Are Australians racist?

[ninwa]

True. My parents are Chinese and they are the most racist people I know.

How?

I'm not sure what you mean?
They have bad things to say about almost every race except Asian (no, that's not true, they also look down on Vietnamese people) and Jewish (though I'm not sure if that's just because my boyfriend is Jewish). Quotes include:
"I don't know what it is about Indians but they all look so dirty all the time, must be their skin colour."
"White people are stupid pigs."
etc.
Dinnertime usually consists of me and my brother trying our best not to get into an argument with them.

@Chavi, I have no problem with society shunning racist people. You make it sound like such a bad thing.

[Chavi]

True. My parents are Chinese and they are the most racist people I know.

How?

I'm not sure what you mean?
They have bad things to say about almost every race except Asian (no, that's not true, they also look down on Vietnamese people) and Jewish (though I'm not sure if that's just because my boyfriend is Jewish). Quotes include:
"I don't know what it is about Indians but they all look so dirty all the time, must be their skin colour."
"White people are stupid pigs."
etc.
Dinnertime usually consists of me and my brother trying our best not to get into an argument with them.

@Chavi, I have no problem with society shunning racist people. You make it sound like such a bad thing.

lol no. In some ways it's bad, in some ways it's good. I agree with the general gist of this thread that many people who are inwardly racist (for whatever reason), but don't  manifest their prejudices in the public sphere through violence or hate speech aren't such a big problem. Only when they begin endangering others for no reason other than race/colour/gender/ethnicity does it become a problem that we must fight.

I was just railing against the contemporary 'lefty' liberal culture that has become overtly politicized and "hippified" by 20 something radical Uni students who are ignorant of the civil rights movement, actual human rights (as opposed to mindless hate-rallies) and the origins and aims of socialism and communism.

-On a side note, it's really interesting to see lots of Asians and Jews dating each other. Sitting in the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, I distinctly picked out a few Israeli-Asian couples. A new trend eh Ninwa?

[bomb]

I try not to form stereotypes about the someone's race, but sometimes I can't help but stereotype religions. I'm still undecided as to whether that's justifiable...

I guess it's a little more justifiable than stereotyping on race.
Religion is something that often dictates values, beliefs and the way we respond to things whereas the way you look doesn't neccesarily do the same.

[ninwa]

-On a side note, it's really interesting to see lots of Asians and Jews dating each other. Sitting in the terminal at Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv, I distinctly picked out a few Israeli-Asian couples. A new trend eh Ninwa?

Must be, I personally know of at least 3 other Jewish-Asian couples.
I may actually be visiting Israel this summer and was terrified of being glared down by the more traditional "Jews can only date Jews" people at Tel Aviv airport, so thanks for putting my mind at ease (somewhat...)

[taiga]

Go to the cricket between and Subcontinental team and Australia, and you will see

Sport fanaticism and racism are entirely separate phenomena. . .

No I think that's a common excuse for racism.

As being of Indian heritage I went to the Pakistan v Australia match on Boxing day 09. Copped alot of racist crap, like "awww mate sad you're losing dont blow us up", "sit down you f****n curry" after death staring some fat bogan who threw a beer at me and a few others that were with.

The bogan minority do not represent the entire population. Yes, there are racist Australians but there are racist people of all nationalities. Am I to expect that the Indians who called Andrew Symonds a monkey are tolerant people? No. But I do not condemn the entire Indian population as racist.

Whether calling someone a monkey is a racist term is a whole different issue. I'm just saying that if you go to sporting events you will see alot more racism than you do as you go about your usual life.

[Duck]

Whether calling someone a monkey is a racist term is a whole different issue.

You're kidding me, right? You don't think calling someone of West Indian descent a monkey is racist? That is not an 'issue' to debate anymore so than we may debate whether suggestions that you would bomb the mcg are racist. If you question the offensiveness of the 'monkey' taunt then you are probably racist yourself.

