Inflammation

This last week the UK has been shocked at the impromptu rioting, looting and arson breaking out in major cities and towns. People’s homes have been burned, businesses looted and gutted and police taunted by marauding crowds of youths, some as young as 9 years.  In Birmingham 3 young men were murdered by a hit and run driver as they stood protecting their locality from attack. There is widespread consternation at why some of the country’s youth is determined to score an ‘own goal’ against society and anger at the wanton disregard for societal norms and values. Understandably, Parliament is debating the situation and measures for containment.

Theories abound on the causes of the rioting and on what should be done to prevent it occurring again. There are inevitable calls for stronger policing tactics and a higher police presence on the streets. Of course emergency measures are needed to tackle the acute situation. Already there have been multiple arrests and 24 hour magistrate court sittings to process offenders. Water cannons and plastic bullets have been approved for use on the UK mainland for the first time. Is this the answer? What can nature tell us about minimising the risk of spontaneous public order breakdown?

The human body has developed elaborate defence systems against infection and we can do well to examine their relevance to the societal situation. Firstly the skin forms a very effective barrier against infection. Secondly white blood cells are summoned to counter any foreign bacteria detected. Macrophage cells absorb the neutralised intruders and store them away from normal blood flow. While these defences are effective, even they have limitations. Chaffed skin breaks the seal. White blood cells may not be available in the right quantity. Macrophage ‘imprisonment’ causes arteries to gradually narrow raising possibilities of thrombosis or infarction. Some of the most serious conditions arise when the body’s defences turn on themselves in an autoimmune response. Analogies can be drawn to all of these situations.

We might liken the outer skin barrier as a fundamental expectation of society for the behaviour of our citizens. This is instilled through the simple disciplined living of family life. White blood cells are equivalent to community police, regularly patrolling to uphold the law and intervene as required. A basic police presence provides maintenance of lawful society, civil reassurance and order. The macrophage level response is like the prison service, locking away offenders until they can be readmitted to normal society. In a healthy body rehabilitation happens through the action of HDL cholesterol which ensures that macrophages do not cause foam cell build up and that the arteries remain clear. Similarly prison programmes which help offenders to gain skills and change behaviour allow such individuals to rejoin society and make a contribution. The more serious autoimmune situation, symptomatic of a very sick country, is seen today in Syria. There the government seeks to suppress dissent against authoritarianism by sending in the army to attack its own people.

While it is necessary to have defence against life threatening situations, it is vital that society responds in a measured and appropriate way to the threats it faces. Intensive ongoing policing would be the societal equivalent of arterial inflammation with an inevitable slide into cardiovascular disease or heightened public tension. What we need is an attitude of communal endeavour where everyone has a role to play and everyone’s contribution is valued rather than a self centred individualism that leads to wanton greed, exploitation and suppression by a controlling elite.