Hi Alison,
I also feel depressed, and am also taking it pretty personally. Brighton-le-
Sands is almost visible over the hills from me.
There are divisions in the Lebanese community here about 'the problem', of
course. We know a family of Lebanese/Syrians living across the street and I
can tell you the women in that family see things quite differently from the
young men of the family. We have Lebanese christian friends who have other
perspectives again.
I think it's broader than racism, as usually discussed. Sure, John H doesn't
get it, but would we expect him to? The non-existent federal Labor opposition
doesn't get it either and NSW Labour never has. All they are interested in is
power, not people.
I see a convergence of a number of forces here, surprise surprise. Attacks on
education, workers rights and conditions, freedom of speech are part of this.
Sometimes I think the rhetoric of the left and the right is beginning to sound
the same.
But where do you go? One of my colleagues has dual citizenship (or passport or
whatever) but she doesn't want to go to her other country which she claims is
worse. A rather large country the other side of the Pacific. Maybe she's
right, maybe not. I've not been to the US so I wouldn't know.
I'm going across the ditch to the South Island for a holiday next week. If I
don't come back, send word to Invercargill or Dunedin.
Best,
Jill
> Hi Jill
>
> I read through the Herald Sun letters page yesterday (a good test of the
> popular pulse) and saw that calls are happening for riots on Williamstown
> Beach, which is actually _my_ beach. So I'm taking it all rather personally.
>
> The situation here in Melbourne is rather different, I think; certainly
> there's not the same perception of gangs as in Sydney. But walking through
> Newport yesterday, where there is a fairly large Arabic community, I sensed
> a real unease and disquiet. Frankly, I feel very depressed about Australia
> at present.
>
> Best
>
> A
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