After a second night of violent rioting in suburban Sydney, Australian Prime Minister John Howard has stated to the media, "I think it's important that we do not rush to judgement about these events," and "I do not accept there is underlying racism in this country. I have always taken a more optimistic view of the character of the Australian people."
I accept the fact that the leader of any country must present an optimistic view of political events - we see evidence of that in all kinds of instances, and, on occasion, we see the benefits of it, do we not? Nevertheless, shouldn't leaders also exhibit more of a sense of realism than Mr. Howard has displayed in the above statements, given the fact that riots appear to be worsening, and spreading throughout vast areas of suburban Sydney? After all, it's clear that there are serious problems right now in Australia, just as there are problems in any country that has large groups of immigrants trying to create new lives for themselves in established communities.
Here's the basis of my objection and the reason for writing this. Racism is not new in Australia. Indeed, it's no newer than it is in France or the US or Britain. Racism, even in subtle forms, seems to exist everywhere. If we pay attention, it's amazing what we see. Look, for example, at The Sydney Morning Herald's report on the riots this morning:
Sydney erupted in a second night of racial violence last night as Middle Eastern mobs fired shots into the air, attacked women and smashed shops around Cronulla, while up to 600 young men - armed with guns and crowbars - prepared for a battle.
Note that the Middle Easterners are described as mobs and the others - presumably Anglo men (and possibly women) - are described as "young men." Since they arrived in dozens of cars, armed with baseball bats, I'm not quite sure just how gentlemanly these young men were! This, by the way, is Sydney's premier newspaper and that is its lead story. May I say that, as an almost fifty year-old woman, who is partly of Italian descent and who spent my first twenty-eight years in Australia, none of this comes as a total surprise.
That's why I was astonished to read the following, from the latest AP report:
Australia has long prided itself on accepting immigrants — from Italians and Greeks after World War II to families fleeing political strife in the Middle East and Southeast Asia. In the last census in 2001, nearly a quarter of Australia's 20 million people said they were born overseas.
Article comments
— go to most recent comments1 - Aaman
Excellent post - you've brought out all the key points that make this a critical issue for the 'western' world to consider - the uneasy coexistence of multiple cultures has never worked out yet - primarily because of the jingoism derived from regionalism.
2 - Gabrielle Sims
I agree totally with your skepticism, and this is part of the reason I never managed to make a home for myself in that country, though it could be called my home in some ways. But the preponderance of narrowmindedness, the fixity of opinions about any kind of difference (accent, lifestyle, education are some especially delicate aspects of the general Australian defensiveness and scorn), these things were immediately noticeable to me after returning from years in the US.
As for my identity and lifestyle choices, it took me a while to understand why your father would choose to essentially bury his Italianness (and even more because Sicilian). I thought, what a shame! And went on to consciously revive that part of our character in myself, to explore it, celebrate it, and live it almost completely. But moments like this one in Australia, and your stories of your own experiences with racism when you were growing up, your stories of your father's experiences, these force me to recognise racism as hardly a thing of the past, hardly a thing that happens elsewhere, and hardly believable in its continuing fervour amongst people my own age, in their twenties, people who have not lived through mass migrations, or major wars, people who should know better because most of their grandparents were probably themselves immigrants at some point.
3 - RedTard
My questions to you would be:
Are the aborigines disproportionately on welfare?
Were the Japanese buying up Australian assets when their economy was booming?
Are Middle Eastern immigrants less likely to speak English?
I don't understand why it is now "racist" to speak the truth.
4 - tommyd
Racial riots in any country that was once 95% White race, but now have surrendered their nations over to the Multiculturalist Liars who flooded these White people's countries with undesirable Aliens and brainwashed Whites into accepting such a disatrous scheme by Mass Media enforcement, is no surprise to me.
Nor should this surprise anyone else, even the most [Deleted] Liberals who've promoted such suicidal policies like Multicultarlism. Racial realities and differences have been ignored for way too long and are forbidden in the Mass Media discourse. Well it's time for change. I am, however, happy to see White Australians fighting for their rights. God Bless them.
Remember, "don't take down a fence until you know why it was put up in the first place".
