Cronulla Beach Guide Questions
In this discussion about immigration and
1. What is the importance of the poem’s
setting?
The poem’s setting brings the poem
to life making it easier for the reader to
understand, imagine and learn how the
conflict of the white and colored people took
place.
2. Why is it ironic that the beach used to be an
“aboriginal landscape”?
It is ironic that the beach used to be
an aboriginal landscape when the white and
colored people are both Australians who
fought each other to conquer that beach
when in reality it is both their property given
that all of them are Australians
3. What does it mean that there are generations
who want to keep themselves “pure and
sterile”? What does this say about
immigration issues in Australia?
Generations which values
preservation of their white or Australian roots
still exists. Keeping their linage pure and
sterile means not allowing any other race to
taint the purity of their linage. I think the
immigration issues in Australia still has
something to do with the major racism
problem their country still practices today.
4. Why did the white men rampage against
colored people? How do you feel about this?
The white men rampage against
colored people because of feeling too
entitled. They are basically racist who felt like
they own the beach only because they’re
white. My thoughts towards this is, I think
being too narrow minded and entitled makes
a person racist. Having this kind of act is not
tolerable because they are simply not
respecting people’s race.
5. Why did the colored people take their
revenge? How do you feel about this?
The colored people took their
revenge because they had enough. The
white people took away the patience and
kindness left within these people. I felt sad
and angered due to the fact that these people
who avenged themselves are actually the
real pure ones who was tainted with anger
causing them to fight physically.
6.
race, where does the Filipino come in? Why
is it an important concern for Filipinos?
Filipinos became a subject to the
topic “immigration and race” because as a
Filipino, we always want to have a good
place to live in and sometimes we desire to
live in other country to explore, travel and to
have a peaceful living and another important
thing in the Philippines, where Labor
Migration is dominant for the people who are
looking for jobs, Filipinos want to have bigger
income so they tend leave their family to
work in abroad or rather to stay there for
good and because of that, it is an important
concern for Filipinos about this kind of
matter. We are exposed and in risk of facing
racism as we step foot to another country
because of our race.
7. The pink seashells in the story gradually
turned into sand. What could this be a
symbol of? Explain.
The pink shells exhibits calmness
and beauty just like peace. The shells turning
to dust marks the beginning of loosing that
peace the beach once possessed.
8. There is juxtaposition of the image of the riots
with a postcard. Why was this done?
It was done to remember the conflict
that took place in Cronulla beach which
resulted to white and colored people got hurt
and injured. This is a way to remember the
past and the lessons learn in this incident.
9. Did the poem change the way you look at
living or working abroad? Did it change the
way you view Australia? Why or why not?
No. I already knew the racism we are
bound to face as we travel to other countries.
Once experiencing it myself, I’m already
exposed and knowledgeable on how they
treat colored people differently from the
white. Thus not changing y views in Australia
as well. Racist people will always exist, but
so does those who are compassionate and
kind to others.
10. The last line says, “So racializing, this soap.”
What does it mean?
This means that racism must be forbidden.
Racism is the act or the thinking where
someone thinks that his race is superior or
other races are inferior to his.