Every now and then, Australia's racist underbelly appears in full public view:
"New South Wales Police say several people of Middle Eastern appearance have been attacked by a mob at Sydney's Cronulla Beach.
"Thousands of people have gathered at the beach in response to calls to retaliate for the bashing of two lifeguards a week ago.
"Assistant Commissioner Mark Goodwin says several people have been the victims of racial attacks.
"'In terms of crowd swells against some people of Arabic extraction...some of those people that have been targeted have been Australian-born people that attend this beach in a quiet and relaxing manner,' he said."
"New South Wales Police say several people of Middle Eastern appearance have been attacked by a mob at Sydney's Cronulla Beach.
"Thousands of people have gathered at the beach in response to calls to retaliate for the bashing of two lifeguards a week ago.
"Assistant Commissioner Mark Goodwin says several people have been the victims of racial attacks.
"'In terms of crowd swells against some people of Arabic extraction...some of those people that have been targeted have been Australian-born people that attend this beach in a quiet and relaxing manner,' he said."
Demonising an entire ethnic group - people of "Middle Eastern appearance - has no place in a civilised, multicultural democracy.
8 Comments:
What about the "root causes"?
Just don't call it racism, whatever you do. That's just politically correct censorship.
It was just a bunch of good time aussie larrikins, having a bit of sport and sharing the old egalitarian spirit we're so fond of.
Now 'scuse me while I go frottage a flagpole somewhere...
After being lectured on our responsibilities by Kipling, we expect better behavoir from those with the benefits of a liberal education.
We do not expect the same standards that we set for illiterate, backwards, xenophobic, hate-mongering, Islamic people from the war engulfed SE Asia and Middle East.
Because of our vastly superior educational opportunities coupled with of western morality, we excuse in others that we do not excuse in ourselves.
Racism exists in most ethnic groups, Anglos, Muslims, etc, but the idea of targeting a particular group - in this case, people of "Middle Eastern appearance" - proves that Australia is, in fact, still very far from reaching maturity.
The influence of the media in rabble rousing the rioters will make for an interesting series of stories in the next coupla days.
I expect the NSW Government will attempt to hose down the issue by convening a SLOW committee of inquiry. Thugs from all sides should attend. "More police on the beat required" will be the main recommendation (early next year).
So sayeth me soothsayer.
Bored,
Yes, fair point. I'm not forgettin the initial bashings, completely unacceptable and motivated by, well, who knows, but it's not OK.
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Perhaps you'd like to hang the Arabs yourself? After all, "Aussie pluck" resulted in bashings and violence, condemned by all.
Except bigots and neo-Nazis, of course.
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