Australians are not racist, but…

fairsfair says:

09:43am | 16/03/11

If you remember that you may also remember the people who did it were actually of Indian and Pakistani descent. Yes they were Australians but they weren’t white Australians (ie the type of person likely to joint the KKK or be a white supremicist).

Have you seen the movie “White Chicks”? I was only up in arms over that because it was crap. But if the Wayans brothers do it is it ok?

Tim says:

09:55am | 16/03/11

Explain why it was racist?

carol says:

10:02am | 16/03/11

There was nothing wrong with that incident. They had make up on, and were doing a dance routine. So what?! Comedians and entertainers do this all the time. I’ve seen plenty of American TV shows, and entertainers that try to imitate other nationalities.They are the most racist people in the world.Just look at their history.

Ting Tong says:

11:04am | 16/03/11

Racist is degrading an entire country for not seeing the relevance of your own American history - however unrelated it is. Blackface has no context in Australia and isn’t considered racist.

What next? Cancelling a fast food advertisment for trying to appease noisy West Indian cricket fans with fried chicken? What possible connotation can be drawn from that?

Brimstone: “But they’re….black!”
TT: “Yes, but they’re West Indian Brimstone.”
Brimstone” But….they’re black!”

fml says:

11:05am | 16/03/11

@tim.

Its racist because its making a mockery of a group of people in a period, where they were not considered citizens. A period where they could be plucked off the streets and lynched. A period where they had no rights.
Thats why its racist.

Brimstone says:

11:11am | 16/03/11

*sigh*
you barely understand the disgusting history and yet you defend it. you’re probably just ‘taking the piss’, right? mocking everyone equally?

you’re racists

john says:

11:14am | 16/03/11

When someone gimmicks another race {something that Australians love to do} and have a good laugh, its the highest form of acceptance.

Greeks laughed at themselves with TV series/movies and Aussies laughed with them. same with Italians and other europeans etc. Chasers even mimicked Muslims in the famous apec stunt in Sydney http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XIhaBk6hEwo

We all had a good laugh, however I don’t believe that is racism.

Sure there is many forms of racism and discrimination, in some parts here & there, but I don’t believe its a generalised perception that its saturated everywhere.

However I do think there is discrimination based on age,gender,sexuality, and appearance {beautiful people} and that is the real problem that is destroying the fabric of society, because it does alot more harm to the individual, than does a generalised slurr on a “group” or race of people. This is far more damaging and dangerous over time on so many levels.

fml says:

11:52am | 16/03/11

So if someone (in this case a group) asks you not to remind them of a painful section of their past, your response is to make fun of them? then say its a form of acceptance?

Thats sadistic.

Tim says:

11:53am | 16/03/11

fml,
It was making a mockery of a race of people?
I thought it was just a couple of guys doing a song and dance routine (not very well mind you).
As Ting Tong says, why should I be beholden to the history of another country?
There is no history of blackface in this country, so why should we have to moderate ourselves to suit American culture?
Some people seem to find offence wherever they look.

fairsfair says:

12:03pm | 16/03/11

When it is not part of AUSTRALIAN history how is it AUSTRALIANS being racist?

Are you aware that “Its a Long Way to Tipperary” is a song that the English forced the Irish to sing as they marched them off to fight for the English against theselves? Irish people are extremely offended by the song, but few people are aware of this fact and actually think it is a quaint little ditty that represents the Irish as much as St Patrick does.

As an Irish person do I cry racism when someone sings that song an dances a jigg and follows it up with a “to be sure to be sure” in front of me when they hear my name? No, they are just misinformed and mean no ill.

Calling a bunch of Indian uni students racist for painting their faces black to better represent a skit about the Jackson 5 (who were actually black except the lead one who painted his face white to be Michael) is blarney. By far the worst thing to come of that was “Hey Hey its Saturday” being broadcast to an internaional audience *shudder*.

Pete says:

12:10pm | 16/03/11

Don’t confuse ignorance and racism Brimstone. Many Aussies failed to see the relevance of the blackface when used in the context of that skit.

If we laughed at the skit in your eyes that makes us racist. You’re the ignorant one here for assuming we are all as well versed as you in North American history and culture.

Smug is a word that comes to mind.

Bolz says:

12:56pm | 16/03/11

I don’t recall at any stage the performers breaking into “Suwannee, how I love ya, how I love ya” while they were performing. I thought they were pretending to be the Jackson 5 but maybe I’m just some bigoted Australian white trash who doesn’t know what the word racist means.

Brimstone says:

02:39pm | 16/03/11

“It was making a mockery of a race of people?
I thought it was just a couple of guys doing a song and dance routine (not very well mind you).”

You can’t think abstractly. It ties into a whole history of racism. And maybe “let’s mock and attack everyone” isn’t a good basis for a culture?

PTom says:

03:04pm | 16/03/11

Do you mean like Topic Thunder.
Were you had a White American playing Australian died(not painted) Black. Which American thought was funny and was acclumed by the movie industry.

Fred says:

01:28pm | 22/03/11

@PTom - I am sick of people comparing Tropic Thunder to blackface.  Blackface is VERY specific - it is not just impersonating someone that is black when you are white, it is a deliberate style of make-up, that is, for want of a better term, ‘paying tribute’ to the blackface used back in the 1920’s, etc.

You CAN impersonate someone of a different race without being racist (you’d have to be bloody careful though), it’s just a fine line to walk.

Matt says:

10:09am | 16/03/11

We just hate everyone equally…

Adam Diver says:

12:56pm | 16/03/11

I would like the term racist more clearly defined. Whilst technically being racist I think there are varying degrees.

1. The steroetyper. A person who gives attributes based on someones looks based on the stereotype. I see a fat guy I assume he eats bad foods. I see a indian looking person I assume they are from india or indian descent. I see a white person I assume they are not aboriginal etc etc.

Unfair probably, but a hugely negative impact on yours and thier way of life, hardly.

2. The Closet Racist. “I hate xxxx people”. I know a few people who don’t like particular races for various reasons. However this dislike doesn’t translate into any real-world actions.

Wrong, definately. Harmful, no.

3. The Big Mouth Racist - Someone who will be openly racist and abusive. Basically a bully, non-violent.

4. The KKK style racist. Violent, suppressive of rights, organised that is a real fully blown racist.

5. The PC Racist - Thats right the left can be racist as well. Quotas, protection of feelings, myopic views of other races. Defending percieved injustices by a race is being presumptious and racist as well.

My issue is that “racism” has become the dog-whistle of the left. Technically many cases are racism based but they hardly have negative impacts on people.

Until Australia is shown to reflect racism in the laws and constitution, or employers shown to deny jobs based on race (quotas anyone), or races are denied ability to mix socially, or government and private organisations are created solely for individual races (ring any bells) than I think labelling an entire nation with a long history of immigration racist is lazy and dishonest.

If anything we are guilty of far more instances of “reverse-racism” than any real injustices.

Bolz says:

01:01pm | 16/03/11

@Matt
” We just hate everyone equally…”

Yeah, I think I hate as many whiteys as do any other flavour. Share the hate around I say!

dinkidi says:

02:11pm | 16/03/11

“Racist” is a worn out,overdone stupid name used to brainwash Australians into accepting multiculture. The same multiculture that many European countries are finding out is not working and will never work. The word was used as a sledgehammer to shut people up but it beginning to lose it’sstrength as Aussies see what is happening to their beloved country. Patriotism is not a dirty word.

TracyH says:

02:21pm | 16/03/11

@ Adam Driver…excellent post. There ARE degrees of everything, including racism (or, rather, cultureism…i think that’s a more apt word than racism…)

hot tub political machine says:

02:36pm | 16/03/11

Good post Adam,

I think we could add another kind of ractist too it as well - the rights racist. That being the type who fight for their rights - exclusively-to the detrimente of other groups. They exist on the left and right too.

Warren says:

09:36am | 16/03/11

@Shenanigans I think you are mistaken. You (or anyone else for that matter) can change. It may not be easy or quick, but it is possible.  Johnny Clary serves as an example as someone who has changed their values. I’ve successfully tackled my own prejudices at various times in life.

Unprotected Species says:

09:38am | 16/03/11

Yeah white people are at fault. Always white people. We create so much crime and violence per capita, we should be ashamed of ourselves. Wait.

Tim says:

10:10am | 16/03/11

“I don’t consider myself a racist but i do for some reason not like the look of the big group of black people over yonder.”

Now I don’t know exactly what you mean by “Black people” but there are certainly groups of ethnicities who have higher rates of violent crime. Being cautious (especially late at night) when you see groups of people from these ethnicities isn’t racist, it’s common sense.

Shenanigans says:

10:12am | 16/03/11

@warren. Valid point good sir, i think the word there is CAN, yes people can change, but they wont, because its appranently easier to stay a racist. I hide my prejudices because if i take it like a man its not really affecting me in any negative way.

@unprotected species I’m not saying its a one way street, plenty of ethnics are racist too, but stop for a second and think, white people started it, what with ethnic cleansing, xenophobia, religion, the list be endless. But you appear to hold this pretence that white people are high and mighty compared to the rest, maybe so, but maybe we forced the others to think that all they are capable of is violence and crime.

