Cronulla: Mass Psychology and Violence

[tcpip]

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.

Comments

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nightflower_/]

I think anyone who lives in Australia (whether you migrate or are born here) needs to be educated that racism is unacceptable, regardless of colour, sex, religion etc. It needs to come from the top down...and sadly while J-ho bumbles around swinging the lead baton of power, nothing will change.

But if change were to happen, everyone would need to come to the party. Attempting to educate the yobbos and not the gangs wouldn't achieve much; a broader aspect of the community would need to be involved, from parents to religious leaders to journalists etc.

But is change on this scale possible, or is it purely a Utopian vision not viable in today's political climate?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

Education (when combined with intermingling) does work. When people don't confront their racist prejudices they don't change.

JHo however won't encourage it however because he is such a political animal; this working-class interracial stoush is good for his agenda.

[http://users.livejournal.com/_nightflower_/]

So if - hypothetically speaking J-ho were to be kicked out in the next election (I wish), who would need to initiate such a movement in order to make it work? And what form would it take?

[tcpip.livejournal.com]

I suspect some co-ordinated action would be required across different ethnic councils in co-operation with the higher education sector. That's the only way I can imagine it working.