those whose cars were destroyed, and taxpayers who have to replace the police cruisers, signs and other items that were destroyed, as well as pay for the costs associated with calling our the riot squad.
Similarly, the apparently "random" act of vandalism that occurred at Pat Goode Park in the early morning hours on Thursday (Aug. 11) had victims as well: The families who won't get to play there in the coming months; taxpayers whose representatives will somehow have to scrape up the cash during a time of relative austerity to replace the play structures; and area residents, who probably feel their neighbourhood's peace, quiet and sense of security have been violated.
At the moment, we know a lot more about the effects than the causes. And the effects are hardly random.
- David Burke
