Buzzfeed has been closely following events in Sydney, Australia, where as many as 30 people remain hostages of a gunman displaying Islamic messages and making ISIS-related demands. The breaking news reporter for Buzzfeed Australia was on scene in Sydney, and he zeroed in on the real story going on today, which is what was happening in the crowd.
The crowd is full of mouthy young men and old crazy racists. Many have travelled here. Really bringing worst out of Sydney #sydneysiege
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) December 15, 2014
The man with a gun holding hostages and espousing a radical religious ideology is not the worst, but is instead merely what "brings out' the worst, which is, apparently, mouthy people. Di Stefano continues focusing on the most important thing happening in Sydney right now:
Things getting ugly... A racist bloke yelling at rest of the crowd, "Muhammed is a pedophile, rapist" #sydneysiege pic.twitter.com/q2TPg0In5Q
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) December 15, 2014
He's been led away by police. There are so many racist crackpots who have come here. 100m away, hostages are at gunpoint #sydneysiege
— Mark Di Stefano (@MarkDiStef) December 15, 2014
It is not immediately clear which "race" the Buzzfeed reporter is referring to. Perhaps he just thinks that all Muslims look alike.
Naturally, the focus on victims of terrifying word-saying in crowds was followed by a focus on hypothetical future victims of hypothetical future reprisal, as was asked of police by a reporter at a press conference early this morning ET. Some have even volunteered to drive people who wear presumably Islamic religious attire, because Australians are obviously on the verge of taking Islamists hostage in chocolate stores:
If you reg take the #373 bus b/w Coogee/MartinPl, wear religious attire, & don’t feel safe alone: I’ll ride with you. @ me for schedule.
— Sir Tessa (@sirtessa) December 15, 2014
Again, it is important to remember that the people who should feel afraid are not the people who keep getting taken hostage and beheaded around the world, but rather those who may or may not be associated with the killers by hypothetical reprisal-seekers. Not everyone buys the panic:
@CalebHowe Every time, more concern over hypothetical victims than actual victims. Nevermind that "backlash" never happens.
— Maria Van Daele (@MFVanDaele) December 15, 2014
Exit question: if it is "racist" to assume a person in Islamic religious clothing will commit violence, then why isn't it if you assume that any other non-Muslim Australian citizen will?
