GROTESQUE RACE RIOT FEATURES CHANTERS BRANDISHING FLAGS

The BBC's Nick Bryant in an article on 10 prospective Sydney surf lifesavers:

But this group is unique. These 18 young people, of Lebanese, Syrian, Palestinian and Libyan backgrounds, are about to become the first Muslim Australians to receive this prized qualification.

More remarkable still, they have learned and honed their skills on the country's most controversial stretch of sand - Cronulla beach, the site of grotesque race riots in December 2005.

Then, brandishing Australian flags and hollering chants of Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, thousands of white protesters descended on Cronulla vowing to make it a "Leb-free zone", using a derogatory term for people of Lebanese or Middle Eastern appearance.

The Cronulla riot wasn't your regular old run-of-the-mill race riot. Nope, it was a full blown grotesque race riot. And what's with the Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, chant? Aussie Aussie Aussie never goes anywhere without oy! oy! oy!. And how the hell do you brandish a flag. There could be a chance Bryant has no idea what he's talking about here.

Bryant then makes it sound like Australia's surf lifesaving clubs exclude non-whites:

In the minds of many protesters, the youths had attacked an almost sacred Australian icon - the Surf Life Saving clubs, a bastion of white, Anglo-Saxon, working class traditions and values.

Later on in the article Dr Jamal Rifi reveals the real reason why Muslim lifesavers are uncommon:

"Unfortunately, we had always assumed it is for the white, blue-eyed, blond-haired Australians, and we were very hesitant to take that step forward to be part of the movement. Unfortunately it took the events at Cronulla to get us to take that step forward," he said.

Good on 'em for taking the challenge: here's hoping they do well as life savers. Oy! Oy! Oy!

Note: Forgot to include the link. Fixed.