Last weekend was the tenth anniversary of what was called "The Cronulla Race Riot " that made world headlines and branded Australia as a racist country. There was talk of it being celebrated with a beach march and when this was banned an anti-Islam group decided to hold a "Non Halal " BBQ and roasted a pig. Anti Racism zealots carrying their signature hoardings gathered to make their point and both groups were outnumbered by a big police presence - wearing riot gear.
Basically, the anticipated clash was a non event. The attending numbers were small and confrontation led to just a couple of arrests, but what was striking was the fact that this demonstration was totally ignored by the residents of Cronulla. Those who attended were the zealots from both sides of the racial debate who journeyed to Cronulla from other parts of Sydney.
Much has been written about that fateful day when an excited mob turned on anyone of Middle Eastern appearance, but the real reason for the tension was air brushed out of the story. It was very much a matter of political cowardice that let a situation develop that got completely out of hand.
Cronulla became the favourite beach destination for western Sydney because the rail station was just across the road from the beach. Groups of Muslim youths began to congregate at Cronulla at weekends and initially they were just annoying, kicking soccer balls amongst sunbathers and leering at the girls in their bikinis. Complaints to the police were ignored. The police obeyed the commands from their masters to "avoid trouble that could arise from confronting Muslims " - and did nothing. The Muslim youths interpreted that as a license to misbehave and so sexual adventures became the norm. A group of youths would surround a girl - and to use a colloquialism - some would "cop a feel ". If the girl was accompanied by her boyfriend and he intervened, he would be beaten up by members of the group.
On one occasion a girl broke free and ran to the lifesavers for protection. Enraged, this mob beat up the crew on duty, sending them to hospital. A red neck type spectator went on talk-back radio and made an empassioned plea to "take back our beach "and this was endorsed by radio shock jocks. The fact that our hallowed lifesavers had been attacked went viral and the numbers swelled on the day that a protest was planned.
Initially, this was very peaceful. Many brought BBQ's and beer but the mood changed when a red neck element harangued the crowd. The mix of alcohol and a "cause " became electric and incidents got out of hand, provoking a backlash that night from western Sydney. Many senior police simply switched off their mobile phones and became "uncontactable ", leaving the police response to very junior ranks. That "day of infamy "became a stain on this city.
Probably the most profound change after this so called "Cronulla Race Riot " was from the rank and file Muslim diaspora in Sydney. The hard core Islamist minority who support Islamic State continued to roar defiance and threaten disruption, but the wise moderates who simply want to practice their faith and live in peace cracked down on their youth and the behaviour that sparked such a response.
Ten years later - and a lot has changed. There are no restrictions on the police keeping order in Cronulla and Muslim youths who continue to use Cronulla beach are well behaved. The fact that this ten year anniversary could have become the focal point of a bitter confrontation shows that lessons have been learned on both sides of the religious divide.
There will always be a hard core of Wahabist leaning Muslims who despise the Australian way of life and we will always have an element which opposes any religion that is not Christianity, and both are usually both vocal and inclined to confrontation. It probably takes an occasional event like what happening at Cronulla for the majority to take control and sort out the problems.
That is just part of the mechanism of Australia becoming a multi racial society !
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