5 - Elysium
Very interesting...except that the "..600 young men - armed with guns and crowbars.." were also "Middle Easterners" (Lebanese muslims) while the surfy thugs were armed with beer bottles and fists charged with alcohol and frustration at inept policing and PC politics (not that it's an excuse but context is everything). I'm not surprised that the SMH would obscure this fact as all our leftist media (indeed all leftist media around the world) are doing this. Sept 11 and the terrorist attacks in Bali (where incidently 4 local girls died) are a small part of the pent up frustrations of enduring a long and enduring violent trend which includes indiscriminate violence and rape preying on predominantly young white Australians by Lebanese muslim gangs.
If you or your readers are truly interested with the truth I would suggest reading the following links to articles by Tim Priest, a retired dective with the NSW police. It will give a far clearer and objective idea of what is occurring and why.
The first is very prescient and is from Jan 2004. I recommend it highly, although I warn that it may challenge your prejudices. The second is from the 12th Dec :
The Rise of Middle Eastern Crime in Australia
Tim Priest
Tim Priest: Blame race riots on police force neglect
6 - tommyd
Elysium, fantastic post. Thanks for those links. Soon enough though, more and more people are not going to be afraid of the smears of "racist" anylonger and will get more vocal about what's really happening in the West.
7 - Lynn Schibeci
I note that there's a comment above stating "Personal attacks are not allowed. Please read out comment policy." The reason I state this is that:
1. I am very happy to read all of these comments and appreciate hearing what you all have to say. If the media wrongly reported the story, I don't think you can blame me for that.
2. I am not a "Liberal," which is why I'm happy to listen to your comments and read these links, many of which are long, which is why it might take me a while to give you a more thorough response than this one. The point is that I expect the kind of fair treatment that many of you are suggesting that the Liberal media doesn't provide.
3. I am reported my personal experiences, not advancing biased opinions. I have no doubt whatsoever that there's blame to go around but that doesn't mean that my account is based upon fiction or isn't relevant.
It's related mostly to what I was called because of my Italian heritage and what I saw growing up and on subsequent visits to Australia, where I witnessed plenty of fights among people because of racial differences.
4. To answer those questions briefly:
- In the past, Aborigines would have been, but increasingly, they are getting better educated, with many more of them gaining high school and college degrees.
- Yes, Japanese were doing that, but so, too, were Americans and British, and no one ever mentioned that.
- Middle Eastern people are/were no less likely to speak English than Greeks or Italians in 1940s/50s Australia. My grandmother barely spoke a word of English, but she loved the country and never even visited Italy again after she set foot on Australian soil. Indeed, when she remarried after my Sicilian grandfather died, she married an Australian and we used to wonder how they communicated (no kidding!)
- It's not racist to speak the truth, I completely agree. Does that mean it was fine, then, to call me a wog? Was that the truth? Is it fine to say *all* Vietnamese carry knives? Some do, of course, just like some white men carry guns or murder their wives, but they don't all do it, do they?
I hope that clarifies my viewpoint and why I was disappointed by some of the things I heard people say when I lived or visited there. Now I'm going to read some of your interesting comments and urls. Thanks. Lynn
8 - Elysium
Lyn, I certainly didn't mean do demean your personal reflections but in this instance the two are unrelated. I will say however that the Italians have made an overwhelmingly positive contribution to Australia and along with other ethnic communities now make up an inherent part of a richer Australian culture. I believe it is the Italian's (and Greek) ability to laugh at themselves, respect for others and family and not take things or themselves too seriously which has enabled this relatively smooth transition (and not just in Australia). I only just wish the same could be said of other migrant groups whose antagonisms brought over with them and handed down through generations affect not only the so called WASPs in this country but all Australians. Things can't be allowed to go on as they have been (especially in Sydney) as there is too much to lose. I strongly feel this means ending the predominance of tribe inducing Multiculturalism, not only supported but insisted upon by succesive governments of both persuasions and trained self serving bureaucrats and intellectuals.
Give me a multi-ethnic society that respects each others differences but strives together within a common framework, than one built on ethnic divisions and tribal hatreds which unfortuanately Multiculturalism like most '-isms' ends up promoting above all else.
Best wishes and don't be afraid to come home, it's not so bad but certainly could be better.
Elysium : )
9 - who cares
first this ethnic war ,,racist is what ive been reading in history books at school and anyways theres no end to it ...dont care yu white ,black , dont care yu christian ,moselm , jew,parsi...thing i care is yu dont hit a women when shes just walking down the street yu sure dont want aussie mate to have a 911 keep doing racist slogans its just started...good things come to those who wait,,,wait and see then brag 100 aussie pride politics are a jokers wild card to fool people ......
