In the midst of the racial profiling that has characterised Sydney's response to recent riots, two Lebanese Australians stand up to assert their Christian identity and the need for peace this weekend.
Michael Joukhadar " a 34-year-old motor mechanic " born in Australia, lives in Peakhurst, is married to Anglo-Australian Deborah and has two children aged four and six with another on the way.
Roy Chafei " a 39-year-old builder " came to Australia aged 16, lives in Croydon, is married to Italian-Australian Fortunata and has three children aged five, eight and 10.
Both are Christian, are Australian citizens, are proud of their Lebanese heritage - and both are deeply saddened by the recent riots in Sydney.
However, both men believe that the latest clash of cultures is merely a surface issue hiding a deeper spiritual problem.
"I don't regard it as a cultural issue. I see it as a state of the human condition and our sinfulness," Michael says.
"The cultural thing is an excuse and an outlet because, as a society, we like to point the finger at others. But rather than blaming particular groups of people I am quickly reminded of my own sinfulness when I see this happening."
Roy agrees Sydney needs to look at the deeper spiritual problem.
"There are a lot of law-abiding, God-fearing Arabic citizens and Anglo citizens. This is a case of human sinfulness on both sides," he says.
Coexistence a real possibility
Michael and Roy both attend St David's, Arncliffe " located in a suburb with a significant Lebanese population " and have been part of the Cross Cultural Bible Church congregation since the 1990s.
While Roy says he has never experienced any serious racism living in Australia, he does feel sympathy for fellow people of Middle Eastern extraction.
"It's a lot of stress on youth. With the stereotyping of Muslims and Arabs as terrorists, you can feel some pressure. When my family gets together we talk about it and it has an effect," he says.
Roy and Michael agree this is no excuse for resorting to violence.
"We don't want to see lifeguards being bashed or women being treated badly. God created all of us equally. We can only live in an orderly manner under our true leader," Michael says.
Michael believes society has a mistaken view of itself as "good moral citizens'.
"We still have drunkenness, drug abuse, child abuse and murders that happen every day. Why aren't we outraged everyday? Why do we only become outraged with things like this?"
"We want to be in charge of our own lives and run life the way we want. The Bible clearly says we have all sinned. The wonderful news is we all have a way out through God's grace in sending his son Jesus," Michael says.
Michael believes the gospel is the real solution to the current conflict and the Cross Cultural Bible Church is a good example of different cultures growing together.
"We need to pray for these young men on both sides and love them. We must pray that they will change."
"We get together every single week from different races and are united in Christ. You really see the gospel lived out," Michael says.
Lebanese leaders call for ‘time out’
Earlier this week representatives of Arab Christian, Arab Muslim and community organisations united to call for a voluntary curfew on Friday from 9 pm, Saturday from 9 pm and all day Sunday for all Lebanese youth, in a bid to restore community calm.
President of the Lebanese Moslems Association, Ahmad Kamaledine, said "those who violate the curfew will be doing so in defiance of their faith, of the law, and their community leaders'.
Archbishop Peter Jensen congratulated the Arab and Lebanese Australian community leaders for their call to youth to observe the curfew and expected Sydney Anglicans to demonstrate similar self-control.
"I would certainly expect that no Anglican Christian is to be found
participating in any incidents of hostility and violence towards others," he says.
"For them to do so would be to deny the pattern of openness and acceptance of others, including strangers, that was the mark of the life and ministry of Jesus of Nazareth."
