Opinion: Social media videos showing acts of solidarity have become the antithesis to hate and violence
15:13, 13 August 2024
updated: 15:44, 13 August 2024
Since last week’s awful riots I’ve become somewhat entranced by social media videos showing remarkable acts of solidarity and kindness.
These powerful clips being served up by my phone has been a much-needed antithesis to the violence and hate which has marred the news and spread across our TV screens like wildfire this past week.
There has been the builder using his skills to help rebuild a mosque in Southport and the £26,000 crowd-fund for Belfast cafe owner Mohammed Idris to repair the damage to his business.
The Liverpool imam who came out armed with burgers, chips and fizzy drinks in an attempt to engage in conversation with the mob of would-be far-right rioters outside has also earned my utmost respect from afar.
While I’ve also admired the ‘nans against Nazis’ who stood outside asylum seeker centres as human shields to guard them from attack.
And as the algorithm does it’s thing it’s now throwing up much older posts - proving that diverse communities have frequently found ways to extend the hand of friendship.
I very much enjoyed the Birmingham pensioner inviting his elderly Muslim neighbours, who spoke little to no English, for tea and cake on his front lawn during the Queen’s Jubilee and the London street sitting down to an enormous Caribbean feast as William and Catherine enjoyed their wedding breakfast at the Palace.
It would be easy to be cynical about these viral videos - arguably created for hits, views and likes. But they are wholesome examples - and timely reminders - of the good that can come when people exercise their moral and civic duty.
Many years ago, during a brief spell living in east Kent, we had a Nepalese family for neighbours whose service with the Gurkhas brought them to the county.
Whether it be a festival back in their home country or an evening of awful winter weather where they’d noted from the cars parked outside I was coming home alone to an empty house - there would come a knock at the door and a doorstep delivery of hot food.
In fact they were so neighbourly they quite frankly put my efforts to shame, and I carry some slither of guilt to this day I wasn’t baking and delivering scones and jam to reciprocate their kindness.
And as a child - growing up among north Kent’s vibrant and generous Sikh community - I remember many a school or PTA event in which the food would be donated and served by elders from the local Gurdwara to support fundraising activities.
The perfect example of how much good can come from embracing our rich culture for the benefit of the resources we all shared - be it schools, libraries, sports halls or playing fields.
The Archbishop of Canterbury, Justin Welby wrote last week that the ‘difficult path towards living well together means setting the foundations for reconciliation’
Perhaps we could start by learning a thing or two from the many kind and generous souls in the social media videos I’ve become a sucker for?
Where despite the complicated issues facing their communities, and the work still to be done, people are stepping forward with practical efforts to bridge divides.
Now who’s for a slice of Gypsy Tart…