Indeed, it seemed as if the spasm of violence had held up a mirror to British society, challenging it to confront decades of brewing unease that had turned inner-city housing projects into restive havens of gang rule, distinguished by youthful illiteracy, unemployment, resentment and crime.
But in a country where many are losing faith in their politicians' ability to confront decades of inequality, Mr Malema is a symptom.
Echoing Wadhwa and Pierrat's sentiments, in her New York Times bestselling book about Silicon Valley's powerhouse women banded together for the good of all, Stiletto Network, Pamela Ryckman, wrote: "Women still need a forum to discuss the intractable issues their forebears confronted decades ago".
Jack had written a speech to confront Jimmy Donaghy decades ago and attempts to update it for his confrontation with Paul.
It's clear that a big part of Loach's purpose is to confront the decades of media propaganda that have characterised unionised workers as overpaid shirkers, brakes on growth and "the enemy within", as Loach's principal bete noire, Margaret Thatcher, would have it.
Osborne insisted that those with the "broadest shoulders should bear the greatest burden" and said the Queen had agreed to lead the nation in stepping "back from the brink" after agreeing to spending cuts that will help confront a "decade of debt".
The Great Recession and the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, arguably the toughest problems we've confronted in decades, are nothing if not spectacularly complicated.
Nations are adept at swerving uncomfortable episodes in their history and Spain is no exception – the civil war's legacy, for example, was not confronted for decades after Franco's death.
In contrast, military commanders, such as America's General Richard Myers, the chairman of the joint chiefs of staff, and the politicians who are closest to them, have been warning that the campaign could be long, complex and messy.Vice-President Dick Cheney deepened the gloom by saying that the heightened threat of terrorism might need to be confronted for decades.
The chancellor outlined a series of complex new welfare reforms to make the extra savings, as he claimed that the coalition was confronting a "decade of debt".
It took France decades to confront its war guilt properly, and the process was messy.
