are you racist?

Question

im going to australia to study for five years, and i am asian. i have had friends who went there to study and came back telling me how friendly everyone is there. but also, they also tell me that some people there hate coloured people and tell us to 'go back to our countries' i feel angry and fustrated by this. not only in australia but in other parts of the world. my neighbour currently is working in a hospital in london, and the racism exists there, even in a hospital! she is not promoted, but only the white are. i feel fustrated that even now, the colour of our skin divides us into different classes, white people on top and the rest at the bottom.
even here in my country, the muslims which are the majority race is given more help and opportunity because they are muslim and this is their country. but i am still a citizen! does this happen on your country? racism? and second class citizens?

and for those who dont think white people are on top,
look at yourself in the mirror. and you are probably looking at a white person. thats why.
you do not see it from a third world's point of view. or even a coloured person.

TO DOLPHINLAMI:
i never said that im asain and people hate me , so pity me. screw you. i am just asking if racism and secnd class citizens exist in your country. stop being stupid and be mature! also, i am not saying that everyone is racist, i just want to know you people's opinions abuot this taboo topic. because, questioning about it in my country is AGAINST THE LAW. seriously, asking my goverment WHY AM I A SECOND CLASS CITIZEN is against the law.

ps, when i say second class citizen, i mean,
that the majority gets more opportunities in education,
for example, in my country the national university will eccept the majority race with a 60 percent academic performance, but will not eccept a minority race with 80 percent.
also,
any companies owned by a minority race is not permitted to do any business with the goverment. only the majority is allowed.
also,
discounts on properites and houses that are sold here are given to the majority race.
my question is simple.
does this happen in your country?
open your eyes and find out!
because of this class system, what happens?
racism? second class citizens? or both??

sorry people! i didnt know that coloured is as bad as the n word!!
by coloured i mean asians, indians.. blah blah blahhss. you guys get it! so thanks for the great feedback, although some people here are rather small minded and immature, i really took to notice some of the voices that talked about this taboo topic! thanks! =)

TO LANANI:
yes, ive been to australia.
and yes, my best friends have been discriminated against there. why would they lie to be about that? the issue here is not australia, i am asking about racism and second class citizens as a whole.

Answer 1

I think you would find that using the word ‘coloured’ to describe black people is seen as derogatory in the same way the N word is.

I am not racist because I think it is wrong to discriminate against people just because of their colour, it is just ignorance on the part of the people who do so. Having said that I live in the UK and the majority of my friends are of a similar ethnic origin as myself. This is purely because I find easier to relate with people with similar experiences as myself. I will not deny anyone of anything or refuse to mix with anyone because of their race but it just so happens that the relationships I have been able to sustain so far is mostly with people from ethnic minority backgrounds.

Answer 2

You know the thing with Britain is that although the racism is discrete, some of the people still have difficulty accepting our presence but it's like they tolerate it. You'll still get people who are racist and it's not of their making it's how they were either raised or the people they are around. I'm a black female and I don't have any problems. I guess the only time a situation will become racist, is when you take it in but if you take no notice of it, then at the end of the day they would be the ones looking stupid and archaic.
For someone to say "Go back to your own country" doesn't that sound funny to you? half of their population travel around the world but yet they don't want people to venture theirs.
I know your five year study would be a great experience. Not just hearing it from your friends but you will see the difference for yourself so that only you can pass that judgment.
Another thing it's not just white people that are racist every race is racist for the fact that you can't accept someone what ever color they are then they are racist!!
Have a good Five years in Australia!!

Answer 3

I don't wish to offend any1 with my comments however there has been so much happening over the last few years which has brought racism out into the open. Such as 9/11 in America the 7/7 bombings over here that people are being more openly racist. I would like to say i am not a racist i hold the view that every body deserves to be treated the same no matter what colour they are but ask yourself this can you really blame some people for being racist with every thing that has happened and the amount of people that have been lost over the last few years through bombings and wars. All in all we are all capable of being racist including yourself I'm sure.

Answer 4

I'm from the U.S. and racism is horrible here. The belief that people of European descent are superior to people of color is so widespread and old that I don't see it going anywhere. Of course they are NOT superior, but this way of thinking is so pervasive that it always shocks me that so many people don't realize it or choose not to realize it. And this excludes the people who are open about their ignorance. I don't care where you go, you will encounter this problem. And it is usually White people being discriminatory, because they usually are in power because of colonialism and the crimes that they have committed against almost ALL of the other races. People have been brainwashed to think that white is right, and the more color that you have, the fewer rights that you should have. As a Black person in the U.S., you are discriminated against more than any other race, and other racial minorities in the country tend to follow in with the majority and also dislike Black people. This is simply the truth. You should always acknowledge it and never turn a blind eye to it. While not allowing it, in any way, to ruin your life and your happiness. And it really is a problem when you feel like you are not getting the job that you deserve because of your skin color. Where I'm from, most of my friends who have graduated had to leave the state in order to find a job. Because, especially in certain fields, the good jobs go to White people first. This is the truth, even though a lot of people will try to tell you otherwise. I will eventually have to move because there really are not many job opportunities and chances for advancement for a Black person where I live. But to answer your question, the "color problem" is a problem wherever you go in the world.

