Cronulla: Mass Psychology and Violence
Dec. 13th, 2005 09:41 am![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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.
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.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:29 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:40 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:44 am (UTC)Although if I know you half as well as I think I do, you will... And it'll be worth waiting for as well..
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:54 am (UTC)no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:41 am (UTC)Seething anger and disgust is sufficient.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 01:56 am (UTC)No, actually, I don't. I hope there's someone out there, or a group of someones out there, who are angered and disgusted and somehow capable of devising a Completely Brilliant Plan to stop this particular thread of mindless reactionary violence in its tracks (along with the resulting still-more-defensive shift in community attitudes towards the Other, which, conveniently, plays right into the hands of Certain People).
I'd like to think not everyone who is angered and disgusted is as young and ignorant and powerless as I am. I really would.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 02:55 am (UTC)I can conceive of a Completely Brilliant Plan.
But it would involve these invariable young members of the male working class getting in the same room and figuring out that they have a common enemy who is laughing all the way to the bank whilst they fight each other.
no subject
Date: 2005-12-13 03:05 am (UTC)OT: River of Gods
Date: 2005-12-13 01:43 am (UTC)I've finished this book and it's quite good. Happy to handball it to you if you're interested...
Re: OT: River of Gods
Date: 2005-12-13 01:57 am (UTC)Re: OT: River of Gods
Date: 2005-12-13 02:53 am (UTC)Yes, you must
Remember Shockwave is the prophetic handbook of secet power ;-)