10 - Acelya
It is very hard to be honest and non-biased all the time. Sometimes, people's experiences can lead them to develop certain idealogies that they know are incorrect but just cant help feeling. I was born in Australia, my parents are both Turkish, i moved overseas when i was about 7 years old, i've lived in Saudi Arabia, Dubai, Turkey and many more due to my father's job requirements. Once my dad retired, we moved back to Australia, i must say, the 5 years that i spend there, were the most depressing times of my 20 year life. I am in awe how anybody in Australia can be racist, when in true fact, the only real Australians, are aboriginals. Would it be correct to say to a white Australian 'your ancestors were convicts'? So what right do they have to judge anyone. I found that basically all the people i came accross my age, were uneducated and had no intention of constituting some self development. It is always easier to stereotype than to look at the bigger picture. I find that the 5 years i spent in Australia as a teenager have made me in a way racist towards them. The only difference is, i can admit that it is wrong to have any thoughts like that in the first place, whereas some people think they are justified in speaking and acting the way they do.
11 - Jaye
I read your comments and find them interesting because I am American (born and raised) and I lived in Australia and New Zealand after I finished college back in '01. I was down there working (on a work permit) after college getting some experience overseas. Spending time in both of those countries has to have been the single worst overseas experience I have ever had. Why? I have lived in France, Switzerland, and Canada and I had wonderful experiences in those countries. But I couldn't wait to exit Australia and NZ when I had the chance. I found the W.A.S.P.'s in both countries to be extremely ignorant about other cultures, possessing a very narrow world view, arrogant about being white, and living psychologically in an 18th century mentality as far as how they seem themselves in relation to other ethnic groups. I am African-American and when I was down there I was called a 'negro' more than once, which is hostile and offensive. No one in the U.S or Canada refers to Blacks as Negroes, that is the equivalent of calling someone a 'nigger'. I have traveled all over the world and have never been treated as badly as I was in both Australia and New Zealand. Most of the people I encountered made ignorant stereotypical statements about Black people (even though they had never met a Black person in their lives). I feel like Australia and New Zealand have a very 1950's separatist Jim Crow mentality when it comes to relating to ethnic people. I felt like I was in Hick/red-neck territory in the 1950's southern states....but no I was working and living abroad in both Australia and New Zealand. It was and still is a shocker. It is disgusting. I ended my work contract early and came back to California because I was exhausted and disgusted from my experience. I am not the only person that feels this way, one of my friends from college who is Filipina-American married a Vietnamese-Australian and she told me the same thing. That she doesn't like the way white-australians treated her while she and her fiance (now her husband) were there. She was called a 'little brown monkey' by many people. That's horrible. In the U.S. we have our own racial issues that we are working on, but I think because it has been out in the open and because of the civil rights movement in the 50's, 60's, and 70's and because we have ALOT of renowned ethnic celebrities (i.e. Jennifer Lopez-Puerto Rican, Beyonce-African-American, Lucy Lui-Chinese, etc, etc.) and alot of famous influential ethnic white people (Jewish and Italian communities), some of the things that are an acceptable amount of racism in Australia wouldn't be tolerated in the U.S. When I was living in France when I was in college there were some racial issues with the people who were first-generation arab-French, African-French and the 'native white-french' but in my opinion it isn't as exaggerated and crude as it is in Australia. I say the same thing for Switzerland too. I think that Canada is the most tolerant and accepting country. They are always voted in the top 5 places to live by the U.N. each year. There is a reason for that. Two of Canada's major cities Toronto and Vancouver have almost 50% foreign born. It isn't a perfect country (but what country is?) but I think that Canadians really work on cultural communication and racial harmony. Whenever I visit Canada, I see more interracial marriages/interethnic marriages than anywhere else. I suppose that Canadians have less prejudices. And why is that? I would like to visit Australia and New Zealand again someday (the two separate countries are beautiful, but the people are racist) but not if I am going to be treated like a criminal.
12 - Dave
if australians are all racist how come I see so many black africans with white women girlfriends and white men with asian girlfriends
but not that many black women with white men or asian men with white women though
it seems racism is also generated by the colored people themselves by refusing to date within own race
13 - George
"if australians are all racist how come I see so many black africans with white women girlfriends and white men with asian girlfriends"
Oh really? I have been here in Adelaide for sometime and I have seen only two white men with Asian women, with of course the white women and girls gawking at them. I have not seen any black africans with white girlfriends, here in Adelaide, in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere else in this country. Pray tell me where in Adelaide I can find these couples in large numbers.
