Monday, April 19, 2010

Are Australians racist?



The answer is YES.


But the answer is also more complicated than that.

To fully understand my answer we need to examine what it means right now to be an Australian.

What is an Australian?

Australia is one of the the most multicultural societies in the world. Our population comes from all corners of the globe and for the most part we all get along as part of one of the most stable democracies to have ever existed. Even The United States, the largest democracy in the world has had a civil War.

To be Australian is to be a member of the greater Australian community and that community is made up of people of every color, race, religion, political association, social background, sexual preference, sex, height, weight, shoe size, hair color, etc etc.

To be Australian in the context of the above question is to be one of many races living together in Australia.

But why are we racist?

How many times have you seen the phrase "sorry I am not into Asians".
Why is it that I get messages from guys who think I am "hot" but who then suddenly turn cold when I tell them about my mixed heritage? What is it that has changed?
Why do I get told "no your not, your Asian"  when I tell people online that I am Australian? It is because what they really mean to ask is "are you white?".

I AM an Australian, I was born here and I love my home. I am Australian because I represent the new multicultural world order. Being Australian is a state of mind. A belief in freedom, equality and a fair go. The notion that Australians are white Europeans is as ridiculous as believing that the world is flat.

Australia has had some bad press lately. The Cronulla riots, the "black face incident" and the violence against Indian students being the most notable. Mostly people assume that the only racist Australians are of Anglo or Caucasian background.

There are more than a fair share of nationalities who will only marry within their own race. My own father was asked why he married a "white devil". There are Asian and Middle Eastern restaurants who refuse to serve Caucasian people. There are businesses who only cater to their own ethnic communities.

You may think it harsh to to say my country is racist. You may say that it is the few spoiling it for the many. While this is true, we are 1 nation and I judge us as such because all to often the majority is silent when it should speak out.

The unfortunate fact of the matter is that when you put people of such variation all in the one place there will always be tension and ignorance. Respect goes more than one way and the majority of people of all races live peacefully and in harmony here. Racism is not exclusive to Anglo caucasian cultures but it is the responsibility of everyone to stand up against it.