As you probably know by now, riots and looting hit London on Saturday evening and lasted for several days while spreading to different parts of the city. Fortunately our neighborhood was unaffected but there are many people who, unfortunately, cannot say the same. It's devastating to hear of people's homes and businesses burning down, independent shops being looted, store-fronts vandalized, and individuals being physically assaulted, or worse, killed. Everyone works so hard for what they have in their lives and it's terrible that all it takes is a few opportunistic criminals to change their world and livelihoods.

The initial cause (a black man being shot by police) was used as an excuse by some London youth to take to the streets to "protest" their anger against the injustices they feel as black and/or impoverished citizens of the city. I'm not going to go in to the reasons or the politics behind the causes as discussed in the media but I will say this: if you want respect and you want a better life for you and your community, vandalizing and stealing from your neighbors (or from anyone, anywhere) is not the answer.

My heart goes out to all of the innocent people both directly and indirectly impacted by the mayhem of the previous days. Let's hope we've seen the last of it.