Sad Sad Reality says:

10:25am | 16/03/11

@Shenanigans. You are saying it’s a one way street. You’re saying we started the whole thing. You are a wonderful example of how propaganda works on weak minds.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

10:39am | 16/03/11

@ Tim
 
‘‘Being cautious (especially late at night) when you see groups of people from these ethnicities isn’t racist, it’s common sense’’ 
 
Don’t let the Thought Police catch you saying that - it isn’t PC. You are supposed to accept your mugging and then apologise for being in a position to be mugged

PaulB says:

11:13am | 16/03/11

That’s it Tim, Its like that shouty group of Somalis or Sudanese hanging around Western suburbs train stations at 1 AM, or that noisy bunch of supersized, speed-addled Tongans pushing their way recklessly through the Nightclub precinct at 3 AM.  Its the same judgement you’d use when confronted at 2 AM with a pack of drunk angry white boys whose team has just lost and thought they’d take a drive down Oxford Street to work things out.  You generalize for the purposes of your own safety based on what you have learnt, seen, read, grown to believe etc.  You think about the sociology of it all later when you aren’t in hopsital with a closed-head injury.

iMitchy says:

11:46am | 16/03/11

I don’t care about the colour of the people walking towards me or “over yonder” as you say, but the general behaviour of those people.
I work in Perth city, Beaufort Street actually which is right next to the infamous Northbridge. At the very least, once a day I will be lured to the window of my office to see what all the yelling on the street is about.

One particular ethnicity in this area walks the streets in large groups (with kids present), being loud and obnoxious, clearly drunk or affected by drugs of some kind and do not extend any courtesy to others, even something as small as giving someone walking in the opposite direction space to pass. Instead that person will be hassled for cigarettes or money. I avoid these people. At least they can be seen and heard coming from a mile away so they are easy to avoid.

No prizes for guessing which ethnicity I am referring to - and how easy it is to guess is an indicator that we are not racist. We do not fabricate stereotypes, we just see what happens around us and adjust our behaviour accordingly.
If I saw caucasian people behaving in the same manor I would feel no less uncomfortable and would not view the situation any differently. It is not racism, just being aware and prepared.

Neither is it racist to be pissed off at someone who insists on trying to conduct bussiness with me in another language and getting upset that I don’t understand them. I prepare myself linguisticly for international holidays yet these people live here and won’t even learn the English pronunciation of numbers.

worldatmyfeet says:

11:52am | 16/03/11

I have to say, I am from Europe and having lived in Australia now for 2 years all of this amazing country I find Australia to be one of the most racist countries I have ever been too.

In the UK, European Union you would not get away with saying anything derogitory about a person due to their colour/background. Some say the PC bregade have gone to far however when I arrived her I could not believe how freely people spoke about there dilike of Aboriginals, Asians, Muslims using words to decribe them that you wouldnt dare say at home. And to these people it was ok to do this, everyone spoke the same.

I for one find this country a melting pot for different nationalities, which is great, different cultures bring differnt foods, different music, different everything.. so you end up with an amazing country. When I hear people say “this is australia.. keep it for australians” do they not realise that the only TRUE australians are the aboriginal people??

People should learn to embrace new cultures and enjoy the diversity..

Erick says:

12:32pm | 16/03/11

@shenanigans: “white people started it, what with ethnic cleansing, xenophobia, religion, the list be endless.”

Actually, that’s a racist slur. White people didn’t start any of those things. You’re blaming a single group for what everyone does, just because of their skin colour.

Sad Sad Reality says:

01:38pm | 16/03/11

@Worldatmyfeet

I take it you’ve never been to any Spanish soccer matches then? Ever been through Russia? Ever tried to venture into the Islamic controlled no go zones in France, Holland, England and Sweden? You’re disgust is a bit rich.

CABAL says:

02:00pm | 16/03/11

@worldatmyfeet

Actually archaeologists have found the bones of small pigmi race of humans who inhabited Australia before the aborigines. This race was wiped out to a man (genocide I believe its called) by the Aborigines when they migrated to AUS in the distant past. So technically they have as much “right” to this land as anyone else.

S.L says:

02:27pm | 16/03/11

Shenanigans I suggest your comment is pure fantasy. So it is only people of white Anglo European decent who are racist? I can hear people all over the country laughing from here at what you’ve written. There are so many no go zones in Sydney alone for white faces after dark I’d be here for a month listing them all.
As for your friend picking on an Islander? What sort of idiot (assuming he is a white anglo of average build) taunts a guy from a race of people that on average are at least half as big again as we are? I hope the subject of your friends jibes (if it actually happened) taught him a real lesson!

Shenanigans says:

02:44pm | 16/03/11

I’m going to do something unheard of here, I’m going to admit i was wrong, clearly I’m misinformed and let my own prejudices get in the way. I’m wrong interwebs!
Yes it did happen, my friend was drunk and is both a wog and a shit stirrer, just ‘cos. He also hasnt taunted anyone for quiet awhile after that incident.

Rocky says:

12:15pm | 17/03/11

Oh dear, so you’re the victim here “unprotected species”?

Another Dave says:

10:59pm | 18/03/11

Shenanigans
Whites invented racism? What do you base this gem of historical knowledge on? There is another form of racism, where one projects their own inadequacies and prejudice onto their entire race/nation, just so they can feel morally superior and hide their own insecurities. No race has ever needed help or encouragement to feel superior or hate outsiders. Maybe you should research a subject more before making sweeping generalisations based on your own prejudice.

Tim says:

10:20am | 16/03/11

I think the opposite is true.
“Born again” crusaders for any cause seem to find exactly what they’re fighting against everywhere. It legitimises the reasons for their change and their decisions.
Just think of the born again Christians who suddenly see immorality everywhere they go.

SG says:

10:20am | 16/03/11

When a former KKK member with a huge vested interest in playing up and exaggerating the level of racism wherever he travels says that he sees such an intense level of racism, it means absolutely nothing. What exactly is he gonna say? “Australia is a wonderfully tolerant country with no racism whatsoever. Oh, and by the way, don’t bother inviting me back and giving me more money.”?

Australia remains, along with the rest of the Anglosphere and Western European countries, amongst the most tolerant and accepting nations ever created. That doesn’t mean there are not individuals therein that are strongly intolerant, but to claim an equivalence between Australia in 2011 and the South during the time that the KKK had any power whatsoever is odious.

One can also get into the oft-repeated and always wrong assumption within the media that racism directly translates exclusively to those awful, bigoted white people hating everyone else with nothing in return, but others have already pointed out the absurdity of this canard. It would be nice if it did not need to be challenged repeatedly, but it has not yet gone away, so we’ll have to keep trying.

Keith Hammersmith says:

10:57am | 16/03/11

We should defintaly take everything and anything a former KKK person says seriously right?

Can someone please tell me why this loser even gets a forum to speak in this country?
Why was he even allowed in?

Geoff - Brisbane says:

12:12pm | 16/03/11

What better way to make money. Being the leader of the KKK wouldn’t pay nearly as much as an anti-racism motivational speaker. Wonder if he ever truely believed the KKK stuff or just used it as a platform to launch his motivational speaking career?

As is the case with the “no cussing” kid in the USA.

mw says:

10:08am | 16/03/11

Short people are everywhere spreading the seeds of lowest common denominator ergonomics and hence ruining the world of the persecuted minority that is tall people. Low hanging signs in shops, uncomfortably low benches and workspaces, inappropriately low lumbar supports, public transport and airline seating designed to cripple.

Short people aren’t the ones being discriminated against, and I won’t take this sitting down, mostly due to the ergonomics of available seating, but you get my point…

Also: racism is bad.

Phill says:

10:10am | 16/03/11

You took the words right out of my mouth.  How many fights happen on a Saturday night between people of the same race?  Why are only white people labelled racist?
Assults can and will happen for a multitude of reasons.  Just because someone calls the other a black prick during a fight it does not mean it was an assult because of race any more then if he had used the words fat prick make it an assult because of their size.

Unprotected Species says:

10:41am | 16/03/11

@Phill, the reason only white people are labeled racist is proof the whole racism debate arises from a very racist world view. White people are presupposed to come from a position of power and to use that power to suppress the progress of other races simply because they are white.

I find it confusing however, that even when assuming white people are the most vile racist people on the planet, people of other races still choose predominantly white countries to emigrate to and establish their families. Curiouser and curiouser.

Bolz says:

01:33pm | 16/03/11

@Unprotected Species

“I find it confusing however, that even when assuming white people are the most vile racist people on the planet, people of other races still choose predominantly white countries to emigrate to and establish their families.”

Well…yeah…ummm…that’s because…ummm…the thing is right that….errmmm…because we’re better to live with then their own kind. Gee that sounds racist but tell me that I’m not at least partly right!

Ohhh boy, let me assume the position…I can feel a whooping coming on!

Unprotected Species says:

02:15pm | 16/03/11

Could it be that obvious and simple Bolz? Occam’s razor and all that.

Bolz says:

02:46pm | 16/03/11

@Unprotected Species

I suppose we could at least be seen as the lesser of two evils…no? It’s seems plausible though it doesn’t necessariy mean it’s correct!

Wayne Kerr says:

07:40am | 17/03/11

@Phil “Just because someone calls the other a black prick during a fight it does not mean it was an assult because of race any more then if he had used the words fat prick make it an assult because of their size. “

That is a very good point. What do you do when you want to offend/attack someone?  You take an aspect of them that you know will get them angry and get a reaction and hurt them and you throw it at them. It’s not necessarily racially motivated.

I grew up in the 70’s when it wasn’t cool to be a wog and I’ve copped some racism but even I am sick of this debate.  As a whole Australians are not racist.  As an example if you go into any company based in the Sydney CBD and you’ll find a multitude of nationalities in the same workspace and everybody getting along fine.

Australia is no more or less racist than any other country in this world.

Rocky says:

12:27pm | 17/03/11

@ Unprotected Species, Australia was never a “white” country, ever. And it has a black history…....in more ways than one.

LauraBoBaura says:

10:02am | 16/03/11

But Ron, while I agree with your point that he is probably no better equipped to spot racism than Joe Blow down the street, the fact is that he’s right & racism IS a problem in Australia.