Answer 5

Racism is a term that is lobbed about a bit too freely. Yes it shouldn't exist, but the fact is that it does. Society will differentiate between itself as a matter of nature, regardless of colour of skin, whether you wear glasses, male vs. female, etc. Regrettably though, "racist" is a term often screamed by minority groups who expect treatment that is equal to the wishes of the majority - why should Sikhs not have to wear crash helmets? The law of a country should be applied to all its citizens and whoever wishes to live in a country should abide by their laws. If a minotiry wishes to go against the wishes of the majority and, when it doesn't get its own way, it screams "racism" it proves they have a very weak argument. The term wouldn't exist if minorities in this country acted the same way as the white majority - its only the fact that they want to change some of our laws, or interpret them to their own means, that causes the resentment.

Answer 6

I am a biracial female. I get along with everyone. And it was hard as a child to grow up with a white mother and black father, but I overcame it. I just want to tell you that if you want something bad enough you go for it. People in this world are dumb to the fact that God sees no color. I still have problems today with people calling me names and I am 29 years old. Don't let racism keep you from your studies. It really does not have anything to do with you skin. Its just the enemy wanting to put you down. So be of good courage.

Answer 7

Racism exists everywhere, but it's getting better, I really do believe that. More and more people come into contact with one another, what with travel being so easy and all. The number of people who are purely all one race, on both mother's side and father's side, is reduced all the time, too.

So after awhile, Mother Nature will resolve the issue the way she has throughout history: make love, not war.

The racists know this Force is against them, of course, which is what makes them both hypocritical (denying their own children when born to a woman they refuse to acknowledge) and mean-tempered. And I think most of them know they can't win. They are more and more in the minority, and their views are simply taken for bad manners.

Which is, in the end, all they are. Bad manners.

Answer 8

Did you hear that? Somebody in here said something about Muslims walking around in sheets. The only sheets I ever saw were on the KKK ... and I saw them in the 70's ... in California ... dropping their literature at our school because of voluntary integration ... and we all had to be put on lockdown to keep us safe.

Even with the Equal Rights Amendment and Affirmative Action, many people still are not getting a fair shake. Then to make matters worse, you have certain people that sceam about reverse discrimination at the tops of their lungs when a person of color or a woman beats them out for a job ... as though no woman or person of color could be more educated and better qualified than they are. Sheesh! No matter how much things change, some things always seem to stay the same.

Oh ... and by the way, when you call someone "colored," it's offensive. It's almost as bad as the "N" word. In fact, when people realized that the "N" word would no longer be tolerated, the word "colored" was born. Whenever I hear it I want to say, "What color was he? White, black, red, blue, purple, green?" I'm not trying to attack you, but I've seen it used quite a lot out here on yahoo lately. I thought I'd say something because maybe you didn't realize it was offensive.

Answer 9

I have never considered myself racist. My best friend in school was black and I never had any issues with colour or creed until recently. I don't agree with the way the British Government handles immigration and believe that to be the root cause of most of the racism in this country today.
I have isses with the fact that someone can enter the UK, go to the Social and receive enough money to secure a home and car (I have seen it with my own eyes at the job centre - a cheque for £2,000 for a car being handed over to someone who spoke little english) without question. When native Brits (and yes I do include all colours) have to go through stringent checks, 40 reams of application forms, and interrogation just to get a letter 3 months later saying that you are eligible to nothing, even though you are on the breadline.

Answer 10

Unfortunately racism does exist in Australia, look no further than the ongoing treatment of Aboriginal people. They are given poor health care and few opportunities in life while recieving almost universal derision for their supposed lack of achievement and the high levels of alcoholism within their communities. If I were in their situation, treated as they are, I reckon I'd turn to alcohol too cope too.

Speaking more positively, asian people are often treated quite well by the vast majority of australians, though not all (look no further than Pauline Hanson's 'we are in danger of being swamped' speach).

From knowing numerous asian people while living in Adelaide, it appeared that asian people were allowed to succeed, Alfred Huang was Adelaide's mayor for a period, though levels of covert discrimination remain constantly in the background, sad, but true. This will be at times unpleasent, though rest assured a very large proportion of Australia's population will be receptive and friendly towards you, take an interest in you as a person, offer you friendship and value you as a person.

In the end all of us are racist to some degree, myself included, even if that is purely down to ignorance about others.