A Mid-September Tragedy

The following is certainly independent; but it is not journalism. I'm not going to be fair to both sides, or balanced, and I'm not going to give equal weight to all opinions; I'm giving much more weight to my own. I'm not pretending to be something I'm not. Many people could learn from this. Especially livestreamers.

Ok, got that? Strap in then!

An Attack on All of Us

The actions of September 18th to 22nd were a disgrace. They left a permanent stain on this state even worse than the piss stains they left on the walls of the Shrine.

The violence they brought to Melbourne's streets - not for any great purpose - but merely because their own masculinity was under threat.

The attacks on the Working Class, for that's what they were, by this alliance of Capitalists, Conspiracy Nuts, Incels, Racists and the Angry of No Particular Political Stance was a very low moment in the history of this city. Claiming the West Gate Bridge, a Shrine to workers betrayed by the system was the Crowning moment of this tragedy.

A Dangerous Farce

This was also High Farce in the worst way. A quick listen (or in fact a long listen; I'm a glutten for punishment) to their telegram chat into the small hours of the morning over the week of the riots revealed just how farcical this 'movement' was.

Do not be mistaken, this was not an anti-lockdown protest or a union protest, this was about undirected anger.

Not even Rebellion without a cause; it was anger in search of an outlet.

From wild claims that the earthquake was a false flag by someone (or possibly an explosion in Perth), to claims that the Government would shut down all communication by using an EMP the conspriacies were all over the place; and built upon each other. Their rambings wandered to the Victorian Police being privately funded (some weird conspiracy involving Serco and the Vatican) to all VicPol members being Freemasons. It's funny, as soon as the Police stop attacking members of the underclass, the bourgeosie start conspiracies that the police have changed.

They tried to be more grounded with some of thier conspiracies though, they are still tying to argue that the Governor-General can dismiss State Governments. (He can't, and neither can the Governor; we really need for them to get over this idea. We won't, because these people don't listen).

From Farce to Danger

Their most disgusting moment (and one of their few moments of unity surprisingly) was their complete disregard for any notion for the rights of Aborginal people of this land.

In a discussion about Common Law (they still don't understand it, but they really think they do) a point was raised that without a treaty, the occupation of this land is illegal and therefore no law applies.

Now, this is a point I quite like. It would be laughed out of any Courtroom, but still an arguement I would like to make one day.

But of course, this arguement undermined the power of the white boys in the crowd. So any idea of maybe consulting with some local Elders was immediately dismissed by two of the worst statements I have had the misfortune to hear.

"Nah, they're basically irrelevant," and

"They're just gunna have to take the L on that one."

It was in these two statements that the cloak was finally pulled off; amongst the laughter that accompanied these declarations the pure hatred underlining it was revealed.

This was not a fight for the underclass. This was a reactionary fight by a temporarily underpowered privleged class, using workers rights as a Trojan Horse.

The Lessons

While this 'movement' was farcial this time, next time it might not be. The violent police response threatens to give greater unity to these groups. And the normalisation of police violence could also threaten any Climate or actual workers rights movements in the future.

The response cannot be down to a Police Force then.

It must be down to the ordinary people. The vaccination rates, and failure for the movement to catch on show just how much of a minority these people occupy. But it must remain this way.

Storytellers and creatives must respond either showing the foolishness of the No Cause Angry, or showing the Love of those who are doing the best to survive in these frightening times.