Ron E Coote says:

10:39am | 16/03/11

Laura, anecdotal ‘evidence’ of anything is barely worth repeating And just because you hear the good folk from groups like GetUp, and a few human rights lawyers citing specific, but hardly representative cases, and otherwise making baseless claims, doesn’t mean every second person in the country is hiding a white robe under their bed.
If you’d like to supply some actual evidence to support your claim, I’ll gladly peruse it, but until such time I’ll continue to believe that Australia is the land of the fair go.

shane says:

10:54am | 16/03/11

Yes Ron, why do they listen to him and not you….why!!! WHY!!! If only your opinion was valued the way you know it should be.

Zac de Spudnut says:

11:28am | 16/03/11

Ron,

I think what Tory is talking about is true and I very rarely agree with her. I was thinking hard from the time I read this blog, some how Reverend Elder Clary sounds familiar to me. Finally I realised I have heard his message in a Church once or twice a while ago. Can you imagine, this former KKK Rev is welcomed with open arms and promoted in many mega Churches in Sydney and around Australia. These are not your average Churches, they are quite powerful and have better media and marketing tools than many corporations. But that wouldn’t stop the media from bashing them all the time. However, I have to give credit where it is due. David Penberthy - follower of Athiest faith -  is probably one of those jurnos who is quite balanced on this and appreciates the contribution many mega Churches make to Australian societies.

I wish jurnos will shine some light on singers like Elton John who dislikes having gypsies as his neighbour - (google this folks, it was in news) but will preach to us on some high horse utopia. And the secularists think these hypocrites are roles models to our society.

Ron E Coote says:

11:50am | 16/03/11

Oh well, he really IS an expert, then.
Were all twelve visits in his “professional” capcity?
My mother in law (English) turned up for six weeks, a few years back, and by the time she left she thought she could tell us a few thing about how we run the place, too.
One man. A previous member of a white supremacist group. spending a month or so here every now and then, talking to people he meets along the way.
Hardly an academic tour de force, or a bastion of scientific study method.
I’ll throw you a bone, Tory. Does he have any published studies?
Point them out to me, and I promise to read them, and if necessary apologise (truly) for the slight.

iMitchy says:

02:05pm | 16/03/11

I used to sell whitegoods.
I don’t anymore, but I can still walk into someone’s house and tell them the model number of their fridge, washing machine, microwave, dishwasher etc. from a distance.
This guy’s living is based on racism, whether for or against, that has always been his job and still is. When he goes to a country he is looking for it. Well, seek and you shall find.

@Zac, I also remembered this guy’s name from a brilliant interview he did with Andrew Denton. Believe it or not, I quite like the guy, but I don’t agree with everything he says.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TBwIRq_hmjg

Ron E Coote says:

02:28pm | 16/03/11

Thanks for being a sport, Tory. The point I was trying to make, and I’m sure you understand, is one of perspective.
He might be a very nice reformed white supremacist, but as such, and with no other qualifications to make observations that would elevate his opinion above that of anyone else having traveled similarly throughout Australia, it just comes across as a bit impolite, possibly quite ignorant, and more than a little inflammatory (to me, at least).
I could start a conversation by labeling an individual, or group with a nasty and quite probably inaccurate personal assessment too, but what sort of basis is that for constructive dialogue.
The line about the bone, was merely (slightly impolitely) offering you a chance to establish the man’s possible bonafides (sorry, no pun intended) to comment as he has. I don’t know of him, and I’m not really compelled to change that after reading your article, but thank you (seriously) for the time you have taken to reply to me.

Ben C says:

02:47pm | 16/03/11

@ iMitchy

I remember that interview on Enough Rope, like you, I may not agree with his views on some things, but I admire him for his ability to turn his life around.

(By the way, I love the story about him being invited to speak to the African-American church that he burnt down.)

Ron E Coote says:

03:24pm | 16/03/11

Yes iMiitchy, i bet you can spot a Kelvinator a mile off, but does you spotting a few Kelvinators in your travels as an ex-whitegoods flogger, make you qualified to make assumptions about how many Kelvinators are in all of the other houses you haven’t been to?
Are we a land of filthy Kelvinator purchasers, then?
I have a Westinghouse.

iMitchy says:

04:22pm | 16/03/11

@Ron,
From the criteria in your comment and those of Tory’s, I could just as easily answer that I have been into a house 12 times and in my opinion there is a fridge there and at least some inhabitants of that house use said fridge.
This would give me the same amount of credibility as Rev Elder Clary.
I could tell you that there are definately Kelvinators in houses in Australia. That is all he is doing, he doesn’t go into numbers. I will:

Electrolux owns both Kelvinator and Westinghouse (as well as Simpson, Hoover, Chef, Dishlex, Volta, Menalux, AEG Whitegoods, Electrolux of course and others). So technically, yes, we are a land of filthy Kelvinator purchasers.

After selling them I ran a business delivering them which involved removing old ones too so I have a pretty good idea of numbers.
I can tell you that there is a 95% chance that the hinge of your fridge is on the right, an 80% chance that the freezer is on the top, 60% chance that it is white, a 50% chance that it was bought in the last 5-7 years and a 20% chance that it is a 420L model meaning that the model number is likely either RJ422V-R, WTM4200WA-R or WTM4200WB-R depending on when you bought it.
That doesn’t mean that you necessarily have one of the 3 models mentioned, in fact there is a small possibility that all of those characteristics lined up, but it is just one person using life experience and applying it to the information you have provided to come to a possible conclusion.
Pretty sketchy on just the brand name, but gimme more of a chance to look into it and I could give you a decisive conclusion.

Ron E Coote says:

05:12pm | 16/03/11

Rightio, one last go ‘round, just for you iMitchy.
A bit too clever, and not quite the same “criteria” in your analogy.
Visiting one house twelve times (where you can be certain of all of the fridges in the house, and few users) isn’t quite the same as guessing the fridges in a nation full of houses, based on local experience significantly less extensive than yours with your white goods. But, nice try.
You would legitimately be classed as an expert on Kelvinators. The good reverend is probably an expert on the Ku Klux Klan, and to some extent, the religious practices of his fellow parishioners, but not racism in Australia, in my book. Racism exists in ALL countries, including Australia. Is it more of a problem here than anywhere else, or has it been exaggerated in this case, for effect, by a niche market religious crusader with a thing for public attention, and a controversial barrow to push?
I think so.
It’s not too much of a stretch, surely.
Enough!

iMitchy says:

06:09pm | 16/03/11

I think we might be on the same team here Ron. Racism does occur in every country, whether it is more abundant here is anyone’s guess. My guess is no. I think mostly Aussies are pretty accepting regarding race, we just like to have a joke at times and play on stereotypes. Also, like anyone else we can be generalistic when we have a gripe about someone eg: “You wouldn’t believe what just happened to me - some black/asian/aboriginal etc. bastard just xxxxxxx”. The description isn’t necessary and does not affect the event, but this could be viewed as racism.
I think most people are all talk about racism and would not act violently toward someone on the basis of race alone.

On the analogy thing, I was certainly clutching at straws - my point was basically that the guy has spent some time in Aus so he is entitled to an opinion, and better he than most to bring any problems to the attention of the public because many people will listen. He certainly did not say that all Australians are racist, just as I didn’t say that all Australians own Kelvinators. Any survey does the same thing by using cross sections of the community to represent the whole.

Don’t forget what I said about seek and you shall find - Tory made a good point by saying “Anyone can put into Google a search string that will spit back out what they wanted to hear – and if it doesn’t, they’ll just keep Googling till it does”. Rev Elder Clary’s job is to go around looking for racism and pointing it out but I’m sure he hyperbolises to support his own plight.

hot tub political machine says:

09:52am | 16/03/11

I wonder to what extent it comes down to a lack of education and to what extent willful ignorance is going on. I won’t dare mention some of the technically incorrect information that gets said around the asylum seeker issue for fear of derailling the thread, but we have all known – or should know – the actuall techincal definitions ect in the relevant U.N. articles by now. This first became a hot topic of debate in 2000 and has waxed and waned for 11 years now. With far more waxing than waning. Yet you still hear incorrect terms being used, both by your average punter and by the talking heads/many journalists.

Either the people have deliberatley chosen not to educate themselves by not reading the relevant legal information (in this case the legal information is definitely not too filled with jargon for your average punter) or, and I fear this is far more likely, people know that what they are saying is incorrect but choose to ignore this.

The Bible contains many instances of Jesus ending statements with “He who has ears to hear – let him hear”. Kind of a funny way of speaking seeing as almost everyone has ears, but I suspect He may have been getting at how people can hear but choose not to listen.

fairsfair says:

10:58am | 16/03/11

Right on with the worldview factor and also the subconscious uptake. Constantly being told you are racist would most likely make you think you are. I don’t know if that would then influence behaviour? I think it would, because deep down we are all a bit “racist” - I think it is just survival instinct. Most people identify easier with people who have similar physical characteristics as themselves. Those who admit that are better able to make sure that the don’t allow it to grow into something unaccepable ie they allow it to influence their behaviour toward others.

And HTPM you are on the money with ignorance. As an example, I have a good friend who is early 30s, lives in New Farm in Brisbane, gay, very progressive and proudly votes Greens. He always tells me he has “a social conscence”. He is a flight attendent and recently he had a day stopover with me. After I picked him up from his motel we were headed to the beach and drove though an inner city suburb. There was a group of aboriginal people sitting on their front porch watching their kids play and having a diet coke. He said “oh look at that” with surprise. I said what? his response was “I didn’t know they live in houses”. I couldn’t believe it. I think this is ignorance, but not intentional ignorance. He has just never really been exposed to difference.

