Soren wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 12:47pm:
Karnal wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 12:38pm:
Soren wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 11:48am:
Karnal wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 10:50am:
Soren wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 9:59am:
Karnal wrote on Nov 4
th, 2014 at 9:21am:
Oh, I did. Nothing to support the subtle Herbie claim that the Cronulla riots was a response to Muslims raping our women.
Well, it may not have been the direct or sole cause but it was certainly not irrelevant.
The years of harassment by Lebanese youths was a decisive reason and that harassment was very strongly directed towards 'sluts', ie Australian girls on the beach. The Lebanese were not randomly singled out, targeted without reason. The Skaf and the Khans (Pakistanis !) were recent events.
Now you’re getting there. Talkback rumours of Lebs targeting "our women" on Cronulla beach, backed up.with the completely unrelated Skaff ttial.
Still, none of this is in your book, old boy.
Shurely shome mishtake, no?
Yeah, if page 63-4 are not part of the book then it's not in it.
Thanks for a more accurate reference, old boy.
Your book describes how sexual assaults are rarely reported, and rarely charged and convicted. It then goes on to describe 3 unsubstantiated reports of sexual "taunts" by Lebs: "suck my cock, slut"; "you know you want it", etc. One was alleged after the riot took place. None of these taunts were investigated by police.
I know these allegations had an influence on the Cronulla riots. I remember the talkback frenzy well. Most recent in the media was the unrelated Skaff rape trial.
However, none of them were confirmed, substantiated, convicted, or to my knowledge, even investigated. It’s why your book chapter (Together exterminate the enemy at Cronulla. Send this to every Lion of Lebanon) notes the lack of sexual assault prosecutions in general. Paradoxically, it also notes a rise in sexual abuse statistics statewide, subtly inferring a Muslim (or Leb) attribution to the rise.
Paul Sheehan is the author of another book, Among the Barbarians, a book that seeks to " lift the veil of intimidation" surrounding multicultural policies and debate. In the chapter you’ve references, he attempts to blame the Cronulla riot on the Lebs, hence the chapter title.
Cunning, no?
Re blame -who do you blame for the years of harassment of beach goers by Lebanese youths?
I have heard very few accounts of actual harrassment of beach goers. I have no doubt a few incidents happened, but I believe the majority were conflicts between groups of people. The rest I heard - the talkback frenzy - were rumours of things that happened to others. I heard this... my mate told me that...
Why did we hear of no harrassment of beach goers at other beaches?
Cronulla beach is insular and parochial. The Shire is one of the "whitest" suburbs in Sydney. You used to see "locals only" spraypainted at various points around the northern end. You may have seen or read Puberty Blues, Kathy Lette's book about Cronulla in the late 1970s. The sport back then in Cronulla, after football and surfing, was bashing up the "Westies" - Western Suburbs residents who "invaded" Cronulla beach.
Interestingly, there's a fight scene in the film where the surfers have it out with the lifesavers - surfer outlaws versus the lifesaver lawmakers.
In 2005, it seems, the Lebs became the new outlaws. The main groups of Lebs who hit the beach and its picnic areas are families - big families. There's often conflict over space, and I know Lebs are very protective of their mothers and sisters.
The incident that led to the Cronulla riot - the argument over a soccer ball - was apparently about Lebs protecting the honour of the the women they were with. That's their story, anyway.
The events that led to the Cronulla riot were part of a turf war. This "war" reflected the changing racial demographic of the southern suburbs as Arabs moved south and south-west, stopping short of the Tom Ugly Bridge, the Shire's geographical border.
Knowing the defensiveness and hostility of Shire locals, and knowing the hotheaded temprament of Lebs, there were bound to be conflicts - just as there have always been conflicts between Shire locals and anyone else who has visited "their" beach since Federation: larrakins, bodgies, widgies, Westies, and Lebs. Cronulla is famous for it.
Cronulla locals have always taken exception to outsiders in large groups. They have often organized posses, and they have always used biffo to defend their territory. The difference with the Cronulla riot is that it was organized by outsiders and flamed by talkback radio and the tabloids.
And the Lebs, once provoked, were just as bad.
But then, you knew all that already. You know, with your comprehensive knowledge of Australian history and culture.
You studied it at the prestigious University of Balogney, no?