Australia 15 Dec 2005 01:41 pm
The Sydney events
Everyone seems to be talking about the Cronulla Beach events, so I thought I’d add my two cents…
It’s an unusual situation because you can’t really choose sides: everyone who was involved in the incidents is wrong. The allegedly Lebanese gangs who assaulted the lifeguards (and that, reportedly, have been causing problems for Cronulla residents for a long time) deserve nothing but contempt from Australians and immigrants alike, but because they’re criminals; not because they’re Lebanese. The same applies to the people who retaliated on Monday night by attacking people, cars and houses in mainly Australian neighbourhoods.
Similarly, the white Australians who ignited the violent protests last Sunday (fueled by lots of alcohol) should be despised by everybody, regardless of origin, but because they are violent racists; not because they are white Australians. The fact that they’re using the Australian flag (and the Eureka flag!) as a symbol is no defense, but further indictment: they are violating a symbol that does not stand for that kind of behaviour or opinion (the old “White Australia” policy notwithstanding). I agree with John Howard that no one should be censored for being proud of the Australian flag, but these people should be strongly and publicly censored, even by the PM, for associating the flag with racism and violence.
White Australians who attack people of non-European appearance for no reason other than their origin deserve going to jail just as much as immigrants who retaliate indiscrimately against caucasians; both groups are equally criminal and should be equally rejected by the Australian society.