Reg says:

11:14am | 16/03/11

But can we still tell the odd racist joke? What if its only about other white countries like the Irish?

hot tub political machine says:

01:03pm | 16/03/11

Oddly enough, Irish jokes originated in Ireland and where about people from a particular county, much how like in your city you probably make jokes about certain suburbs. They only become Irish jokes after they leave the Emerald Isle.

Ben C says:

03:00pm | 16/03/11

@ Reg

As an Australian-born Chinese person, I have no problems with jokes even if they are a touch racist. After all, it’s only meant to be a joke.

The only problem I have is if the joke is taken further than it needs to be. Back when Pauline Hanson first came to prominence, Full Frontal did these sketches of her bagging out all Asians, in particular those of the Far East. Even as a kid at the time (just entered high school), I was able to cop that - it was only meant to be a joke about her stance on immigration. What tipped me over the edge was when one of my classmates started repeating the jokes constantly in my face. In this case, it was either ignorance, lack of education or plain intolerance - I never bothered finding out.

My own rule of thumb with racist jokes is to make them at the expense of my own race - in my case, Chinese jokes are quite rife, especially with the tight-arse perception.

RT says:

07:40pm | 16/03/11

@ Ben C - don’t forget the Chinese stereotype about being bad drivers and good at maths… always a good source of jokes

St. Michael says:

11:23pm | 16/03/11

@ hot tub political machine: Come on, mate, admit it.  You’re from Cork, aren’t you?

hot tub political machine says:

03:11pm | 17/03/11

St. Michael,

Adelaide - which is almost as bad. But I do have a fair bit of leprachaun in me

HappyCynic says:

09:45am | 16/03/11

Let them deal with the racism in their groups, you concentrate on yours.

I think there’s something about being “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” or some sh*t like that.

It’s absolutely appropriate in this discussion.

Unprotected Species says:

10:00am | 16/03/11

HappyCynic, ever seen the forest or are you too busy trying to shame the trees?

Markus says:

10:02am | 16/03/11

“I think there’s something about being “Let he who is without sin cast the first stone” or some sh*t like that.”
Isn’t that exactly Jay’s point?

HappyCynic says:

11:08am | 16/03/11

@Markus

My point is if a former white supremacist is addressing white people on the issue of racism in their communities then the New Black Panther Party is not relevant to the discussion.  It’s all about relating the subject appropriately to your target audience.  A former white supremacist talking to a bunch of white people about how racist Al Sharpton is only going to make the racists in the audience feel validated in their racism and is only going to enforce negative stereotypes of other races.  It will do nothing to combat racism.

Reg says:

11:19am | 16/03/11

Jay, the difference is white people do not care what other countries/races say or think about them.

Rover of North Cooma says:

11:54am | 16/03/11

Happy Cynic, why assume everyone in this conversation on The Punch today is white?

Jay Santos says:

12:30pm | 16/03/11

“...It’s all about relating the subject appropriately to your target audience…”

So why should that “target audience” be exclusively white?

Your very implication is racist and grossly offensive.

Let’s see Reverend Elder Clary go into black neighbourhoods -  where “da bruddahs” call themselves “niggers” - and preach his proselytic gospel about tolerance and racial harmony to an audience of black men and women.

Sharpton should do the same.

Racism is a people problem.  What colour you are is irrelevant.

PTom says:

03:20pm | 16/03/11

HappyCynic,

What do you say about racism against white in Australia. If you don’t think it happens you should get at more.

MrMac says:

10:01am | 16/03/11

Good call, David.

In discussing this once, one parent at our school related this story of trying to help her year 3 or year 4 child prepare a speech on multi-culturalism and racism.  She was trying to explain what those concepts were to her “anglo” caucasian child in a racially diverse school with no problems of racism.  Exasperated, she referred to their best friend at school - a kid from the ‘sub-continent’ - and simply said “how X is different”.

More confused, her child said “No?”

We laughed about that every time we had to help with those damn speeches.

Phill says:

10:14am | 16/03/11

Very well said David.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

10:52am | 16/03/11

Could I ask you to email that to Hon Julia Gillard, copy to Hon Chris Bowen

ta

Slick says:

10:54am | 16/03/11

David, You are exactly the kind of person that we wish all Australians are!
You keep your heritage, but you don’t want it to make you different. You want to be Australian, thats why you came here, and although yes, you are from Sudan, so long as you value the same values that the majority of Australia does, I don’t see how you are different.

I hate that so much is focused on “Oh they are a minority, they must be treated special”. That is what breeds racism. If everyone is equal then let them be equal!
I am not saying give up who you are and where you come from, but please remember you choose to come to Australia for a reason.

OT says:

11:17am | 16/03/11

Laminations… hilarious. Otherwise well said, and I agree completely.

Likes Joining Dots says:

01:08pm | 16/03/11

David of Moorooka, thanks for your post mate.

On the whole I agree with you - except for the ANZAC biscuits part - but that’s just me still angry over the chipped tooth I received from an overcooked batch.

Tim the Toolman says:

01:54pm | 16/03/11

The only time I bring it up is when I’m curious about another culture…hopefully that isn’t what you’re against (and I doubt it is).  I understand that you are Australian now, but you have first hand knowledge and experiences I don’t, so I’m naturally curious.  I would happily answer such questions myself if someone asked.

NotSue says:

02:16pm | 16/03/11

Great post, David.

laminations..heee!.. (lamingtons, D) 

ILR says:

02:52pm | 16/03/11

Where I work there is a simpering white male PCer who trips all over himself expounding the superiority of all non-white Anglo cultures (I kid you not - he must really loath himself) but then who manages to offend everyone of “ethnic origin” by eagerly asking “where they’re from”.

Jade says:

10:05am | 16/03/11

Of course it only works one way.  Spend some time reading the posts of all the anti-racism crusaders and you will see that.  It is made to seem acceptable to be racist towards a white Australian male or female but flip it around and the racist white person is the scum of the earth.  Very hypocritical.

Seanr says:

10:16am | 16/03/11

Now Zac as Tory and The Punch continually point out in their articles on racism, it is only white people who are racist. They never have examples of non white racism like you (and I in other posts) have tried to point out. Remember it is all the whitefellas fault.

Cloud Strife says:

10:33am | 16/03/11

That’s because racism is not just “hatred of another race”. It’s prejudice AND power, and white people have the power in Western countries.

For example, it’s very easy for a white person to experience racism in Japan, which also has a racist culture. But not in countries where white is the dominant and powerful.

P. Darvio says:

10:45am | 16/03/11

Quote: What we need is something simillar to a Tea Party to put lefties in place.

What another bunch of Christian Creationists…....?

YES - Bring on the Dinosuar Ark People…........that’s what we need - teaching our children lies.

Maybe we need to teach children how all religion teaches intolerence, hate and violence via the respective religious texts especially the 3 so-called Abrahamic faiths (m’mmm…..... aren’t those attributes of being a racist???)

Maybe you would like to quote your Christian Historian Alan Bullock again…..

Markus says:

10:55am | 16/03/11

@Tory, yes you and the other Punch writers have never said ‘only white people are racist’.
But all of you have only ever said, repeatedly, ‘white people are racist’.

Kind of like how none of you have ever explicitly written ‘men never face discrimination in this country’, but have never written a single article advising that they do (compared to the dozens of ‘women are oppressed’ ones).

Perhaps a Punch/Counterpunch setup for one/some of these issues would make for an interesting change?

Seanr says:

10:58am | 16/03/11

Well Tory you certainly give that impression with all the articles on it.
Look back and review please, plenty of mentions of “White Australia Policy”, Cronulla, “we grew here…”. flag drapped yobs, apartheid. KKK
Kochie, Jason Tin, Tory M, Penbo - all giving examples of white racism

In not one of those articles any mention of non white racism and that’s just from memory and a quick review of articles under your ‘racism’ tag..so ‘puh-lease’ yourself

Jade says:

11:03am | 16/03/11

@ Tory, from my personal experience this is what I see happen and very often too!

Seano says:

01:00pm | 16/03/11

I live and work in the Lakemba, Bankstown and Canterbury areas. The constant claims by those with barrows to push that racism is rife in these areas is overblown at best. I see more racism at the footy then I do walking the streets of these areas.

Ando says:

01:28pm | 16/03/11

“In fact I think it’s often the second-last wave of immigrants that is the most racist to the most recent. “
Looking forward to the article

Unprotected Species says:

03:44pm | 16/03/11

Seano, seriously? They are some of the most violent and racist parts of not only Sydney but the entire country. Regular drive-bys, insane levels of drug crime, mosques spewing religious and racial hatred.

Seano says:

04:10pm | 16/03/11

@Unprotected Species - Yes seriously champ. This area is not the hell you misrepresent it to be. Yes there’s crime but I have never had a racist comment directed at me whilst at work or out walking my dog. Not one.

1. “regular drive bys” - bullshit. The occasional gun crime like the rest of Sydney. Of the many, many people I know who live and work in the area I don’t know one who has had direct exposure to gun crime.
2. “insane levels of drug crime” - bullshit. I used to live in the potts point and would see half a dozen drug deals on the way to work via kings cross station. I haven’t seen one here.
3. “mosques spewing religious and racial hatred” - bullshit. All of the many muslims I know and am friends with are moderates. The nut jobs spewing this sort of BS are few and far between and would be lucky to fill a scout hall.I regularly sit in on religious instruction for all faiths (as SRE teachers are usually not cleared for child protection). None teach intolerance from what I’ve seen but the one which almost always talks about tolerance and respect of all religions in my experience has been islam (I’m an atheist btw so am not included to support any religion at all beyond reporting the facts).

Such transparent bullshit from someone who obviously doesn’t live in the area is not helping anyone.

