France five weeks ago. Australia this one. I keep thinking about how riots in the one place are like the riots in the other:
Prime Minister John Howard called the violence "sickening," but denied it was rooted in racism. Arab community leaders said the unrest would heighten racial tensions as cellphone text messages warned of retribution by the Arab community and attacks by neo-Nazi groups. About 5,000 white men, many of them drunk, targeted people believed to be of Arab or Middle Eastern descent on Cronulla Beach on Sunday after rumours spread that Lebanese youths assaulted two lifeguards earlier this month.Newer communication technologies successfully spreading falsehoods or incitement seems to be one thing. A desire to get back to normal levels of violence. Accusations and denials of racism but clear divisions.
Comments
David Janes - December 13, 2005 5:44 am
If we want to follow the france riot pattern, it's not white men -- it's "men, many of northern European descent"!
Alan - December 13, 2005 9:31 am
I think they were referred to as Australians of Anglo-Celtic descent. I was going to be unkind and wonder if we now have to conclude that there are too many Australians in Australia but that would be unkind and a cheap play.
Arthur - December 13, 2005 7:04 pm
it's "men, many of northern European descent"!
Since I'm from The Netherlands, does that make me Northern European descent too?
David Janes - December 13, 2005 8:01 pm
Sure...
Arthur - December 14, 2005 10:02 pm
Sure...
COOL!