Henry,

I admit that watching the "Four Corners" program
last night was quite a revelation. Knocked me for a six.
And I admit that there was much I simply did not know.
I don't know what the answer is - But I also am thinking
along the lines that if they go on committing crimes
and end up with a criminal record - rather than jail -
they should be deported. It might send a strong message.

Dear Foxy,

Thank you for the response.

It is absolutely fine to identify strongly with home invasion victim in what would have been a terrifying ordeal. It is very easy to put ourselves in her place and to imagine her fear.

On the other hand if I were a Sudanese mother perhaps I would have identified more strongly with the woman who had tried to hold her 14 year old son as he lay dying after being beaten to death by two white men who set out with the express purpose to “kill a n@gger”.

The music video was certainly ill-advised given the climate but it was certainly a parody. Smashing tvs have been a part of musical videos forever and has become a caricature.

None of the news reports I cited earlier involved Sudanese youths, not even the carjacking gone wrong in Melbourne. I feel the 4 Corners report was timely and didn't pull its punches. But it also flagged how easy it is to get caught up in the fear, and for decisions to be made that make matters worse rather than addressing what is a very real issue.

As for deportation the report mentioned over a hundred had been already. However I would not want to see those who were brought here without parents in their early years, who grew up in our culture, being threatened with deportation for fighting in a park or other juvenile delinquency. We need to properly understand why these kids are falling away and do what is needed to pull them back.

Foxy,
I may be wrong but if they are born here, like the 2nd gen muslims, they cannot be deported as they are natural citizens. Besides that it usually takes a jail sentence of at least 12 months before deportation is considered.

I commend you for changing your mind on this issue, as I do Belly.

"I may be wrong but if they are born here, like the 2nd gen muslims, they cannot be deported as they are natural citizens".

Australia abolished 'birthright citizenship' in 2007. To be an Australian citizen, people born here have to have at least one parent who is either a citizen or a permanent resident.

Had a quick look at 4 Corners on iView. Gave it away when the Keystones Cops indicated that they were still in denial about African gangs.

ttbn,
Suggest you have a look at it again. I was expecting the worst and was surprized as it was not too bad. Bear in mind the cops are under orders from the government, in Vic. They arrive late and make no arrests! The worst aspect was the Judge who needs to re-priortize public safety rather that think of refugees as victims. Citizens are the victims.

All in all it was not too bad for the ABC. It helped Foxy and Belly change from defense to offense which is rare. The Africans scored a few own goals. including a video they made of their exploits. Recall how the Lebs used to brag to the media about how tough they were, well this is similar.

Dear Steelie,

I fully understand your pointing out the incident of
Martha Ojulo whose son Liep Gony was beaten to death in 2007
by two white blokes armed with metal poles - who were looking
for blacks to kill. And I did find it surprising that
a Supreme Court Judge said during sentencing that the attack
was not racially motivated. I can't even begin to imagine
what the mother of that young boy must still be feeling.
Their community needs to get more involved with their
kids - to keep everyone out of trouble. The police need
to also get more involved.
Surely there are clubs that could work?

There does seem to be an odd treatment of both victims and
perpetrators regarding the inter-action of white and black
in these communities. The authorities need to take stronger
action on both sides.

The question now is - we need to look at what needs to be
done to prevent violence from happening again and we need
to do something about keeping those kids off the streets
and out of trouble.

But that I imagine is not going to be an easy thing to do.
Any suggestions as to what could be done?