Zac de Spudnut says:

06:09pm | 16/03/11

Seano,

I live and work in the Lakemba, Bankstown and Canterbury areas. The constant claims by those with barrows to push that racism is rife in these areas is overblown at best. I see more racism at the footy then I do walking the streets of these areas..>>

Just because you haven’t faced racism in Muslim dominated areas you have come to conclusion that it is - “overblown at best” or “bullsh*t. But how about hundreds or thousands who have been the victims of racism? I have read such cases many, many times. Two years ago I spoke to minister a in one of the Churches in Auburn and he told me Muslims throw stones at the Church all the time and they are not offered insurance any more. Here are some well known proofs (non-PC) no one can deny why the victims was raped - purely RACE factors.

“So now we know the facts, straight from the Supreme Court, that a group of Lebanese Muslim gang rapists from south-western Sydney hunted their victims on the basis of their ethnicity and subjected them to hours of degrading, dehumanising torture. The young women, and girls as young as 14, were “sluts” and “Aussie pigs”, the rapists said. So now that some of the perpetrators are in jail, will those people who cried racism and media “sensationalism” hang their heads in shame? Hardly.

She was convinced she was raped because of her ethnicity. “You deserve it because you’re an Australian,” the rapists told her during the five-hour attack.

It’s just so inconvenient of the victims to insist on telling the truth.

“I looked in his eyes. I had never seen such indifference,” one 18-year-old victim, codenamed Miss C, told the court, remembering one of the 14 men who called her “Aussie pig”, gang raped her 25 times over a six-hour period in Bankstown and Chullora, and then turned a hose on her. “I’m going to f*** you Leb style,” he said.

Ref: The Great Muslim Gang Rape Cover Up
Racist rapes: Finally the truth comes out

By Miranda Devine

Seano says:

07:22am | 17/03/11

When did pointing out that Greater Western Sydney is NOT the living hell described by “Unprotected Speices” become a defence of gang rapists?

Seriously dude get a grip.

James1 says:

09:19am | 17/03/11

“Two years ago I spoke to minister a in one of the Churches in Auburn and he told me Muslims throw stones at the Church all the time and they are not offered insurance any more.”

That is not racism any more than criticising Islam is racism.  If that is racist, then your attacks on the “church” of atheism is racist, Zac.  Stop discriminating against my race.

Rudy says:

10:11am | 16/03/11

I agree, we do need migrants in Australia. The question should be. “Where do we get them from?”
Do we get them from countries that practise 17h century barbaric behaviour or do we get them from countries that have progressed in to the 21st century?

hot tub political machine says:

10:41am | 16/03/11

Rudy, I think we need to assess our migrants as individuals rather than focussing on which culture from whence they came.

A nurse from some war torn hell hole is probably a preferrable migrant to a drug dealer from New Zealand.

Bolz says:

01:52pm | 16/03/11

@hot tub political machine

” A nurse from some war torn hell hole is probably a preferrable migrant to a drug dealer from New Zealand.”

Australia has a skills shortage in drug dealers?

Geezus…turn it up why don’t you. What a lame ass example if their ever was one!

hot tub political machine says:

02:21pm | 16/03/11

I though my example was absurd enough to make it obvious it was rhetorical

AliceC says:

12:54pm | 16/03/11

Hear hear! Well said HC.

PTom says:

04:31pm | 16/03/11

You are wrong and a fool if you think racism is one way.
So how do you handle racism directed at you?

Example I have seen people who have used their race/culture to plead ignorant to understanding our langauge just to refuse you service or get something their way? BTW I have heard them speaking english after the event.

So how again must I tackle the responsibility of my own intolerance of racism.
Racism is only a issue when you when your culture accept the issue.
I have even been told by a new Australian that he only learnt here how racist his own country is. I think most Australian would be shocked if they knew which one I am talking about.

No it is not Japan.

Jay Santos says:

10:17am | 16/03/11

“...We are all racist, it is just a matter of degree…”

The problem is the media are too quick to label anyone who is proud of who they are, their ancestry and their country as racist.

Amplify the disdain and mis-representation ten-fold if you are white and hold those beliefs.

The western doctrine of multiculturalism dictates outward displays of racial and cultural pride are acceptable and encouraged by all but the ‘white’ inhabitants of the host nation.

Sadly, this is where the trouble starts.

The more you demand certain people suppress their identity the bigger a festering sore it will become.

Cloud Strife says:

10:35am | 16/03/11

Uh, no. We’re not.

John A Neve says:

10:42am | 16/03/11

Jay Santos,

Racism is not about people being “proud of who they are”, rather it’s about people who think they are better/superior to others.
Likewise, racism is not only about colour, speech, culture, religion, habits etc all these can incite racism.
Jay, no one want people to “suppress their identity”, racism is more about them suppressing others.

Markus says:

11:19am | 16/03/11

John A Neve,
Everyone thinks they are better than someone else at some point, be it based on intellectual, financial or moral grounds (I am sure even Cloud Strife here even thinks they are superior to others based on how non-racist they are).
The only time it is racism is when that belief is based purely on race.

“Likewise, racism is not only about colour, speech, culture, religion, habits etc all these can incite racism.”
Racism is only about colour. Anyone who claims that a belief of superiority based on cultural or religious differences is racism clearly does not actually understand the word.

VVS says:

11:26am | 16/03/11

I think I am superior to everyone on this planet (and every single other planet)... all races and all animals included.

And one day you will all bow down to me as your mighty overlord…

Jade (the other one) says:

11:32am | 16/03/11

@ Jay Santos:

“The western doctrine of multiculturalism dictates outward displays of racial and cultural pride are acceptable and encouraged by all but the ‘white’ inhabitants of the host nation.”

Jeez, I must have totally blanked on the part where Oktoberfest wasn’t a government encouraged and supported expression of Germanic pride. Particularly generous of us considering what the Germans were capable of 60 years ago and considering that we have the largest number of Holocaust survivors outside Israel here in Australia.

Saint Patrick’s Day is upcoming, and we have been subjected to the pipe bands and Irish dancing for the umpteenth time. Oh wait, maybe someone should let the Irish know that they aren’t white any more. And that the government is in total breach of their “not celebrating cultural pride in white people” policy.

There are numerous Croatian-Australian, Serbian-Australian and other soccer clubs around. There’s also the Italian Club, the Greek Club, the German Club, the various French associations etc.

I find that the only people who get labeled racist are people who say racist things in general. People who genuinely express pride in themselves and their culture and national identity tend to get treated with respect.

Personally I express pride rather frequently in my Australian identity. Being from the nation of the Eureka Stockade, the inventor of penicillin, a nation that granted voting rights to women before many countries had even thought of them as more than property, the country of the ANZACs, the spirit of mateship and Burke and Wills. I tend to express this pride by demonstrating a knowledge of our history and culture, and not through odious bumper stickers recommending people to “f**k off, we’re full.” And unlike many of my compatriots who are frequently stuck with the label of racist, I don’t attempt to trivialise or mitigate the negative things in our past. I don’t see a point in ignoring Stolen Generation, the Japanese and German internment camps, the White Australia policy, the Cronulla Riots and other events as a sad stain on our great history.

John A Neve says:

12:02pm | 16/03/11

Markus,
I disagree, many races Jews, Greeks,Irish, Italians etc, have all experienced racism.
If any one misunderstands, it’s you.

Shenanigans says:

01:13pm | 16/03/11

@VVS can i start sacrificing, and trying to convert the masses to you now? it’ll save us both time

notSue says:

02:53pm | 16/03/11

@Jade (the other one) Bravo!  Excellent post. Extremely well said.

VVS says:

02:56pm | 16/03/11

@ Shenanigans - that would probably be a smart idea.

Human sacrifices please me greatly, and as a reward you can serve as my right hand man (or woman) and receive a dozen virgins (of whatever sex you choose) in the afterlife… for I will be a generous leader…

VVS says:

02:57pm | 16/03/11

@ Shenanigans - that would probably be a smart idea.

Human sacrifices please me greatly, and as a reward you can serve as my right hand man (or woman) and receive a dozen virgins (of whatever sex you choose) in the afterlife… for I will be a strict but generous overlord…

Seanr says:

03:16pm | 16/03/11

VVS is there a signup sheet for you or to I just go straight to Shenanigans for sacrificing?

Also do you have a rewards system if I bring the family with me?

VVS says:

07:47pm | 16/03/11

@ Seanr

Shenanigans seems to have a good handle on what a good slave…. I mean subject… should do for his/her lord.

Rewards would be appropriate for bringing your family… even greater rewards if you are prepared to sacrifice them and bathe in their blood to appease me.

Zac de Spudnut says:

10:06am | 16/03/11

Australia is a multi cultural country, from Kooris to the present day.>>>

No we are NOT, we are a country of different races and that’s fine. Until the social engineers installed the government funded and promoted “multi-cult-ural policies we never had one.

Austalia is multi cultural:  like it, accept it, if not ,you leave.>>>

There is no other option other than fully discarding this policy and i seriously mean it. I want nothing to do with this tribal ideology. I don’‘t want to belong to this tribe, neither do my kids. I have seriously taken this up with their school. You can say what you want. we will defeat this ideology one step at a time.

Tedd says:

11:05am | 16/03/11

My wife doesn’t know what tribe to belong to, either.  The one with her Italian ancestors, the Greek ancestral one, the Aboriginal tribe, the English one or the Scottish one.

G says:

10:03am | 16/03/11

@ Caroline.  Its not the new-comers who make the policy, its the policy-makers who make such knee-jerk reactions to new cultures being introduced into schools.  I have heaps of Muslim friends who love Christmas and even trade gifts with their Christian friends leading up to it, they don’t mind, they understand that “when in Rome” one must do as Romans do.

