Follow-Up On Vicious Attack on Israelis in Perth
Aussie Dave | May 17, 2008 | 5 comments
Over the Sabbath, I met the Israelis who were bashed in Perth a few days ago. I can confirm that this was likely not motivated by anti-Semitism or anti-Israel sentiment, given that the perpetrators were a gang of Aborigines (I myself have been on the receiving end of some of their “love” a long time ago). Why no-one stopped and helped is still a mystery though.
One of the Israelis is now in a wheelchair and is flying out tonight because of the senseless attack. When I asked him about the attack, he gave me the typical Israeli response: Gam zu l’Tova (‘Also this is for the good’).
I tell you, there’s nothing like Israeli optimism. I could do with some of that myself right about now.
About the Author
An Australian immigrant to Israel, Aussie Dave has been blogging since early 2003.Filed Under: General
I don’t understand. Why would Aborigines go around bashing people. You implied that you were attacked once. Was robbery the motive?
Whoops, I’m sorry, I commented before reading the original posting below. So, robbery was not the motive. Then what was? Do Aborigines just attack people randomly, with no apparent motive? Weird.
I’ve been to Australia four times, as I have family there, but only saw Aborigines in Queensland. Admittedly, they looked pretty miserable, but I had no idea that they were prone to random violence.
As for people not stopping to help the two backpackers, that is also really weird. It doesn’t fit in with my view of Australians as one of the nicest peoples on the planet.
Come to think of it, at dinner several years ago in a restaurant on the Morningside Peninsula, south of Melbourne, my mother collapsed after a bad reaction to some wine she had sipped (no, she wasn’t tipsy or drunk). I think the staff helped, with no real warmth, but no one at the neighboring tables so much as turned around or said anything. That did strike me as strange at the time. In New York, where I live, I am pretty sure that there’d be offers of help, expressions of concern, and lots of people offering well-meant (and contradictory) advice. Maybe not every time, but often enough.
David,
Tachzik ma’amad
Joanne,
Aborigines have been known to attack people randomly. It is commonly the result of substance abuse.
I am, of course, not generalizing. There are decent Aborigines who deplore this behavior.
Madelyn,
Thanks