London rioters and Mideast demonstrators have a lot in common

In the hand-wringing commentary that has characterized the recent rioting in London and other English cities, I have heard only one news pundit suggest a direct parallel between the "uprisings" in Britain and the popular demonstrations in Egypt, Tunisia and other African and Mideast nations. As is usually the case, one man's "freedom fighter" is another man's "terrorist."

Both Tahrir Square and Trafalgar Square are evidence that the have-nots have grown sick and tired of the civil, legal and economic oppression of the haves.

Our impending global economic collapse is not the fault of the poor but of the rich. Yet once again the poor suffer the most.

Teddy M. Smith, Baltimore