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| Down Under | |||||
| Australian Attacks are racist, says Arab council | |||||
| 2005-12-15 | |||||
| THE violent attacks in Sydney had exposed the anti-Arab racism that existed in Australia, a national Arabic council said today. The Australian Arabic Council (AAC) chairman, Roland Jabbour, said the council was concerned and alarmed by reports text messages were continuing to circulate in Sydney and spreading to Melbourne and other Australian cities. The messages follow two nights of violent attacks in Maroubra, Cronulla and Brighton-le-Sands, apparently in response to a race riot at Cronulla on Sunday in which people of Middle Eastern appearance were chased and attacked. State and national leaders need to convene a conference with police, academics and community leaders to find a long term solution to race issues, Mr Jabbour said. Mr Jabbour called for calm and restraint, but said the events had exposed the anti-Arab racism that existed in Australia and the AAC had predicted such attacks would happen. "Arab Australians have had to cope for some time with vilification, racism and abuse after numerous international and domestic events," he said.
"This reality must now be recognised by political leaders and government agencies as a significant impingement on the rights of Arab and Muslim citizens."
Mr Jabbour said politicians and media commentators had fanned the flames of racial tension. "It is time that political leaders and media commentators took some responsibility for the current climate of fear and hatred and show some courage to deal with the real issues in a cooperative manner rather than scapegoating communities," he said.
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| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #13 This way to the Egress----> ---PT Barnum |
| Posted by: Alaska Paul 2005-12-15 23:32 |
| #12 Remember - they can't cry "victim" if there are none left. Just a thought. |
| Posted by: Old Patriot 2005-12-15 23:03 |
| #11 There is a sizeable element of Hezbollah living in the Leb community. We imported them in the 1980s. Of course, Lebanese Christians are not the problem. Nor are Iranian muslims. It's just Lebs. Of southwest Sydney. And it's not racist to call them Leb gangs because they describe themselves as Leb gangs. |
| Posted by: anon1 2005-12-15 22:11 |
| #10 The "Arab Youths" are in fact Leb gangs. Leb gangs comprise of Muslim Lebanese males from southwest Sydney. Lakemba is the epicentre, with Lakemba Mosque being their religious focal point. The night after the beach riot, 500 muslim males gathered around the mosque to "defend" it from non-existent attackers, then rioted around the streets. In the past week the Lebs have: * shot at school kids having Christmas carols * burned down 4 churches in southwest sydney * travelled to beach suburbs cronulla, maroubra and brighton-le-Sands and smashed up shops and cars * stabbed and beaten Anglo men and women. Yet their doings are only called "youths" in "race riots" so often the media mistakes it and thinks racist Anglo Aussies did it. They did not. They only had a protest on Sunday at Maroubra over the Leb gang bashing of two lifesavers (hijacked by a couple hundred racists who beat up some middle-eastern looking people who weren't even Lebs and chased a woman and tore her hijab off - and have thus tarnished everyone with a legitimate complaint against the Lebs and ensured the media will never report fairly on the issue). Keysar Trad, media spokesliar for the Lebs has put the victim spin on it. It's all the fault of racist Australia. What we need is a multicultural, multiracial, anti-Leb gang protest outside Lakemba mosque. A peaceful protest so the media cannot spin us as racists. We need all those who've suffered Leb gang violence to get together: Asians, Whites, Blacks, Christians, Atheists, Jews, and protest peacefully outside Lakemba mosque. Protest for women's rights: have women in bikinis there to hammer the message that what you wear does not make you a slut or justify rape. Protest for our right to live in peace. Then when (not if) the Leb gangs attack, take it peacefully. Cop the hit in front of the TV cameras so there can be no claiming the victim culture. We need to win the media battle, they've had undeserved sympathy too long. Meanwhile, Residents of sydney streets should be forming emergency response groups. Get every able bodied male on your street on a mobile phone list. If any one member is threatened or sees a carload of armed Leb gang causing trouble, they sms the group. All who can and are near mobilise within 5 minutes to help each other. This is a Leb tactic. This is how they run over the law. We have to use the same tactic because it works. We need to help each other. |
| Posted by: anon1 2005-12-15 22:09 |
| #9 Golly gee whillikers, ya mean ta say that the beachfront comments made by these Arab yoots are based on race rather than religion? That's the only way any retaliation against such offensive language could be construed as "racist." Otherwise, if the comments are based on an attempt to impose Arab religious value judgements upon those who do not participate in said faith, well then, it's an issue of religious dispute now isn't it? Perish the thought that anyone would have the stones to highlight such a glaring discrepancy in any of the journalistic coverage. Such reportage might make it increasingly clear that a certain bunch of oppressive whingeing theocratically inclined wingnuts are seeking to obtain influence over the rights and liberties of their host nation. Naw, no pattern of behavior here. Nope, nope, nuttin' ta see, now move along folks. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2005-12-15 12:55 |
| #8 the reporting out of Australia |
| Posted by: 2b 2005-12-15 12:51 |
| #7 Eerr. Wake me when it's over. |
| Posted by: Sliting Joluque4677 2005-12-15 12:42 |
| #6 "It is time that political leaders and media...show some courage to deal with the real issues in a cooperative manner rather than scapegoating communities." Leave the scapegoating to the professionals...Us! |
| Posted by: DepotGuy 2005-12-15 12:04 |
| #5 ... he'll have to explain in some detail why the Bali bombings are anti-Muslim ... You missed the bit about the anti-terror legislation. From what I've read, it's all very neutrally worded, and doesn't single out any particular group. So why is legislating against support for or agititating for violence "racist"? Unless, of course, you consider it your God-given right to support, motivate, and commit acts of violence. |
| Posted by: Robert Crawford 2005-12-15 10:18 |
| #4 ...and now that they've established ourselves as the victim here they can go ahead and call for jihad. Jihad, as everybody knows, is perfectly acceptable as a defense whenever Islam comes under attack. Not a bad strategy, actually - small, pinpoint attacks, gradual increase in tensions until the other side retaliates, and then claim victimhood and cast your fight as one of defense. Devious little f*ckers. |
| Posted by: BH 2005-12-15 10:16 |
| #3 What I don't understand is why the Aussies don't go over the list of visas and such for those that came into the country as political refugees and reevaluate their status depending upon the nation they came from. Afghanistan is no longer run by the Taliban and they could use some educated folks coming back with Aussie dollars in their pockets. Leb isn't exactly out of the forest yet but perhaps if they got some more rapists and drug dealers to head back they might pump their economy a bit. |
| Posted by: Anguter Thereque7190 2005-12-15 09:40 |
| #2 So Fred, when will we have the annual Rantburg Victim of the Year awards? I think the AAC might have a good chance -- but then France and the DNC have a good running too. Looks to be quite a compitition this year. |
| Posted by: CrazyFool 2005-12-15 00:54 |
| #1 "Victim! VIIIICTIMMMM!!!!!" |
| Posted by: Bomb-a-rama 2005-12-15 00:49 |