Do you think Australia has a racist past?

Answer 1

You have to bear in mind how those attitudes came about. At the time Australia was invaded by the British, European overseas expansion was at it's greatest, and sense of nationalism, and national pride was running high. Darwin was beginning to gain popularity for his theories of the ascent of man, and for many people in Europe, they fully believed they were of a superior species than other ethnic groups. It wasn't a moral question for them, it just seemed to be a scientific fact.
As Australia was primarily settled by Anglo-Celtic peoples, they were members of the British Empire - the greatest empire that ever existed, and ruled over 1/4 of the entire Earth. This sense of invincibility installed an immense self-belief in Ethnic superiority, and Australians were no different to any other members of the British Empire. The most controversial part of institutionalised rascism was the attempted genocide of Australian Aboriginals. In the 1830's in Tasmania in particular, a systematic attempt was made to exterminate them, however, history proves it was a minority of British who agreed with these policies and they were quickly reversed. In fact the biggest cause of widespread death in the early stage of the colonial period was European introduced disease, and alcoholism - the indigineous Australians used no intoxicants prior to the arrival of Europeans.
Following on to this was the "White Australia" policy. It was governmental policy until the end of the second world war, to actively encourage migration amongst Anglo-Celtics to create a strong nation unified in "language, culture, religion (anglican) and spirit".
Following WWII, Australia had lost such a large proportion of parental range men (on top of similar outcome from WWI) they realised it was not feasable to repopulate with purely Anglo-celtic migration, and so for the first time, large waves of Southern and Eastern European migrants began to arrive. At first they were treated with suspiscion, and even into the earlie 80's, there was isolated accounts of discrimination and persecution, but as the first generations grew up, and their Australian born children grew up alongside those of Anglo-Celtic families, increasingly they became accepted as part of the Australian community. This success was followed by a second big wave, from the mid to late 80's of South-East Asian migration. Australian's increasingly accept migrants as part of their community, and despite an undeserved reputation, normally embrace their multi-cultural society. The one exception is a very common discomfort at migrant communities which fail to interact within general society, and embrace Australian culture. Some groups, particularly in South-West Sydney, establish communities in isolation, continue to speak their own language, engage their own culture and community, and never intergrate into Australian society. I think this is viewed with suspiscion by most Australians. Why would they want to go and live in Australia if they don't want to join the community. With that exception, I think Australia embraces all races and religions, as long as those arriving don't try and change they status quo. Australians are happy with their way of life, and don't appreciate migrant groups telling them what they are doing wrong. Australians presume if you arrive in their country, it is because you have a desire to become one of them, not force them to become like you. If you do this, you will be welcomed regardless of race, colour, religion or culture.

Answer 2

Australia's historic previous is particularly racist & violent, isn't it? The histories of Australia that i've got study, which incorporates some by Australian authors, checklist that many white colonists interior the 1800s certainly had to exterminate the Aborigines thoroughly. In Tasmania, they actually did it. There additionally replaced right into a "white Australia" coverage that banned nonwhite immigration to the country for many, some years -- or a minimum of that's what I study from Australian historians. you're suited that Australia is no longer racist and rightwing, nevertheless. i do no longer understand; have not stored up with this subject.

Answer 3

Well, who doesn't?
I know this has changed dramatically, but as a child in school I was taught that Australia did not allow immigrants that were not Caucasian. Unless my teachers were 'full of it' (and that's always possible, of course) that was an official racist attitude. I am aware however that for a number of years now Australia has been receiving large numbers of non caucasian immigrants, and certainly does not have legal, official ract policy. To wipe out racism from individual human beings, however, in any country at all, is next to impossible.

Answer 4

Sure - and a racist present, just like every other country.

"And you must shine a spotlight into the dark corners where racism lurks, in every society.
Some of them are to be found in the world of employment and commerce, which is one of the most important fronts in the battle against discrimination. That is why tomorrow, under the aegis of the Global Compact on corporate citizenship that I launched two years ago, Mary Robinson and I will be holding a discussion on racism with employers and trade unions. We must make them aware of their responsibilities, and enlist them as allies in our struggle.
Perhaps you could also work together to produce an annual report on the struggle against racism, to which different groups in each country would contribute. I mean a report that highlights not only violations but also success stories, so that practices which have worked against racism and intolerance in one country can be tried in others, too.
Our greatest hope of change lies in the rise of a new generation, free from the fears and prejudices of the old. So the biggest responsibility falls on parents and teachers, and on those who write textbooks, or plan school curricula.
They must see to it that children are taught to take pride and pleasure in diversity, and not to recoil whenever they see someone whose habits or appearance are different from their own.
And you young people yourselves must take the lead in forming the attitudes of your peers.
Yes, my friends: it is people's attitudes, and the way we treat each other, that needs to change, in every country. And whether that happens depends above all on you."

In Australia, it was the Aborigines. Other countires all had/have other racial/ethnic groups that are generally looked down on and who suffer from bias.
Unfortunately, racism is world-wide and timeless. Maybe in the future, it can be eradicated. But in the present and in the past, it is/was prevalent.

Answer 5

Just about every nation and people has a racist past. Racism is just an extension of the age old problem of us and them. Since we are right they must be evil and less than us, this allows us to exploit or displace whoever is the them without having to feel ashamed, in fact we are probably doing them a favor.

Answer 6

Most countries have a racist past.

Answer 7

Mr. Ed is right. Everyone has a "racist" past. All around the world everyone seems to think they are a "superior" people.

Answer 8

It was a racist past, and an odd one. See the movie "Rabbit Proof Fence" sometime.

Answer 9

Yes, look at the near-extermination of the Aboriginals. It's as bad as North America.

Answer 10

No !maybe a little!Coz austaralia was a place where people run away to so they should accept everybody there coz there are no other place safer!