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

[lula-neith.livejournal.com]

I don't know if it means anything, but it's no better anywhere else. There was a riot in Ohio a bit ago. No one talks about it now, of course. It didn't last as long as Paris. There've been deaths of exchange students in Russia. It's sad. What is it? A virus? Are all nations catching it now?

[lederhosen.livejournal.com]

Jones: "I tell you who we want to encourage, Charlie, all the Pacific Island people because, you want to know something, they don't take any nonsense. They are proud to be here — all those Samoans and Fijians.

Am I being excessively cynical in translating this as "let's have a riot, and why don't we see if we can get the blacks to do the heavy lifting"?

[luciusmalfoy.livejournal.com]

I'm so happy I'm out. I really am.

[dcrisp.livejournal.com]

Im so tempted to excercise my hereditory right to obtain a kiwi citizenship and then move to a quiet city and live peacfully. Dunedin is looking nice.

This came after the 4 evil bills of disinfranchising were passed.. *whinges and avoids politics*

[belegdel.livejournal.com]

I wonder if Jones' comments qualify as sedition?

Little Johnny is just, as always, playing the "everything is OK on my watch" card. It's such a pro-forma for him I don't even listen to his responses anymore - I can even predit his expression and tone of voice. He's a programmed robot, I swear.

I doubt he even thought about the issue enough to link it to his own beliefs.

How's that NZ plan coming along? :)

[ironed_orchid]

I'm sick of the stupidity in this country.

I'm also realising how easy it is to shut myself off from things, it feels a bit like the first time Pauline Hanson got elected. I don't listen to shock jocks because they are bigots, I rarely watch any news or current affairs that is not on SBS or ABC, and so I miss out on both the media spin from certain angles and the callers who like to call up Jones and his ilk. In fact, the closest I come to any awareness of this is to watch Media Watch.

People may be dismissive of ivory towers, but we do seem to have pretty well established that racism and sexism are not to be tolerated, and we impress that upon on our students, which I think can only be a good thing.

Howard has probably convinced himself that his version of racism is completely acceptable and perfectly logical. It's not.

[curufea.livejournal.com]

We reap what we sow.

We voted in a government that thinks fear is a valuable marketting tool.


(and by we, I mean not myself, but whoever the majority was)

[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?

[devilgirly.livejournal.com]

I've had enough of this country too... *sigh* :(

[gothsuck.livejournal.com]

Johnny was laughing behind his facade of lies. Right up his alley.

It is a sad day & marrying my Dutchy & getting out of here is looking more appealing each day.

And in regards to the Redfern riots - OF COURSE that isnt racially based they are Aboriginals & in Johnnys eyes dont count as a race let alone human.

He is a feral bastard.

[caseopaya.livejournal.com]

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.

[nightcity.livejournal.com]

I honestly cannot form one coherent sentence. I've tried. I just can't.

[elzia.livejournal.com]

When I was at the WTO 2 years ago, I made out with an Australian that told me that he thought that Australia was the only place he had been to that was more racist than the USA. Can't make a call on that, never having been to Australia. But I'd be pretty disgusted if that was going on in my country.

Anyhow, I came up with a great idea for how to go to East Timor without paying for it and without scamming a NGO. I am going to apply after I get advanced to candidacy for a travel grant my school gives to grads for $$ to go to Australia to talk to Australian Irish dancers and dressmakers. And then I can just hop on over to East Timor. Sound feasible and cheap? I may have to ask you in a few years if we both still are on livejournal for your advice on how to go.

Moving to other countries.

[splodgenoodles.livejournal.com]

We need good people here.

[luthien.livejournal.com]

I'm sick to death of this stupid country.

Yeah. :-(

My partner keeps saying that it feels like the late '70s, in the sense that we have this paternalistic government that feels as though it's going to be there for ever. *sigh*

pre-fascist

[paula-angela.livejournal.com]

Certain people have been saying for the last couple of years that this Howard Government is a "Pre-Fascist" regime. That is, it's not actually fascist yet, but they were cultivating all the elements characteristic of a slide into fascism.

I thought they were a bit loony, but it doesn't look so far fetched any more!

[shorxrore.livejournal.com]

the new world order is here.

since i was 5 years old i told people to pay attention to scifi writers. in 10 years there's gonna be a goddamn apocalypse. if it happens, i totally called it.

this planet is soooooooooooooooo fucked.

[catsidhe.livejournal.com]

What paula_angela said, plus...

I have said before that Ratbastard Johnny is gearing up for a Kristallnacht.
Cronulla is not it. Cronulla is the brownshirts getting the go-ahead.

Our Kristallnacht is going to be so, so much worse.


('Not racism', fah. 'No racism in this country' my arse. No-one voted for One Nation, or votes for the CEC either. Nor this is not my nose, neither. Nothing that is so, is so.)

[dcrisp.livejournal.com]

Are you going on the UNIMELB tour tonight with Sage-VIC?

Gandi said...

[laura-seabrook.livejournal.com]

"An eye for an eye" means we all end up blind.



        (saw it on a John Lennon DVD today)

[bellaforte.livejournal.com]

It's better than here... but that's got to break your heart. Wanna come spend the holidays here? We can pretend this state isn't run by Bush's brother for a little while ;)

[evil-genius.livejournal.com]

If the powers that be wish to continue to draw breath here in Finland. They should make avoiding a similar situation thier top priority. I would truly hate to have to start 8mm justice at 800 yards.