Sydney Riots

Submitted by G (Australia), Dec 18, 2005 at 19:51

Hello Again Daniel,

Further to Reuben's comments on the Australian situation:
I have been watching and reading the ‘local' media reports about the recent ‘race riots' in and near Sydney. Overseas reports I have seem to follow the same line as the Australian reports (probably sourced off the local media).

The media reports stress the bad behaviour of the ‘Australians', but seldom name the other parties to the conflict, and when they do, name them as Lebanese, not as Muslims (even though there are a lot more than Lebanese Muslims participating). Also lacking in their reports is the history of this deplorable escalation.

My piecing together of the available evidence shows that the sequence of events really commenced several years ago with people with cultural and religious imperatives that are incompatible with Australian Laws and moral norms, imposing their views on other Australians by verbally and physically harassing beachgoers and others.

Although the relevant authorities deny it, the evidence shows that the authorities have largely turned a blind eye to these activities (due to political correctness?). Both Australian and overseas history shows that this reaction encourages an increase in both the number and intensity of these intimidatory activities.

This in no way excuses the actions of either group in the Sydney debacle.

Hopefully the current increased vigilance from the Police will prevent recurrences of all of these unacceptable behaviours now and in the future, but I won't hold my breath.


TOLERANCE AND INTOLERENCE
I am all for tolerance for other peoples customs both cultural and religious, but I draw a very heavy line where some of those customs contravene Australian Law, and where those imperatives give rise to attempts to change us through intimidation, threats, harassment, etc.
It is an undeniable fact that some cultures and religions are incompatible with Australian morals and laws, and also with international Human Rights laws. We have to face this fact squarely, and we need to deal with this problem appropriately.

Through the same political correctness, the ‘general public' here and abroad are given a distorted (sanitized) interpretation of some of these incompatible customs and imperatives. My take on this distortion is that it can be classified into two principal categories:
1. Attempt to induce a more peaceful and tolerant ‘world view' on those with the incompatible views.
2. Blindside the general public to the dangers of some of these problems.

The first seems to be a good idea, but an unfortunate byproduct is the second.
The second has been a deliberate policy in some overseas (and local) cases.

Whatever the reasons, overseas experience has shown that the longer term result of this appeasement is worse problems than if the incompatibilities are dealt with immediately and where necessary, firmly. Australian laws MUST be enforced, but again, I won't hold my breath....

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