I agree, Dave R.
Firstly, I understand the fear and anger that must be felt by victims of any criminal violence. As always, we need to think of ways to help these young people to become valued citizens of this country. Their behaviour is a complicated result of their terrible childhoods in war-torn Somalia or Sudan combined with their rejection by our society once they arrived here.
Some questions:
1. Why does it seem to be mainly a Melbourne problem?
2. Why hasn't there been more of an effort to help these kids into some sort of gainful employment and community life?
I live in a regional city and we don't have the Melbourne problems despite a significant African population. My family and I have attended African cultural festivals and have been impressed by their warm and welcoming atmosphere. We have had very pleasant business dealings with African-Australian musicians and craftsmen. These kids that are the subject of such vilification need friends and mentors, not jail sentences.
