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Violence: Ken hits at rap, film and Mrs T
Last updated at 09:12am on 13.04.07
Uma Thurman in Kill Bill, a film Ken Livingstone has highlighted as glorifying violence
Ken Livingstone launched a vitriolic tirade against violent TV, films, gangsta rap and Margaret Thatcher yesterday - blaming them all for making Britain violent.
The London mayor claimed hit TV series 24 'seems to justify torture' - and also laid into Quentin Tarantino's blockbuster film Kill Bill.
Mr Livingstone said the film 'simply glorifies violence rather than showing people that use their brain power to achieve their goal'.
The Thatcher years 'helped create a generation of people whose children did not have a moral code', he claimed.
He also said some rap music was behind the current spate of violence and society's moral breakdown.
Mr Livingstone's tirade came at City Hall in London, where he called for metal detectors to be installed in all schools to stop youth knife crime.
'It would be expensive but action is needed because the current knife culture involves youngsters carrying knives because they do not believe the consequences,' he said.
A Greater London Authority Lib Dem spokesman said: 'Mr Livingstone's comments on culture are just him going off on one again.'
Reader views (11)
I partially agree with Kim, but on the other hand music and movies cannot be blamed. Excluding parental norms and values, teenagers are able to tell the difference between the good and the bad ways of living life in London. Music has no mystical powers that control one's behaviour. Now maybe if the mayor had said this was down to peer pressure or the crave for fame then yes, there would be no argument. Being a black teenager myself, I bet he has not even tried to find out from youths why they are acting in this manor because I'm sure they wouldn't have said what he said.
- Printz Delirious, East London, Beckton
The power to protect your children from violent messages is as simple as changing the channel on your TV, monitoring your children's Internet usage, and being involved in your child's school However we've all become a 'feel good' society, where the latest celebrity show, or latest technology is glorified. Parental responsibility is how you protect your child, not asking the Government to censor violent material.
- Davec, Dallas, Texas
I agree with Ken, although this is nothing new (his idea, not me agreeing with him). I think he should have a step further and blamed American violent films, I'm not saying that we don't have any but we seem to take our lead from Hollywood (God knows why though!). Hollywood does seem to glamourise violence and like the A-Team, everyone gets up unscathed at the end more times than not.
- Kim, London
There was a great picture in yesterday's Metro with Uma in the above pose to the left of a picture of Ken. In other words, she was pointing her gun at his head.
- Marc, Harrow, UK
Much as I hate to agree with Ken I think he's got a point about films and music. Look at what gangs of kids wear, it's straight from the US gang culture. We should be promoting positive images not criminals and yobs. Not fashionable but bring back National Service! Discipline, integration, selflessness, teamwork. Surely enough positives for anyone?
- Mark, London UK
Nothing makes me want to commit violent attrocities more than reading about the nonsense spouted by this so-called politician. Get back to sorting out London's transport system, Ken, and leave the sociology to parents.
- Nobby Clark, London, UK
Some of this stuff youngsters are listening to is vile and sexist, it degrades women and makes heroes of gangsters and cop killers, why has it not been banned? We need to be careful as citizens and parents to the kind of rubbish that is being fed to our kids, well done Ken for speaking out.
- Brian, Swindon
I think all the pointless parents in London should get their faces off Eastenders, Coronation Street and Emmerdale and then get their kids off the streets. I can't stand those morons who winge about criminal kids and when you ask them where their kids are the say "playing out" - 8 years old and playing out at 10pm. Cretins!
- Anthony, London, W2
I wonder if Ken will tell us what moral code leads Fidel Castro to imprison political opponents and commit human rights abuses?
- Ts, Islington
I agree with Ken, some rap music (including dancehall reggae) glorifies violence. Films like Kill Bill do so too. The terrestrial channels in particular should review their programming policy in order to protect the children.
- David, Peckham, London
He's got a point about moral code - unfortunately all (including Ken) politicians since Thatcher seemed to have excarcebated the situation; the question is how to move beyond this...
- Jc, London
