Racial Riots in Sydney

[Asthaloth]

I'm not a xenophobe.

Yeah you are, it hasn't been nearly long enough for it to have been phased out yet.
We needed it, without Genetic purity the human race would have failed.
The races diverged but not so much that we werent as one.
Now, the borders are blurred, and the diversity is being... "muddied".
No longer are they British, they were all-but wiped out.
The North Americans (albeit descendednt form the french) are nearly dead, a legacy older than modern civilisation gone in a few decades.
The Goths and Vandals have been lumped under the term "germans", their accomplishments lost.
And yet, the British and Roman and Mongal empires are remembered by all.
It seems only the Genocidal, Xenophobic nutters are to be remembered the the masses?

[Tranx]

Hmmm...

Everyone seems to be saying that the racial violence in Australia is often overlooked

Living in the north-western parts of Sydney, as opposed to the riots in the south which have slowed hugely as a result of a bunch of police officers that have been deployed to the beaches in their new police suit things, I am shocked to see that people think that this sort of thing is happening a lot.

As far as I can remember, nothing like this civilian racial riots has happened on a scale even half this big for many, many, many years, and even finding a minority of people who think that Australia is usually like this offends me somewhat.

I admit that there is a slight ongoing racism between people, almost always teenagers at public high schools, but this rarely results in even a small brawl.

There have indeed been roadblocks set up around the area, and police are searching some cars going to and from the area, but as of today, there has been little heard of it for a few days.

If anyone wants to disagree with my post or correct anything I have said, please do so.

[Twisted Sanity]

Hmmm...

Everyone seems to be saying that the racial violence in Australia is often overlooked

Living in the north-western parts of Sydney, as opposed to the riots in the south which have slowed hugely as a result of a bunch of police officers that have been deployed to the beaches in their new police suit things, I am shocked to see that people think that this sort of thing is happening a lot.

As far as I can remember, nothing like this civilian racial riots has happened on a scale even half this big for many, many, many years, and even finding a minority of people who think that Australia is usually like this offends me somewhat.

I admit that there is a slight ongoing racism between people, almost always teenagers at public high schools, but this rarely results in even a small brawl.

There have indeed been roadblocks set up around the area, and police are searching some cars going to and from the area, but as of today, there has been little heard of it for a few days.

If anyone wants to disagree with my post or correct anything I have said, please do so.

I was looking for a way to say what you said, but you said it perfectly (I hope that makes sense). Australia is not like this usually. We don't walk around 'bashing Lebs' as everyday practise. Australia is based around countless different cultures. We're a nation of immigrants, and sons and daughters of immigrants. Being racist in such a country is completely and utterly stupid.

Now, I'll be honest and say that jokes are sometimes made about a person's culture and heritage, especially at schools, but almost never in a way that is meant to offend the person (Since usually, it's your best mates making the jokes ). Heck, I've gotten more Polish jokes than you can imagine. A Lebanese friend of mine has been called a terrorist various times. But we laugh about it, and joke about it ourselves. Maybe other countries take some of these jokes the wrong way. Maybe Australia hasn't caught up to the world in terms of political correctness (in which case I applaud it). Whatever the case, Australia generally isn't a racist country.

Don't judge us by a couple of idiots who overreact on a beach. Don't judge us by the actions of some stupid white supremisists.

[gemma58]

Just a little bit of "cultural" history about Cronulla - the flare up between people from the western suburbs(westies) and the "surfers"(locals) of Cronulla is NOTHING NEW - it has been going on for decades albeit not on the scale of the riots seen recently.

I grew up in Sydney and there were small fights nearly every weekend at Cronulla, Wanda and/or Shelley beaches - however these were usually quick to break-up and people kept out of each other's way before it got too serious. Most of the fights were because the "surfers" claimed a section of beach as theirs eg: North Wanda whereas families usually went to Shelley Beach. The "westies" not knowing the local "protocol" were subject to taunts etc. (note: I disagree with such "protocols") - so it was always a we are better than you scenario, irrespective of who was involved.

A part of the tension generated before and during the recent riots was spurred on by a group of "white supremacists and neo-facism followers" who distributed pamphlets and posters in the beach area. These groups had been in the area for a few days beforehand generating conflict between beachgoers. (A few of these people have been arrested trying to go back to these beaches while carrying ingredients for and actual, molotov cocktails)

I dislike saying it, but the majority of adult white Australians still tend towards xenophobia - it will take generations for Australia to really become a multi-cultural society.

[sirclucky]

But how is what you discribed any different that the gang warfair that plauges every city, Gemma? You should at least hold Sydney to the save standards that you hold every major city, and by that Sydney was pretty good up to this point.

[gemma58]

I agree clucky, Sydney is and has been a relatively quiet city for a population of 5-6 million. I'm biased because Sydney is my home town (love the place), just wanted to point out that with the city growing, previously small problems seem to be getting worse and it's not like it happened all of a sudden, problems have been building up along with the city growth.

I just don't like painting a picture that is rosy-coloured - all cities have their problems, though this is the first time Sydney has seen it on such a newsworthy scale.

[theonlysaneone]

yeah, but our stupid Prime Minister is also quite racist (he many several racist remarks early in his career and totally agreed with Pauline Hanson) and having a racist Prime Minister who is doing nothing to condem what is happening will only make it worse - it'll make it more acceptable. If he was trying to help Australia become a truly multicultural society, he'd first apologise to the Indigenous Australians for the genocide that was committed against them and accept them as fellow Australians. That would set the ground rules and help show that white Australia does not own Australia, it's here to be shared.

*sigh* But unfortunately we have to wait another few years until the next election, in which time he'll surely do more damage (like those new workplace policies! ) and probably will be voted back in again anyway!

But enough ranting about what a hypocrite our country and its prime minister (and many people as well) are with their racist views and false racial acceptance.

All I know about John Howard is that he is a conservative and supports the war in Iraq, so he seems pretty decent to me.

[coming2atvnearu]

yeah, but our stupid Prime Minister is also quite racist (he many several racist remarks early in his career and totally agreed with Pauline Hanson) and having a racist Prime Minister who is doing nothing to condem what is happening will only make it worse - it'll make it more acceptable. If he was trying to help Australia become a truly multicultural society, he'd first apologise to the Indigenous Australians for the genocide that was committed against them and accept them as fellow Australians. That would set the ground rules and help show that white Australia does not own Australia, it's here to be shared.

*sigh* But unfortunately we have to wait another few years until the next election, in which time he'll surely do more damage (like those new workplace policies! ) and probably will be voted back in again anyway!

But enough ranting about what a hypocrite our country and its prime minister (and many people as well) are with their racist views and false racial acceptance.

All I know about John Howard is that he is a conservative and supports the war in Iraq, so he seems pretty decent to me.

Makes sense to me. What's a little racism between friends?