I think the Australian government has to stop catering for the “little guy” and give us all some credit, we all want to get along, we just need to have a few fights here and there to work out the best way to do so.

fml says:

10:08am | 16/03/11

I am Australian, but i am not religious. I dont want my child celebrating christmas, why is your version of Australia more important than mine?

Tim says:

10:26am | 16/03/11

fml,
because we are the majority.
Don’t like it? Too bad.

fml says:

10:37am | 16/03/11

@Tim,

With logic like that i think i might just have concede defeat!

The way things are going, you will be in the majority soon, but do you think your going to accept the impregnable logic of “We are in the majority. Too Bad” Nope you will whinge that your not in the majority anymore and try to change things.

fml says:

10:55am | 16/03/11

obviously a typo, replace the first majority with minority.

Tim says:

11:36am | 16/03/11

fml,
What argument or logic have you provided that I need to defeat?
The majority in a society decide what the norm of that society is. Australia has a Christian background and so we celebrate Christmas and Easter. We even have Public Holidays dedicated to these events. To deny this fact is just silly, to try and to remove these events to appease minorities is even sillier.
I’m not religious in the slightest but I don’t want to deny my country’s history and what the majority of people think.
As for your other point about not being the majority soon, you wouldn’t be trying to infer that we are going to be overrun with migrants are you? Wouldn’t that make you one of those dirty redneck racists?

Dan says:

12:01pm | 16/03/11

@fml - just teach your kid to be a loud whinger. It doesn’t matter about what others think or want. Whinge to get your own way, that is what you teach a child these days.
I use to love Xmas time at my school. Now I just tell my son about what USE to happen. (thanks to people like you)

fml says:

12:06pm | 16/03/11

ahhh no tim, i do believe it was a reference to the topic at hand, you know the one we were talking about, the one about not celebrating christmas in schools.

how you misconstrue the fact that i am talking about that soon religion will be left out of school to being a rant against migrants is absurd.

how does one make that leap? I said i dont want my child celebrating christmas at school. So by saying that soon religious practices will eventually be left out of the school i am somehow having a rant against migration? Oh sweet Darwin, the Audacity.

With the second post i was trying to convey that you complain now that we shouldnt appease the minorities, but if ever you were to become the minority, i am sure you would complain.

Also i have never denied that easter or christmas exist in this country thats just plain silly. Also i never said you had to defeat any logic, i was deriding your logic, You know the, if you dont like it too bad.

Did you even read any of my posts?

fml says:

01:05pm | 16/03/11

@Dan,

Thanks i will. I will leave you with the words of Tim.

“Don’t like it? Too bad.”

jesscar says:

01:43pm | 16/03/11

Agree with fml I dont want my child celebrating religious holidays in school either. I am white born here aussie I just beleive religion has no place in school (unless all religions are being studied and none are being promoted as above another or to be true).
Religious holidays should be celebrated outside of government funded institutions. I also agree that it wont be too far in the future before the majority of australians believe this too.

Jay Santos says:

02:37pm | 16/03/11

“...Religious holidays should be celebrated outside of government funded institutions…”

And when was the last time your kids went to school at Christmas time?  How about Easter?

Didn’t think so.

I’m guessing you enjoy those holy Christian days off too?

This year ask your boss if you can take off a month for Ramadan.

Tim says:

03:21pm | 16/03/11

fml,
from your post:
“The way things are going, you will be in the majority soon, but do you think your going to accept the impregnable logic of “We are in the majority. Too Bad” Nope you will whinge that your not in the majority anymore and try to change things. “

You are suggesting (even though you miswrote it) that I will not be in the majority soon. How you know who I am or what I believe in I don’t know.

I assumed that you were talking about me not being in the majority because of migration. What were you talking about? Religion? I’ve already said i’m not religious.
I’ve lived in other countries where I was the minority. Did I complain and ask them to change their culture because I didn’t like it.
No.

fml says:

04:07pm | 16/03/11

Tim,

I was talking about not wanting religious celebrations in schools. Nothing to do with migration. There is a growing number of people who dont want religious celebrations in schools, of any creed. Its about people making a conscious decision. And, yes, i do believe the number people who wish to instill religious celebrations as part of the curriculum is diminishing, hence becoming a minority.

Your right you did assume and you were wrong. I didnt mention migration at all. Its about, like i said in the previous paragraph, people making a conscious decision.

I have made no reference to your religion or what you believe except for that I know that you want to celebrate christmas in schools, i know this, because, this is what you said.

So you didnt try to change the culture of another country, good for you. Was this because you considered yourself a guest in their country? Do you feel you have the right to shape the country that you call home? well guess what this is my home too.

Marilyn Shepherd says:

02:16am | 17/03/11

Don’t be a goose, schools are all closed for christmas andi might shock your racist little soul to the core but muslims love christmas and no muslim has ever demanded that christmas be cancelled.

VVS says:

11:31am | 16/03/11

Yeah I tend to agree.

I find that most of my friends who are well travelled and lived in other parts of the world for a significant time consider those other countries more racist than Australia.

It’s just that most people (journalists included) have not had that much life experience outside Australia to compare to.

That’s not to say racism isn’t bad, of course it is, but to label Australians as one of the most racist countries is extremely naive, and is proof of how little some people know about life outside Australia.

the pieman says:

02:00pm | 16/03/11

@anna c- nice anna; good to see that you are awake to this lie also.
I am a little over the hill but I can tell you that this dumb racist word was only foisted on us at THE sametime to divide Australian society.
There were no problems at all untill the NWO began stirring the pot.
Forget the stupid word-thats all it is ;its a lie we all know it!

Seanr says:

10:19am | 16/03/11

I’m cynical enough to think that he says something similar in every country he visits.

Markus says:

11:37am | 16/03/11

Fair call Seanr, it is entirely possible that the traumatic event he experienced as a KKK member was the lack of money involved in such an enterprise.
I’ll give him the benefit of the doubt. For now.

Hamish says:

02:41pm | 16/03/11

Guys, of course he says the same thing to everyone. How else would he ever get a return invitation?

He’s just a professional screamer of ‘racist!’. Our tax dollars pay for large amounts of our own, so God knows why anyone feels the need to import another one.

To be honest I can’t even really bother commenting on articles like this anymore. It seems just another flimsy excuse to bring up the old ‘all Australians are racist’ or at least the ‘enough Australians are racist that it’s a massive problem’ topic. The thing I find quite interesting about the whole debate is that the only people who ever really seem to think Australians are that racist are either middle-class anglo hand-wringers or people who are paid (generally by us) to say we’re all racist (like the guy this article is about).

Bruce says:

11:31am | 16/03/11

Agree Erik. This is supposed to be new news? How about the media concentrate on those that do not practice racism.  Ah, wait a minute ! That does not sell. How stupid of me !

Reg says:

11:34am | 16/03/11

It’s lazy journalism… that’s what it is. Waiting for the story to come to you as opposed to actually going and investigating and presenting something worth reading.

Journalism in Australia has been steadily declining for decades.

HappyCynic says:

11:15am | 16/03/11

Yeah right.  Kinda like how we treat people who don’t speak English?  You’ll get on fine in Japan if you speak Japanese, same in China if you speak Mandarin.

But of course you would know this if you’d ever been.

Markus says:

12:13pm | 16/03/11

@HappyCynic, I think you’ll find those of native Ainu or of Korean descent (even partial) would beg to differ.

Shane From Melbourne says:

12:17pm | 16/03/11

@HappyCynic- Compare and contrast the treatment of ethnic minorities in China and Japan compared to Australia. Full rights are available to ethnic minorities in Australia, not so in the other countries.

Don’t let reality get in the way of your delusions.

HappyCynic says:

12:52pm | 16/03/11

@Shane

Moving away from ethnicity for a second, when did the LGBT community get the right to marry in Australia?  I don’t think full and equal rights are available to every Australian yet.

Markus says:

01:40pm | 16/03/11

Moving away from the topic of racism to a different topic altogether, I am fairly sure that members of the LGBT community have always had as much right to marry a member of the opposite sex as I have.

HappyCynic says:

02:11pm | 16/03/11

But Markus, they’re not free to marry the person they love.  Hence there are people in Australia who do not have equal rights..

PaulB says:

11:16am | 16/03/11

Saudi/Bahrain?  Racism?  last I looked they were all Arabs.  Think your mixing up politics and religion with issues of race.  This is an obfuscation the Israelis excell at.

Cleaver says:

12:50pm | 16/03/11

You have me on a technicality Paul B. You’re quite right.

Still, the particular nature of this Saudi/Bahrain is a confusing one… a lot of ‘seperate’ factors melded into one, particularly when it appears that the Saudis and Bahrainis are most concerned about the effects of Shiites overpowering the Sunnis and thus having a greater regional power, since Iran is a nation ‘ruled’ by Shiites..
One could postulate that acting in such a manner in order to show up Iran is in its own way a form of racism, as well as ‘sectarianism’, much as us telling white anglo New Zealanders that they are ‘across the ditch’ or the like can be seen by some as ‘racism’ . I mean this only as an example, and certainly not as an insult to New Zealanders.

Racism is broadly seen as something constituting one’s genetic ‘race’, ethnicity, and/or nationality.
And well all know that the blurred lines between what is someone’s ‘ethnicity’ and what is their birth ‘religion’ etc. just about does all our heads in.

Tony of Poorakistan says:

11:23am | 16/03/11

+1

You forgot free medical, free dental, free housing for anyone of another race who wants to jump on a boat and claim they are being victimised. 
 
Try getting all that stuff as an Aussie.

Rocky says:

04:30pm | 17/03/11

You forget the biggest myth of all Seanr…........free cars to all Aborigines!
Still rehashing the same ol’ garbage eh?

Ben C says:

03:32pm | 16/03/11

@ Ryan

Care to list all of the countries Ryan? That might put things into perspective.

