"Racial Violence In South Sydney"
On 11 December 2005, as I turned on my tv to watch the Sunday news I was shocked to see the violent outbreak captured on screen. It looked like a scene from some third world riot. I had no idea that the people I shared this city with could do something like that.
As they chanted their racial slurs "Out Lebs Out!", I was afraid of what this city might turn into. There were mainly young Anglo men captured on the news. Drunk and filled with their ignorance. Would they have marched out against any other cause under normal circumstances? It was only a few days ago that there were reports of how a young (anglo) male was arrested for the alleged horrific murder of his ex-girlfriend.
Why wasn't there a march to rid Australia of young (anglo) males? I am personally disgusted at the people I saw on the news. Some proudly reveled in their racism while others hid behind their faces from view.Are they proud of what they have done? Will they not put their names to their cause on paper? The faceless mob, i saw, is nothing but a barbaric and cowardly display of how far we have yet to go as the human race.
I'm sure people from all walks of life are capable of crime and violence. I dont think it would be rational to just condemn the entire human race and make us all drown ourselves in the ocean. That would be considered pollution in some circles.
What is even more unbelievable is the fact that no one stood up for those who were targeted. A lebanese woman who worked as cornulla has since resigned because of the events that played out. She stated that as the mob passed by the restaurantant she was working at, the patrons join in the mob. Not a single one of them protected her.I do not believe that i know all the answers in this matter. After witnessing what has happened, i am only filled with questions.
On a lighter note, i wonder how these racists would react if the Australian government deems them unfit to be australian due to their unaustralian behaviour. How would they feel when they are sent to detention camps to have their citizenship reviewed and reassessed? What other country would have them? Where do people of hate go?
It's easy to point fingers and pass the buck. It's always someone elses' fault. He started it. No he did. It's because they did this. It's because he did that. This is why i did this. Everyone else was doing it. The individuals who have taken part in the provocations and retaliations should not have. The Gangs were wrong. The Mob was wrong. Anything violent and abusive is wrong. Hurting is wrong. There are other ways to get the word out. There are other ways to change the world. Violence is never the answer. We should not be killing machines. We should never turn ourselves into a mindless mass.
Text messages have been suggested for helping fuel the violence on either sides. Why aren't the telcos counter-coaxing all this hatred by sending messages of peace and have them circulated.
This is not a political statment. What i'm saying might seem petty, unresearched and naive. I agree on some level that i dont know enough about the situation. I feel it. I know that badness, violence and hurt will always be part of life. I feel angry and concerned. I feel helpless in the face of this jagganaut. I feel scared. I can't make sense of it. What i am shocked about is the violence, the mob and the senselessness of it all. There's enough large scale violence happening around the world. How many more people are going to die because this large scale hate disappears? Shouldn't we as humanity be working towards making the world a better place? Didn't world war 1 and 2 teach us anything? Did everyone forget the gulf war? Wasn't 911 and the war on terror enough? Didn't the Tsunami of 2004 and the earthquakes and hurricanes of 2005 make us realise that even the elements could tear humanity apart just like that? Do we really have to add to this distruction? I've always seen Australia as a safe haven. It doesn't seem so anymore. The fact that i am afraid of the future of this city is that is a testiment to the very nature of the horror it has been subjected to. I want to believe that things happen for a reason. I don't know why this happened, but i know that Sydney and Australia might never been the same again.
Ye harm none, do as thou willand oh yea.. FUCK YOU!
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