Before each show I try to plan out what my views are for my appearance. These notes are the based on the first draft & not reflective (!) of what will eventually go out ‘live’.
I’ll try and put up the show & should really promise to blog more as its been a while!

What is your view of what happened in London last week ?
I believe it was a mix of opportunism and wasted energy, coupled with an underlying development of gangs that have become prevalent without the mainstream realising their surge.

If you look at the profile of some of those who took part some looked like they just ‘jumped on the bandwagon’. However, others have serious mob/gang mentality based on a possible lack of confidence or the need to exploit.

They are also street savvy! Using free social media to mobilise their forces and agendas.

Have we become a society that is too orientated on self propagation?
I believe that the emphasis in mainstream reporting on celebrity, accumulating possessions and attachment to worldly goods takes us away from a spiritual path.

In Sikhism we believe that there are five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. They are: Lust, Rage, Greed, Attachment and Ego.

Do you have any worries for communities?
I worry about the need for disaster recovery strategies and the need for places of worship to connect to local authorities. Are systems, communications and early warning procedures in place. Are those in-charge, including the Police able to stay one step ahead of those hell bent on venting rage?!

How can we motivate our youth to do good?
Maybe our politicians need our help to suggest new ways of connecting across the world and harmonising economies.

Markets bounce about and yet people still die in Africa !? Why? Why are there have nots, haves and have yachts? I’m not suggesting that people should not enjoy life, maybe we’ve forgotten to share in bringing joy to others. Somebody once said to me that in some parts of the world people live for themselves, in others people live for each other. Maybe its the latter we need to move towards.

Moment of Reflection.
At the beginning of the week I bought a shiny new pair of shoes that I wore to a couple of long business meetings.

Unfortunately, by Wednesday as sometimes new shoes do, they started hurting my feet and I began to regret that I had not worn them in or maybe I should have used shoe stretchers to help!

Last week the nation looked on initially as bystanders in shock as the actions of a set of gangs and possibly disenfranchised youth from all walks of life embarked on trashing our towns and cities. After a few days many communities established a stance of protection and mutual support.

My new shoes today are like the gangs in that they attempted to hurt. What we need today is to help understand how we can make them comfortable with life. How can we stretch our future generation to accept that by being part of a community you can have a better life by helping others.

In Sikhism we believe that there are five major weaknesses of the human personality at variance with its spiritual essence. They are: Lust, Rage, Greed, Attachment and Ego.

Maybe our politicians need our help to suggest new ways of connecting across the world and harmonising economies. Humanity needs to come now together to work for common good by establishing formal ways of recruiting people to serve in other nations to prevent starvation, poverty and nationally to counter local deprivation.

Categories: 2011, BBC