Cronulla Riots
I doubt anyone here would have heard of anything about this in Australia, but I thought it was an interesting topic to discuss.
A week ago, down in Sydney South, two Surf Lifeguards (who were Australian) were bashed up by a group of Lebanese and Greek / Macedonian people. Normally you wouldn't think twice about it, as it isn't that uncommon. People are gang bashed everyday, everywhere. For some reason, this attack seemed to prompt a massive surge from the Australians. Text messages, internet discussion boards, and word of mouth produced what was to be a mass group showdown at Cronulla beach. Individuals, gangs, everyone was there. Sunday (yesterday), was the arranged date, and boy did it hot up. Over 5,000 people travelled down to join in, where it was the Australians versus the Lebanese / Greeks / Macedonians. Over 400 policemen and women were on duty to break up the violence. People were seriously injured, many arrested, flags burnt, no one left untouched. And it didn't stop at Cronulla, in Maroubra many cars were smashed up. In Brighton le Sands, a mini-war emerged, which left one policeman killed after being run over. Tension is still apparent, and a follow up is scheduled for this coming Sunday. Even today as I made my way to School, I recieved death threats from the friendly Lebanese / Greeks / Macedonians. And from what I've been informed, this Wednesday, any Australians seen in Hurstville will be gang-bashed. Rather unnerving, as Hurstville is where I always hang around. Further unnerving is that all the aformentioned places are places which I regularly visit. It is an issue very close to home. Somehow, I don't really give a crap. I'm not scared, though I can't help but think I really should be. Meh, I carry a knife with me anyway :p Here are some links to various news articles on it. Some of the information contained is slightly false, especially the international sources. http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/asia-pacific/4520218.stm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1528947.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1529329.htm http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems...2/s1528544.htm Just got sent this on MSN, another one is going around it seems: :
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I'd stay in the house and not come out for about three years.
God, I'm glad that shit never happens in Melbourne. I don't really understand why; I mean we're as ethnically diverse as Sydney but the worse we get is some Asians fighting other Asians. |
What the hell do those people have against "Aussies"?
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Yeah I was shocked to see when I checked my email on yahoo it was right there on the headlines off to the side. What's this world coming to? The violence in France, that crap in Iraq, and now this? Well, whatever the case, just be careful.
Too bad some of them are Lebaneese. I had a crush on this one Lebaneese chick at my old job... Ohhh but that was 2 years ago, so GO GET 'EM! YEAH!... I mean be safe. |
I have no idea what to say to something so terrible, but eek! Don't get hurt, Alcy! Who would tell us if you were stabbed or something?! :eek:
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I ate Lebanese food the other and it was by far the worst thing that I have ever put in my mouth. Just for that you should tear them up.
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Sounds pretty bad from what i have heard on the news. Heres a couple of pictures i found.
Sorry about the size of the pictures. |
uncommon for something like that to come from the Greeks, maybe other people but not the Greeks.
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Greek-Australians have a very different culture than Greek-Americans. For one thing they have strength in numbers; Australia has a huge Greek population. Melbourne is actually the city with the second largest Greek population in the world (after Athens). There is a sort of Greek/wog* subculture that has developed.
*They've taken control of the word 'wog' in the same way that gay people have with 'queer'. |
It's died down now. But the Police are still patrolling like there's no tomorrow. My friends have been searched a few times.
Alcar... |
Some random American guy asked me how things were in Sydney yesterday at work. It took me a few seconds to realise wtf he was talking about.
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Perth has been lucky, we had a few text messages going around but nothing came of it. I think it has died down. For now. There's always been racism in some parts of Sydney to my understanding. Is that true?
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Absolutely. It's stupid that no one recognises it, but it's extremely obvious. The politicians don't live with it, and they certainly don't have to put up with it constantly. Even at School you see the segregation between races. I'm basically one of ten or so 'Australians' at my School, however, I hang mostly with the 'Wogs'.
Alcar... |