What would you classify as cultural identity, out of interest, because the way the United Kingdom has been viewed internally and externally has changed over time. From the days of the Saxons, through to the British Empire and to today, culture in itself has always changed through history, in my opinion anyway, and things that were held in high regard yesterday are not necessarily held in the same regard today. I do see where you are coming from though Skybird, the punk era did seem to lead into the gradual dissolution of the close-knit society into the rather tribal chaotic society we see today, however, they alone were not solely responsible for this fall from grace, the import of tribal gangland warfare from the United States (which in turn was probably imported from the tribal warfare of Africa) as well as many others has placed us in the situation we are in, in which people are scared to walk the streets at night.
This nightly fear, however, is nothing new to London, at least, however it hasn't been as bad as this since the Victorian era, and you certainly couldn't blame Jack the Ripper on the Punks and Goths
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