As a lone gunman held café patrons hostage in downtown Sydney, Australians took to social media to spread messages of support for those affected by the tragedy. But surprising to some, were the number of Australians offering support to local Muslims amidst growing concerns about being harassed in public. According to an article by The Guardian UK, Tessa Kum, a Sydney-based TV writer, helped start the movement by sending the following Tweet:
Before long, the hashtag #illridewithyou was trending across the Twittersphere. Thousands of people discussed the possibility of rising intolerance and aggression toward Australian Muslims and offered to accompany those who wear religious attire on public transit.
Australia is a diverse nation but has had significant racial and cultural tensions throughout history. Just this September, Muslim leaders met with Australian Premier, Colin Barnett to discuss improving intercultural relations between Muslims and non-Muslims amid recent incidents of Islamophobic behavior throughout the country.
Such an outpouring of support may not surprise those who have worked with or lived in Australia. The concept of “mateship” is central to the Australian cultural value of strong egalitarianism, which is said to emanate from a sense of mutual dependence formed by settlers in the harsh conditions of the penal colonies. Though the term mateship once only applied to males, the meaning has expanded over time to encompass camaraderie and solidarity in all relationships.
Today’s Australians are increasingly open to other cultures and attitudes toward foreigners are shaped by factors such traveling internationally or working in a multicultural environment. Both the government and corporate Australia have undergone comprehensive initiatives addressing diversity and the challenges of multiculturalism.
What does the public response to the siege say about egalitarianism and the evolutions of Australia’s diverse culture mosaic? Has your experience with Australians been similar in any way? Share your thoughts in the comments section below.
