Over in Sydney at the moment, local residents are up in arms about the construction of a Muslim school in the suburb of Camden. The riot squad was called to a public meeting on the issue, a fundamentalist Christian Party is sowing hate, and there are text messages going around trying to organise a Cronulla-style riot. Then there's this:
Later in November two pigs' heads were rammed on to metal stakes and an Australian flag draped between them on the site of the proposed school.Charming. Absolutely charming.
None of this would be happening if this was a Catholic school (of which Camden aparently boasts about eight) - everyone accepts their right to religious education. But standards are apparently different where Muslims are concerned. This is nothing more than Islamophobia, and a nasty example of the strong undercurrent of racism, bigotry and intolerance which stil exists in Australian society.
