2007-10-31 23:31:58 · 7 answers · asked by ducks_1234 2 in Society & Culture ➔ Cultures & Groups ➔ Other - Cultures & Groups
Australia has a nasty racist history and there is racism still today. Anyone who said otherwise has blinkers on.
While we've come a long way since the abolition of the white australia policy and the 1968 referendum, the past 10 years have re-ignited a lot of division and fear in the community, and some of this has found its expression as racism.
Add to this, that the current government are a total and complete disgrace when it comes to dealing with the Aboriginal people of this country and we have some real issues still to deal with.
Hopefully, the NEXT decade will see us get back on track.
At least we can hold our head up that even though the media and the Libs talked Pauline hansen and her anti-immigrant, anti-Aborginal policies up back in the 90s, the vast majority of people refused to have anything to do with her. That is totally to our credit.
Most Australians probably do want to do the right thing, and there is no such thing as people HAVE to live in a certain area, or any nonsense like that. So in that way we are better off than elsewhere.
Cheers :-)
2007-11-01 01:45:14 · answer #1 · answered by thing55000 6 · 4⤊ 0⤋
There are racists in all societies, Australia has its share. At the moment, the Federal Government is encouraging anti-Moslem sentiment with many people equating Islam with terrorism. Fortunately, the Federal Government has about three weeks before it is kicked out and we have a new Government. Things should improve after that. In general, Australians are tolerant people and accept migrants from all over the world.
2007-10-31 23:42:47 · answer #2 · answered by tentofield 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
I grew up in Australia and was never aware of racism as a child but now I know more about the early history -what was never taught in schools -I know the government treated Aboriginies abominably. As an adult, I discovered that the working class and ignorant with little education were very anti- Italians, anti-Greeks anti immigrants of any kind which surprised me.
2007-10-31 23:45:35 · answer #3 · answered by Anonymous · 3⤊ 0⤋
Funny you ask that. Being a non-white Aussie, I'm usually mistaken for either a Maori or Indigenous, neither of which I am. Being mistaken for Maori is no problem - people make jokes about sheep or football and ask questions about Maori culture - none of course which I'm able to answer of course, since I'm not Maori. Being mistaken for indigenous is totally different. There are no jokes or laughing at all, only such vicious racism that I'm really surprised there are still Indigenous people left who aren't dead or in psych wards. Thank God I don't look more indigenous than I do & don't get mistaken for indigenous more often than just every now and then - or life would be unbearable.
The 'reverse' racism you may be referring to? - a hypersensitivity to perceived racism? - I think may be suppressed anger by Indigenous people who feel like they're pre-judged as dole bludgers/welfare cheats/substance users before their real selves are known. As a white person you may not believe blatant racism happens anymore but as a non-white person often mistaken for Indigenous, I know it happens.
2007-10-31 23:55:02 · answer #4 · answered by suigeneris 2 · 4⤊ 0⤋
i think .. australia is NOT as racist as some non-aussies would like to believe and probably a LITTLE MORE than most aussies would like to think ...
BUT over-all .. .Aussies will generally on a one to one basis give anybody a fair go ...and that's where it should start .. accepting people as individuals..
AS an aussie myself .. there is NOBODY I would treat any differently to anybody else JUST because they were a different race,
2007-10-31 23:56:25 · answer #5 · answered by ll_jenny_ll here AND I'M BAC 7 · 3⤊ 0⤋
Isn't everywhere racist?
There's people who are and people who aren't.
Saying that, with all this political correctness you can't say ANYTHING without being racist.
Since when has the word "blackboard" been racist?
2007-10-31 23:36:29 · answer #6 · answered by jlh.1988 2 · 2⤊ 0⤋
man lay off of Australia-they don't bother a soul down there-they mind their business.
2007-11-01 00:04:32 · answer #7 · answered by berlytea 4 · 3⤊ 0⤋