Ryan says:

04:59pm | 16/03/11

@Ben C: Rhodesia / Zimbabwe, South Africa, England, India, Thailand, Philippines, Japan and Australia.

Matt says:

10:41am | 16/03/11

My GF is German, I call her a Nazi all the time… but it’s usually right after she asks me to do something…

Shenanigans says:

11:04am | 16/03/11

that made me laugh matt.
i have the same problem, except I’m called a nazi for not doing anything, and that never hurt anyone. but getting hated on for something i had no control over, now thats annoying

Tim the Toolman says:

03:09pm | 16/03/11

“THAT WAS 47 YEARS BEFORE I WAS BORN. “

Don’t worry, if you tell them you’re Australian they’ll whip you with the “white Australia policy” or the “stolen generation” or 101 other things we’re guilty for despite having not existed at that point in time.

hot tub political machine says:

03:48pm | 16/03/11

Tim the Toolman,

Stolen generations policy may have been going more recently than you think. Its really not surprising we talk about it when there are victims of the policy in their late 30’s today.

NicoleG says:

12:25pm | 16/03/11

In summer, when it’s around 7 - 7.30pm at ‘night’ and it’s DLS, the sun still does shine. But some how I think you know that and you’re just being a smartarse.

Aasq says:

02:00pm | 16/03/11

You think wrong, as usual.

NicoleG says:

04:47pm | 16/03/11

I’m never wrong where you’re concerned.

Aasq says:

11:08pm | 16/03/11

Clairvoyant ? You’re never wrong full stop, except about being wrong.

kj_storm says:

08:25am | 17/03/11

Hi Jim, Totally agree.

And can I just add I’m sick of being out and getting asked if I don’t like someone because I’m racist. I usually don’t like them because they are being idiots (please note this is the polite term for what I really think of them). Do I judge them for there race? No. I judge them by their actions, the fact that they can’t seem to hold their alcohol and that they are a bunch of ... Well can’t really say it on this website. And to point out these people that annoy me have come from all genders and all races. I don’t care. If you annoy me I’ll tell you to step off regardless of your race. But I think its a sad state of affairs that this is often said. Is that not a bit prejudiced against me?

Kate says:

02:34pm | 16/03/11

I find it very funny that a born-again Christian is here preaching about ‘tolerance’.

OK Rev Clary, so you don’t hate black people any more - what do you think about gay marriage? Abortion? Euthanasia? Or is it OK to discriminate against some people?

Markus says:

01:14pm | 16/03/11

This is exactly it. People resent the fact that in practice most fights for equality are really just fights for superior privilege for their particular group/viewpoint.

jess says:

01:52pm | 16/03/11

Absolutely agree. If anything our governments policies are all “reverse-racist” and “positive discrimination”, favouring anyone who isnt a caucasion from an english speaking background.
How bout just treating everyone EQUALLY? Maybe then race wouldnt seem like such a big deal?

cleaver says:

01:06pm | 16/03/11

Whilst I hold some sort of respect for a person who can so clearly take a stand for something, it certainly doesn’t mean I can agree with you, Mr Horn.

Racism exists, and it is always something we should work on, no matter where you are in the world. I think perhaps you are trying a little to hard to simplify the complexities of racism and human communities to suit your own world view.
It’s one thing to say we shouldn’t listen to this bloke, since he doesn’t even live here, but its another to say that racism doesn’t exist in Australia.

But this is an open democracy, may your proclamations about the world continue forever more.

Paul Horn says:

03:54pm | 16/03/11

Thanks cleaver for you response. The hypocrisy in Ms Shepherds piece lies in the distorted belief that only white people particularly the white male are the only folk on the planet capable of racism.

When you consider the trivial “offences” raised by the good Reverend we whites are supposedly guilty of against some of the heinous practices committed by our Northern neighbours his concerns look utterly frivolous and conceited.

For instance 50% of African Nations indulge in slave practices yet the good reverend sees greater offence in a couple of “whiteys” sitting around a BBQ complaining about the criminal amount of welfare directed towards our indigenous brethren. This is where the whole racist argument becomes less about racism and more about pushing an anti white European agenda.   

Racism exists in every culture. Many if not most “half breed” Aboriginal children were removed from their families because of the threat posed by full bloods who would not accept them yet the elite have passed this off as another racist white policy.  Aboriginal marriage practices are riven with class prejudice that make the Royal Family look like complete amateurs. 

Why scream and shout about a few “disparaging” remarks (though mostly accurate) made by white Europeans when real destructive racist practices exist in just about every other culture on Earth. The real agenda of course is totally different and that is to undermine Western Society and create a Socialist nightmare of mind control and division wresting our freedoms and concentrating power within an elitist progressiove class.

Ms Shepherds beliefs reflect a sick perverted mindset that must be confronted and crushed with extreme prejudice. 

Have a nice day!

hot tub political machine says:

01:34pm | 16/03/11

hear hear. Its like this:

“Look! Look! - those people are far worse than me, that exonerates me from any self-improvement!”

No it doesn’t.

HappyCynic says:

02:17pm | 16/03/11

Logic.  It has no place on the Internet, sir

Markus says:

02:20pm | 16/03/11

Western nations are already the most tolerant in the world. We are already above.
How much further above do we have to be before we can point out without villification that no other countries are attempting the same?

HappyCynic says:

02:46pm | 16/03/11

@Markus

Are you saying that there is absolutely no room for improvement in Western countries?  Or are you saying that we should stop until everyone else catches up?  Either way it’s ignorant.  So what if we’re the most tolerant, there’s always room for improvement and the more improvements made in this respect the better our country will be.  Other countries will become more tolerant if they want to but the change must come from within.  You whinging from the luxury of your home ain’t gonna change sh*t.

Markus says:

03:13pm | 16/03/11

But it is hardly change from within when any change only comes as a face-saving reaction to accusations from other (much more racist) countries of being racist.

It’s like being dictated to by Iran or Libya on human rights records.

Markus says:

03:24pm | 16/03/11

I am happy for discussions of ‘there is room for improvement’. But that is not what these discussions (if you can call them that) ever are.

And when a group of people get continually accused of being the most disgusting racist people in the world, no matter what they do, when in reality they are among the most open and tolerant in the world, funnily enough their reaction eventually just becomes “why bother” or “go f**k yourself”.

hot tub political machine says:

03:30pm | 16/03/11

Markus, if a murderer tells you that you shouldn’t commit murders…has he not given you good advice?

Markus says:

03:49pm | 16/03/11

If a murderer accused me of being a murderer because I eat meat, I would tell him where to stick it.

Seano says:

03:58pm | 16/03/11

“Western nations are already the most tolerant in the world. We are already above.”

Based on what? Besides it’s just an extension of the same argument, they’re not as good as us so bugger em we don’t have to do anything.

hot tub political machine says:

04:01pm | 16/03/11

me too. My point is hypocrites can tell you the truth.

NicoleG says:

01:42pm | 16/03/11

And why do people like you, always bring Tony Abbott in to a topic, that has absolutely nothing to do with him? Obsession is bad for you!

Erick says:

01:44pm | 16/03/11

What a stupid thing to say.

Boat people make up only 1% of immigrants. If Australians were actually racist, they would be banging on about the other 99%.

And you illegal immigration advocates can’t figure out why the public rejects your position. It’s because your false claims are stupid and insulting.

Knemon says:

02:24pm | 16/03/11

NicoleG - Because Abbott is a racist. @ Erick - then why do the LNP continually harp on about the boats? as you say, it is such a small percentage in relation to overall immigration - then what are they concerned about?

Markus says:

02:52pm | 16/03/11

“then what are they concerned about?”
Christmas Island ring a bell?

Tim the Toolman says:

03:13pm | 16/03/11

“as you say, it is such a small percentage in relation to overall immigration - “

Well that’s ok…murderers are such a small percentage of the population, why do we care about them?  Because they’re breaking the law…

There was a 7pm Project sob story last night or Monday night…I can’t remember, about children in detainment.  The illegal immigrant outright admitted that he chose to come here, rather than going with the convention and stopping at the first available spot. 

I ask this…why bother having a refugee or immigration system if you’re just going to let everyone wander in anyway?

Voxpop says:

03:20pm | 16/03/11

The biggest false claim I see is calling them illegal - they are not.

Alex says:

11:37am | 22/03/11

People care about this small percentage because they are the ones committing crimes. The illegally enter Australia and belong in jails.

Noone is against legal immigrants, they have done nothing wrong.

Dan says:

02:19pm | 16/03/11

Absolutely right Kika,

Psychologists even have a name for it - ingroup outgroup mentality. In other words if you’re part of my group I can’t say bad things about the group without saying bad things about me too. If you’re in another group well I can go all out.

I’ve been to different parts of Asia a number of times and while they are good business people (so they’re nice to you), there are a number of racists too. I’ve had people come up to me and grab the hair on my arm and say “same same monkey” and then laugh and run off. I’m not particularly hairy either! But I am hairier than an Asian.

The probiscus monkey was named the white fella monkey by the locals because our noses are so much bigger than theirs. And we all remember the monkey taunts Andrew Symonds got in India. Yet if we do an ad with a bucket of chicken in it and some Jamaicans then we’re racist towards black people in the US….

Everyone differentiates, everyone discriminates. I’m not saying its a good thing but ignorance doesn’t solve anything. We live in a great country. The USA is pretty awesome too. Maybe we’re not perfect at everything but neither is anyone else.

Kika says:

04:53pm | 16/03/11

I know! I travelled to Northern Europe last year and was flabbergasted at the type of humour they find funny. Not just blackface stuff. Really unfunny terrorist jokes said by some stupid puppet. Really offensive stuff. And they thought a book by a black man saying racist things against black people in general was the funniest thing they had ever read. They didn’t quite understand why we didn’t find it as amusing.

