tcpip: (Default)
Diary of a B+ Grade Polymath ([personal profile] tcpip) wrote2005-12-13 09:41 am

Cronulla: Mass Psychology and Violence

As violence rocks Sydney and shock-jocks claim responsibility (He assured his huge audience he "understood" why that famous text message went out and he read it right through again on air. "Come to Cronulla this weekend to take revenge. This Sunday every Aussie in the Shire get down to North Cronulla to support the Leb and wog bashing day …")

An ethnic gang beats up some life-savers because they are the wrong "colour". Five thousand thug descend on the area and pelt innocent women with beer bottles because they "look mid-eastern". More violence continues overnight. I find myself arguing with people (and I use that term loosely) on usenet who claim that this is the beginnings of the "White Revolution" against multiculturalism.

What is the problem here? The problem is about assigning group characteristics to individual actions. The problem is seeking group membership to the violent exclusion of others. Beating up lifesavers because they are not Lebanese is the same idiotic violence as pelting women with beer-bottles because they look like they might be.

Of course, because he is a racist, the Prime Minister won't call it racism.

Interestingly, the Redfern riots were marked by their lack of racism even if they were carried out by one ethnic group - their target were the forces of authority ("You could interview every Aboriginal kid down there that comes from The Block, and the majority will tell you to your face... that they've all been bashed by the police," said Lyle Munro.)

I'm sick to death of this stupid country.

EDIT

An eye-witness account, why Melbourne doesn't have this problem. On the question of "ethnic rapes". The cause? Monoculturalism.

[identity profile] caseopaya.livejournal.com 2005-12-13 01:28 am (UTC)(link)
I still can't believe that Howard says it is not "racism"!

racism

1: the prejudice that members of one race are intrinsically superior to members of other races 2: discriminatory or abusive behavior towards members of another race [syn: racialism, racial discrimination]

Source: WordNet ® 2.0, © 2003 Princeton University


Yay Dunedin, here we come.

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2005-12-13 01:39 am (UTC)(link)
To be fair, Howard wasn't saying the attack weren't racist he was saying there isn't a problem racism "in general" in Australia i.e.,

'Attacking people on the basis of their race, their appearance, their ethnicity, is totally unacceptable and should be repudiated by all Australians irrespective of their own background and their politics,' he said.

'I believe yesterday's behaviour was completely unacceptable but I'm not going to put a general tag (of) racism on the Australian community.'

Of course, he would say that because that might mean he should do something about it. After all, who do they racists vote for?

[identity profile] caseopaya.livejournal.com 2005-12-13 01:46 am (UTC)(link)
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<i.Of course, he would say that because that might mean he should do something about it. After all, who do they racists vote for?</i>

Might lead to him having to say "sorry" to certain Australian individuals that he has a tendancy to avoid..... (not racist, no) *tongue in cheek*

[identity profile] tcpip.livejournal.com 2005-12-13 02:57 am (UTC)(link)

Ah well, I can imagine that had it's own political agenda as well. After all, if indigenous people were wealthy graziers who donated substantially to his political party, I'm sure he'd be wearing a black arm-band in minutes..