Riots riots everywhere...except in Egypt?

In the two weeks I was in England and Scotland nothing major happened in Egypt - but riots consumed London. My Mom is really tired of calling to make sure I'm alive and well. I don't think that would have ever been a concern while I was in the UK, she probably thought she'd have two weeks off from worrying. Little did she know...

I'm not going to comment on the reasons for the London riots (if there were any) but going to the UK puts life in Egypt in perspective. Or perhaps it's the other way around.

Many of those who rioted came from the bottom of British society. But compared to the members in the bottom of Egyptian society these people are not doing to bad. Free housing, free healthcare, unemployment benefits, free public education. For those of us who have lived in "developed" countries, it is easy to feel sympathy for people who are poor in our country's because this many times the worst case economic scenario we have seen first hand.

It would be difficult to convince many poor Egyptians that these people deserve our sympathy. Living in a country which affords few unemployment or other social benefits, with little opportunity for education or equality, makes poverty infinitely more difficult. There are many Egyptians who do not have housing, or even more that make public housing in the UK seem like five star living.

So who do we feel bad for? Do the poor in developed countries deserve sympathy or support? Or should we scorn them for not realizing that they are far better off than their impoverished counterparts in developing countries?

Personally, I don't think either category should receive just sympathy - I think these people deserve support and acknowledgement. Because if we are people in a place to criticize others, than we probably have been given enough to be able to help. Given in the sense that we were born into families able to provide a quality education and encouragement to persevere or given in the sense that we have talents and brains enough to make our own way.

Poverty is not choice for most and many times is symptomatic of conditions beyond an individuals control.

I'm not advocating that people be relieved of personal responsibility - far from it. I am simply advocating that the poor should not be looked upon with contempt but rather with a level of understanding. I truly believe that most people would leap at a chance to further themselves if given the opportunity before having a chance to become embittered with their situation.

Are there bad people? Yeah. Are there people who are lazy and want to take advantage of what they can? Of course. They are called Wall Street. Just kidding. Sort of.

So why riots in London? I dunno, but if there is one thing I believe after witnessing the Egyptian revolution - people don't generally take to the streets for no reason.