"but not that many black women with white men or asian men with white women though."
I have not seen a single white woman with a non-white male here in Adelaide or elsewhere in this country.
"it seems racism is also generated by the colored people themselves by refusing to date within own race."
But, will the whites not pass comments if the so-called colored people date whites? I know for sure many white dont even like white men dating Asian women, which is a big change from Hawaii or California.
14 - George
My questions to you would be:
"Were the Japanese buying up Australian assets when their economy was booming?"
Why shouldn't they? Weren't the white Aussies buying up Thai and Malaysian assets after the Asian crises? Same nonsense. People are selfish. They would like to buy assets in other countries but would like to deny people from other countries from buying assets in their own. Just like the anti-immigrant groups want to protect Aussie jobs but they have little or nothing to say about Aussies taking jobs in Singapore. Plain selfish!! I will supoort the anti-immigrant movements if they denounce Aussies taking jobs in other countries.
15 - STM
There are some racists in Australia. But from where I stand, the vast majority are not. They tend to be largely colour-blind, but if you don't "act or sound Australian", that's a different issue.
Skin colour is largely irrelevent in Australia for the generation of children born in Australia to migrant parents.
Let's not make more of this than there is.
16 - Lynn
Thank you all for your comments. Please note, I do not suggest that racism is more of a problem in Australia than anywhere else, and I agree that a lot of younger people are colourblind. Nonetheless, racism exists around the world, sometimes even in Australia, and often among young people (I've witnessed it with my own eyes). Therefore, I wanted to write that piece when those problems erupted in my hometown. With all due respect, I believe that there was nothing wrong with my writing that piece at that time.
17 - Al
'I have been here in Adelaide for sometime and I have seen only two white men with Asian women…I have not seen any black africans with white girlfriends, here in Adelaide, in Sydney, Melbourne or anywhere else in this country.'
Please tell me you are joking right? Australia is one of the most multi-ethnic countries in the world. I have been to all three cities stated and have been surprised at what a beautiful mix of cultures, religions and definitely race that surrounded me.
I have a very diverse family. I am currently dating a black South African and he has really opened up my eyes, looking at all the different cultures that are mixed into Australia. My brother is married to a Japanese woman and my sister is dating an American-Indian man…and we all live in Australia. So in just one family there are three different cultures/races/and religions.
I think it is time for Australia to move on from being so segregated and become ONE...(cliché, I know sorry) There are so many different cultures that are mixed with one another to make Australia…we can make it a whole lot better and not based on colour or origins...
18 - Silver Surfer
Al, you are right ... and I stand by my earlier comment - Australians today are largely colour-blind.
What makes people stand out is their "unAustralianess", and it has nothing to do with colour.
It's about not integrating, not being part of what Australians see as the modern Australia - a multicultural melting pot that if not quite paradise, is as damn well close to it as you'll get on this planet - and I've been to plenty of other places around the world so I think I can speak with if not authority, at least some knowledge.
Even people who have been in Australia a few motnhs can fit in without a problem if they demonstrate a willingness to fit in (and fitting in doesn't mean being stereotyped or robbed of your original cultural identity).
Hell, even Americans can now hold dual US/Australian citizenship. Punch-ups at the beach notwithstanding, there's more racial/cross-cultural harmony here today than anywhere on the planet.
In fact the punch-ups at the beach probably served a purpose - the majority of Australians became angry with both groups, and both groups ended up pulling their heads in.
Since then, and it's two years ago now, there haven't been any dramas of note.
One of the postive things to come out of it was a decision by the Surf Lifesaving Association, in a bid to have more muslim kids join its ranks, to actively recruit within the muslim community - and it doesn't come much more "Australian" than being a lifesaver.
I'll offer as evidence: the SLSA hired a designer to come up with a light-weight "burkini" that allows religious muslim girls to serve at the beach without being uncovered.
Those girls who have joined are ecstatic - and report a sense of real belonging. That's where Australia goes when this shit happens - it tries its hardest to make good on any wrongs. Today, that even applies to past treatment of the indigenous community, although we hope when the new government comes in after John Howard's defeat at the polls there'll be more and better on that score, too.
That's why it is a near Paradise. Trust me, I wouldn't leave this place for a million bucks. I had the opportunity some years ago to move permanently to the US, and I weighed it all up, everything - and stayed here.