HappyCynic says:

03:01pm | 16/03/11

Regarding those people who say “It’s not a matter of race, but of them not fitting in”:

They don’t want ‘them’ to fit in so they either set the bar high and move it when the bar is met or make up sh*t.  Like the debunked claim that refugees get the dole straight off the boat or that all meat in Australia is halal (since when could you buy halal pork?  And what about Kosher meat, that’s not halal either).  Oh and then there’s the awesome claim of “Try living in Country X and saying/doing Y”.  Illegitimate arguments all of them.

Markus says:

03:31pm | 16/03/11

“or that all meat in Australia is halal”
You should probably talk to companies like Steggles and Coles before claiming that it is debunked.

Ben C says:

04:15pm | 16/03/11

@ Jezza

It’s amazing how one event can just change people’s attitudes - forever it would seem. What would you put this down to, ignorance, lack of education or plain intolerance? Or maybe something else?

@ HappyCynic

I’ve seen it in a similar way to what you describe - but rather than setting the bar higher, it’s a case of completely shifting the goalposts. Coming from a Chinese background (born in Sydney), I’ve grown up following a hard-work ethic - which I’m sure is something that previous generations of Australians followed as well. I’ve heard people say to me that my kind are “taking all our jobs and our university spots - how are we supposed to get ahead in life when you’re in the way?” Well, excuse me for working hard, how about you do the same, maybe you’d achieve more than me if you did.

HappyCynic says:

07:44am | 17/03/11

@Markus

I ask again since you missed it the first time…  Since when is pork halal?  And since when is kosher meat halal?

Therefore all meat is not halal in Australia and the claim is debunked.

Moron

Tim the Toolman says:

03:17pm | 16/03/11

You missed out the bit about being violent, wife beating, child molesting rapists too if you’re a man.  And if you’re Gen Y, you’re lazy, or a selfish fat-cat who owns 30 investment properties if you’re a boomer…

The hypocrisy of a media outlet saying we’re racist, when nine out of ten of their articles are designed to generalise against a group and divide and belittle should not be ignored…

James1 says:

09:25am | 17/03/11

That’s right - they just kill people and assault them for their skin colour.  Far better.

Blazes’ post is one of the stupidest things I have ever read on this site.  Well done, sir/madam.  Do you know anything at all about the KKK?

Ryan says:

05:13pm | 16/03/11

Did we now? You might be doing those dastardly deeds but I certainly didn’t and won’t be taking responsibility for what you do. My children certainly won’t be taking responsiblity for this crap either, they will NOT be made to feel ashamed for being white. Be ashamed of yourself not of my skin colour.

fairsfair says:

06:22pm | 16/03/11

No aboriginal person will ever say the “own” land. The land owns them and this factor plus cultural and historical links is the entire premise of Native Title. Check out the great work CYLC is doing and there are many other land councils across the nation doing the same thing. It is 2011 - revisit reality.

Far out Marilyn. That was a doozy, even by your fucking standards (see what I did there).

Marilyn's nemisis says:

07:53pm | 16/03/11

Ryan you obviously haven’t met Marilyn.  Marilyn now keep your language nice.

Tim says:

08:27am | 17/03/11

Marilyn is by far the most racist person to post on this thread. Every piece of bile that comes (frequently) out of her mouth is laced with racist overtones.

stephen says:

05:55pm | 16/03/11

Harry, you’ve been reading the bottom of desk-calenders again.

Practically all forms of violence has underneath it some form of ‘I’m better than you’, or ‘You’ve got more then me, and I want it’, which another way of saying that you are different and I don’t like it.
The evidence of feelings of inequality, (of which racism is the most extreme) is in the push and shove.

hmm says:

04:31pm | 16/03/11

Al Chunk, best comment so far, maybe when we don’t marginalise and make fun at poor people, people from <insert suburb> area, overweight people, smokers, gays, young mums etc.  Why don’t the PC brigade try to eradicate these prejudices.  Maybe these issues are not touchy feely enough.  For the record, there is racism throughout every culture.  Most enlightened free thinking people are not racist and just because you don’t like someone from a different race, or dare I say someone from a prominently pushy culture, does not make you a racist.

Ryan says:

12:43pm | 17/03/11

That wouldn’t be the same power balance bracelet that was exposed as a complete and utter scam? The very same one the ACCC chairman Graeme Samuel ridicules claims made for the Power Balance bracelet and warns retailers they could be breaking the law?
No amount of spamming forums is going to help you on that one and I would advise that you will get very few if any takers around here, even the lefties on here are smarter than this snake oil.

chucky says:

11:03am | 17/03/11

I see, Marilyn - so according to you, it wasn’t OK for the crims and poms to arrive in boats uninvited, but it’s perfectly fine for the latest lot of arrivals to show up in boats uninvited. Hypocrite much?

Paul Horn says:

11:55am | 17/03/11

You are one hateful bitter piece of work. Funny is it not that you rant and rave about white racism yet spew racist hatred and invective at the very same race. Just what is your issue? Did the British Empire say nasty things to you as a child?  Poor priveliged Marilyn.

So pray tell just what genocidal edict did the British enact on arriving to our sunny shores.  We know that the “stolen generation” is a lie. In fact removing Aboriginal children was an act of mercy not genocide. Many mixed race children were never accepted by full bloods which of course cannot be termed racist as we all know it is impossible for any other race apart from white Western Europeans to be racist.

And let us not go into the criminally suicidal actions of the “Boat People” often placing the lives of innocent children at direct risk as explicitly detailed in the Parliamentary Report.

Marilyn get psychiatric help!

James1 says:

09:21am | 17/03/11

I have.  In Toowoomba several years ago, there were around 10 000 pamphlets handed around inviting people to join the local chapter of the KKK.  We had one dropped in our letterbox, and took it straight to the police.  You probably just live in an area that is reasonably well educated.  Try a good old, down home style country pocket of ignorance, and you will find the KKK.

Stew says:

01:19pm | 17/03/11

Also indigenous health is 20 years behind other Australian;s and their education 5 years behind. Their mortality rates are the highest in Australia and they will be imprisoned more often then other ethnic groups after white Australian’s

And this is caused by racism?
Right!

Why is Home and away so white and why is TV so white?

Maybe because the bulk of the people watching the commercials are white…so they target that ...

We are racist but we can change like America did

Right!
You been to Oakland lately.
Do you know the birth and death rates of American indigenous….African Americans are not indigenous.

What happened to the original owners, did we kill them off along with our memory of them?

Just like what happened in other countries…the US called it manifest destiny.

Only a return to the Christian world view ..

It was Christians that brought about the stolen generations.

If we don’t get it together soon, civil war is the usual outcome as history also shows us.

Right!
Assuming you’re making reference to the US and their civil war which had nothing to do with indigenous people…actually in the begining it had nothing to do with slavery….it was “states rights” which led to secession.

Basically you’re factually wrong and kinda delusional.

chucky says:

09:40pm | 18/03/11

Hmmmmmmmm, let me think, Dave?

They’re not even the slightest bit “racist” in the magical kingdom of Leftard Utopia - does that count?

Well, they do, like, treat people differently based on their ethnic backgrounds - but that’s not “racist” because, y’know, it’s in a good way and they’re, like, minorities and stuff. Oh, and they just luuuuuuuuurve to profile some people with names like “redneck” and stuff - but that’s not “racist” because, y’know, they only do it to white people.

So yeah - Leftard Utopia - question answered, Dave.

anna may says:

11:04am | 21/03/11

good one chucky, DaveinPerth must live under a rock or have blinders on.  australia must be the most racist country in the world to live in, someone should tell the asylum seekers that they have been misguided and should be crawling over each other to get back to their wonderful homelands

DaveinPerth says:

03:26pm | 21/03/11

@anna may - Your cryptic use of punctuation and grammar make it a bit difficult to tell which direction your comments are headed.  But at least you agree that you are UNABLE to name a country that is less racist than Aus. And good on you for agreeing with me on that !
Chucky, on the other hand, appears to neither agree nor disagree. Rather, he seems to be attempting to say “Right Good. Left Bad” (and then drags his jawbone off to the corner of the room.)

chucky says:

04:10pm | 21/03/11

The thing is, Dave, it’s perfectly clear why anna may was mistaken in her assessment of your sloppy, inarticulate comment. While there is no actual ambiguity, it’s easy to see how one could struggle with its apparent incoherence. My sentiment in response was perfectly clear, but not surprisingly, you also stumbled on that too. My suggestion to you, would be before you hypocritically castigate others for the “cryptic use of punctuation and grammar [which] make[s] it a bit difficult to tell [in] which direction your comments are headed”, you take a long hard look at your OWN deficit in grammar and comprehension skills.

DaveinPerth says:

04:04pm | 22/03/11

@ chucky.  Glad you also agree with me. Two posts, and the only Country you could name as ‘less racist than Aus’ was fictional*.

I’m very impressed that no-one has had a stab at somewhere less racist than Aus. I’m starting to think Aus may be the LEAST racist Country on earth ? !

(That is, fictional unless you are a regular Beck/Bolt/etc viewer/listener. In which case, it may very well be real in one of your various realities.)

chucky says:

08:48pm | 20/03/11

Help me out here Glenn. How many “Buddhist Chinese or Hindu Indians” in Australia have openly stated that their goal is to turn Australia into a Buddhist or Hindu state - and change all of our laws accordingly, forcing all Australians to submit to their will?

James1 says:

02:28pm | 22/03/11

Reverse racism actually means discriminating in favour of a particular race to attempt to address past perceived injustice.  Not whatever it is you are talking about.  That said, it is still wrong, as merit should be the only consideration when discriminating either way.