kporte

You don't have much control over that. You can only do your bit. I know I was exposed to loads of racism growing up but I'm not racist.

scottishcelts

I really can't remember being in a situation where I was exposed to racism, but I did go to a high school in the west end where there were lots of cultures, it was a non denominational academy for the rich kids ( no I was far from a rich kid, just that I was in the catchment area and there was nothing the ****ers could do about it ).

Now if you are talking religious bigotry - that's a different ballgame.

Neil52

This is why Australias is being called racist.

What is happening to Indian students in Australia? Why have they been mugged, knifed, set alight, and murdered, mostly, in Melbourne, Australia's proud multi-racial melting pot city where, according to my colleague Nick Bryant, people from 140 nations live side-by-side?


http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/thereport..._australi.html

kporte

It seems the key point being made is lack of communication/information. I'd agree. If it is racially motivated it needs investigated and dealt with. If it isn't, the same still applies. They need to move on this much more urgently than they appear to be.

kooga

Australia already has laws in place to combat these problems, whether they are being implemented is another thing
http://www.hreoc.gov.au/racial_discr...rda/index.html

Neil52

In the article...Melbourne is the most racist city of all. An Indian newspaper cartoon even portrayed the Australian police as the Ku Klux Klan.

kporte

That should help. The KKK lynched people regularly and set burning crosses on lawns.... Don't forget that India itself is plagued with race and class bigotry.
We need sensible dialogue on this, not histrionics.

Neil52

Just trying to show how some people outside of Oz pereceive the Australia people.

kporte

Sure. That's what amazes me, tourism and student intake are both important to Aus. You'd think they would be doing more on this issue than playing it down.

physiomitch

As a South Africa and having been brought up by British parents and witnessed all the changes in SA, can I please comment:

To me racism means hate, and this is a very strong feeling. Just because someone does not like someone else and because he is another colour, does not indicate racism. In South Africa when the new government came into power, we did not see Blacks and Indians and Coloureds move into the white areas, because they prefer to live within a comfort zone of people they know and understand. This can be seen all over the world. Different race groups tend to live like with like, it is a matter of nature...you don,t see lions living in the same area as cheetas, even though they are both wild cats. All humans have their own way of doing things, and if the problem is ever to be solved, which might be unnatural...don't mean to be pessimistic...then it is a matter of everyone accepting each other as different, and concentrate on making oneself better, rather than trying to make everyone else the same.

I have always felt that human nature tends towards the lowest common denominator, and it is every individual's task to improve themselves first, and allow others to follow. Australia is no more racist than any country where more than one race of humans live, just stand up for yourself and believe in who and what you are, and don't react...ignorance is bliss when it comes to ignoring someone who is trying to be racist towards you.

On the other hand, if you pull the racist card when youget blamed for poor work or doing something that offends other people, then you are just as much to blame for stirring the racism pot..rather take a good look at yourself and assess the situation, and then make an informed decision.

We are all different, we just need to accept that and keep smiling, because we could be living in the UK!!!

Sally Redux

copa

any more pearls of wisdom?? Africans are corrupt? Americans are drug addicts?

Broad Shoulders

Excellent post Kporte and reflects exactly my feelings and what I have been so uneloquently trying to put forward all along

BadgeIsBack

Did you pass the buyer's address on to the local police...

A wog in Australia is a cold. Only goes to show..

I accept the position as Ambassador - unpaid. I do have some very large expenses I will be claiming in respect of the position though..


.

Beedubya

More Pearls of Wisdom? How about these:

Pommy Bastards, Wogs, Abo's, Slope Heads, Curry Munchers, Septics, Nips, can't think of any more at the moment, but these are terms I heard living in Australia.....never even heard of most of them before I went there.............and I made sure I brought my kids up never to speak like this.

I don't suppose anybody wonders what the recipients think about these so called "matey terms of endearment"?