The only way I'll leave is in a box, and considering how much surfing time I've still got in this getting older older but still-happy body, I hope that's a long way off :).
19 - Silver Surfer
And Lynn, what a load of bollocks. You've been out of the country since, what, 1985??
And the SMH story - the passage you quoted about Middle Eastern mobs: the 600 were not a different group, but the same group.
As for your nonsense about aborigines and catholics. I'm a catholic and went to an Anglican school. My mother was a Catholic and suffered no disrimination at all.
I suffered no discrimination at all. My son (who is part-aborigine and an Anglican), went to two Catholic boarding schools and suffered no discrimination at all. The most stick he got from his schoolmates related to the fact that he's always considered himself a Queenslander rather than a New South Welshman, as most of my immediate family are from Queensland.
And it wasn't vast areas of suburban Sydney - it was two beach suburbs (at last count, there were about 100 of them, if you count neighbouring areas from where you can walk to the beach).
You don't write this with any authority, and you had to be here to really understand what was going on. And obviously, you weren't. You've had a look at a few news reports on the web. Naughty, naughty ...
20 - Silver Surfer
Actually, Lynn, I did suffer a bit of discrimination when I first started high school but it had nothing to do with my catholic background. My parents lived overseas and I spent a few years at school in England and another few in the middle-east (at a British school). So I came to high school in Australia with an English accent.
Therefore I was a "pommy" (I'm Australian) and automatically marked out for regular smacks in the mouth and big - "there you go, mate, how was that?" - crash tackles on the rugby field.
And you thought you had it bad down there at Cronulla getting called a wog ...
And when I said bollocks, I meant it with respect - you are as entitled to your opinion as anyone :)
21 - STM
Nah, people just choose people they like. It's got nothing to do with anything except who you fall in love/like/lust with.
I don't buy the race card on this.
22 - Forrester
And I want to add that racism is not related to age or race.
Many Indians Srilankans look down on orientals especially vietnamese/chinese because they think oriental asians can't speak english or could be newcomers. Even though from what I see orientals are already in Australia long before south asians or africans. Most Srilankans came mostly in the mid 90s after the civil war. So this shows many racists are refugees and immigrants as well, young or old. Immigrants look down on another immigrant group is a reality, regardless of race, wealth and age.
23 - bm
I'm afraid I see a lot of immature denial in all the comments above,
"Racism? What Racism? Where --er who?? You mean us?? How?"
Let's get some things straight.
Australia _is_ a part of Asian Economy -- like it or not.
Australia's future existence could turn out to be as a collection of inward looking collection of unskilled & uneducated supremacist luddites (white, wasp or otherwise) -- driven increasingly to isolation by its prosperous and more industrialized Asian neighbours.
Or it could turn out to be an enlightened group of mature cultural pragmatists -- interacting with and leading its Asian neighbouring countries in every social and economic arena.
Which shall it be? Australia's leaders must decide --firmly and now. The past pattern of impotent and indecisive leadership (cowtowing to cheap popularity from the lowest common denominator) can no longer be pragmatic policy for the longer term.
A culturally ignorant nation in a multicultural world -- even if majority WASP -- is unqualified to lead -- unless by force. And I don't think the latter is an option anymore.
24 - Lewis
Trust me racism got nothing to do with race
my jewish workmate prefer to work with anglos and married only to a jewish as usual
so even jewish can be racist
and my TAMIL neighbour doesn't like east asian but the funny thing is he called east asian ASIAN but he himself is ASIAN. He thinks in AUS he is not ASIAN and indians have become the biggest ethnic group in AUS. Why I always see ASIAN women with white dudes these days and also african males with white women. Even all famous mixed people are the product of black dads and white moms recently: jo wilfred tsonga. Racists of all races prefer caucasians look ?
25 - CaptainReality
Lebanese Muslims are horrible. They're the cause of all the problems.
The funny thing is, in Sydney, everyone hates them. The whites hate them. The Chinese hate them. The Indians hate them.
The Lebanese Christians left Lebanon to get away from these animals. Unfortunately, Australia foolishly let them in during the 1970s.
The issue isn't that Australians are racist. The issue is that Lebanese Muslims are obnoxious, bigoted, violent, ill-educated fools, and everyone's sick of it. Combine that with a useless police force that refused to enforce law and order, and you have the makings of a riot.
There were Chinese people and Maoris at the Cronulla riots; you don't see photographs of them in the media because that would show the 'racist white Australia' media message to be a lie.