Every crisis has its heroes and this week Britain's ethnic minorities working together to defend their livelihoods and communities shine an uncomfortable spotlight on what native Britons have lost.
While the West has become increasingly materialistic many Asians and other immigrants living in Britain have not lost sight of the importance of family, community and religion.
One Asian shop keeper interviewed by ITV, on Tuesday, said he had amassed 15 friends and family to sit inside his shop all night to protect it; without sleep.
Another told how he and all the shop keepers along his row were standing together to see off any trouble, knowing well that the cowardly looters will only attack the weak and vulnerable.
With the high level of business tax and rates, these men have every right to point the finger of blame at police and politicians and feckless parents. And in private I'm sure they do.
But what they are doing is getting on with the job.
In Southall, more than 200 Sikh men guarded their temple against attack.
It is an attitude the British once had: the Dunkirk spirit. People coming together in the face of adversity.
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