The horrific murders in Southport earlier this month were followed by horrific riots and horrific counter-riots. But fear not. Because then the official account of Paddington Bear tweeted, 'Perhaps it's time for a little more kindness'.

At times of wickedness, disorder and the worst of humanity, what do we 21st century moderns look for to save us, to bring comfort and hope? The redeeming power of Christ's eternal love? Maybe the enduring core of human dignity in the face of human evil? Nope. We have a whimsical, passive-aggressive CGI teddy tweeting with furry opposable digits. What next, posters reading 'Less arson, more yummy scones' or 'Don't turtle a cop car - it's wine o'clock'?

This ghastly Kumbaya-ism infests our times. A spat between teams at the Olympic volleyball was defused when 'Imagine' was played over the tannoy and the players were instantly becalmed. After the 2017 Manchester Arena murders, crowds assembled to sing 'Don't Look Back in Anger'. When exactly would anger have been more appropriate?

We've recently had the spectacle of a Twitter account that pretends to be Larry the 10 Downing Street cat - a fine thing for an adult to do - explaining free speech to Elon Musk. 'Larry' informed Musk that the UK has free speech because the UK government says that the UK has free speech, which is an interesting way of looking at it. A sand artist on the sea front at Bridlington reacted to the murders and rioting by depicting a Union Jack emblazoned with 'LIVE LAUGH LOVE'.

This tweeness has extended to the political class, particularly when it comes to matters of race and integration. This was exemplified by the Lib Dem peer, Baroness Sarah Ludford, who in response to the rise of anti-immigration sentiment, tweeted out an ode to cheap foreign labour (including, hilariously, her 'dressmaker'):

'I'm a white Islingtonian Londoner. Neighbour: Italian, Local shop: Turkish, Drycleaner: Iranian, Dressmaker: Albanian, Hairdresser: Rumanian, Builder: Polish, IT chap: South Asian, Staff in M&S/Waitrose/JS: very varied Youngster giving me Tube seat: Black.'

This is all happening at the same time as rumblings coming from the government about 'legal but harmful content', 'misinformation' and social media - all of which is displacement activity for the political class, which cannot face dealing with Britain's actual problems.

The message goes out that everyone should just play nicely. Or else. We might call it twee-talitarianism. If you want a picture of the future, imagine a red wellington boot stamping on a human face, forever.

This is how people react to horror now. Like children - no, worse, like teachers talking to children. Serena Kennedy, Chief Constable of Merseyside Police, made a threat video to rioters. Fair enough. But her blood curdling script - 'we'll be coming for you' - was slightly spoiled by its flat primary school delivery, in true 'but there was no room for Joseph and Mary at the inn' style. One might also be forgiven for wondering why the 'officers working round the clock' to find the rioters aren't equally committed to apprehending burglars or shoplifters normally.

And Heavens to Betsy, why would anyone think there is a two-tier policing? It's not like we've ever had fortnightly hate marches for months on end, with people comparing Jews to Hitler and the police explaining helpfully that when Hizb ut-Tahrir call for jihad, ooh it's complicated.

We keep hearing there is an unfortunate 'perception' of two-tier policing. I think probably the best way to prevent people perceiving something is to stop doing it. The appropriate response is to make the law clear, and to enforce it openly and equally. All riots matter.

I grew up when the IRA were committing regular atrocities. I don't remember similarly twee reactions. If Sooty or Basil Brush had released a statement on the bombings at Warrington or Enniskillen there would have been uproar at such crassness. It would simply never have occurred to the people who had their hands up children's puppets that it was remotely felicitous for them to pass comment. Because, obviously, it isn't.

We have led good lives, easy lives. We have lost an appropriate response to horror from our cultural vocabulary. We may well need it back.