[schnappy]

Admittedly I'm a bit racist, but I'd never be violent unless provoked... that's just inhumane and disgusting behaviour.

[ryley]

How could anyone possibly say "Australians are racist"? Isn't that in itself an unfair generalisation based on race?

[Chavi]

How could anyone possibly say "Australians are racist"? Isn't that in itself an unfair generalisation based on race?

Australians aren't a race

[Nomvalt]

I think most Australians are not racist. The minority of which are are usually from poor socio-economic backgrounds, who are ignorant but however think highly of themselves.
 
When you think about it racism is pretty irrational really - well at least until we undertake some more conclusive in-depth scientific study to find out which race truly is more superior, but I don't see how such extensive research could be deemed as ethical.
it certainly would shed some light for those interested in making genetically engineered humans, possible in the near future, to make the most ideal human possible and society more efficient (as everyone would be geniuses) as they will mentally mature quicker and live longer to serve society.

I think problem with racism is that people tend to incorporate their dislike of a particular culture to someone part of that culture and subconsciously generalize to all others which are physically alike which leads to racism, xenophobic ideologies and sometimes to the point of paranoia.

[TrueLight]

i think i posted this somewhere before...seems fitting i add it here.

"Racism is simply an ugly form of collectivism, the mindset that views humans strictly as members of groups rather than individuals. Racists believe that all individuals who share superficial physical characteristics are alike: as collectivists, racists think only in terms of groups. By encouraging Americans to adopt a group mentality, the advocates of so-called "diversity" actually perpetuate racism. Their obsession with racial group identity is inherently racist. The true antidote to racism is liberty. Liberty means having a limited, constitutional government devoted to the protection of individual rights rather than group claims. Liberty means free-market capitalism, which rewards individual achievement and competence, not skin color, gender, or ethnicity."
Ron Paul. Sourced, On freedom Government and Racism, April 16, 2007.

[Eriny]

Things like affirmative action (having spaces provided for certain racial groups at university, employing people because they are of a particular race, etc.) in a way are necessary, sadly. To some degree, people in racial majorities don't think this is the case because they are blinded to the systematic discrimination that occurs towards certain races. By virtue of the fact that they are of a certain race, they are often pre-judged. They also tend to lack role models to show them that university and professional employment is even possible, and that is a huge block to overcome.

I remember once my uncle (who is quite racist) asked me if I thought it was fair that an Indigenous person would get their entire degree paid for, plus extra, and I would have to work in part-time employment and such. And frankly, there is so much wrong with this question. Firstly, I think we need to keep our minds mostly on our own situation. Because certainly, while I'm a bit jealous that some people get paid to go to university, as well as the people whose parents pay for absolutely everything, I'm certainly in a much better position than people who won't graduate with a degree at all (which is something like 70% of Australia's population). Secondly, it was never any question as to whether or not I was going to go to university. Whether it's free, whether I'm paid to go or whether I would have to get into a lot of debt to go, it wouldn't be a question for me. I could wear those expenses, at least eventually. Not everyone is in that kind of a position. If an Indigenous student gets to go to university because the government or the university pays them, it not only doesn't take away the opportunity from me, but it gives the Indigenous community another person to show others that it's possible. I was lucky, I always knew it was possible.

It's important not to underestimate how much role models and affirmative action actually means to communities, including Indigenous communities. If your born into a place where absolutely nobody goes to university and nobody tells you that they are willing to fund for you to go, how else do you think it would be possible? Particularly given that you are guaranteed an income if you go straight into the workforce without even finishing high school. It's a long-term investment that not everyone can afford particularly given that in the end, nobody really knows what the outcome of a degree will be. That's why those sorts of policies are necessary.

I must say though, I do feel a little bit conflicted. For instance, I know someone who has one Indigenous parent and the other parent is white. She was brought up in a regional centre (not quite the same opportunities there as in capital cities, but still a lot compared to remote Aboriginal communities) where she went to a Catholic school where it was the expectation that most students would graduate and then go to university or TAFE. She now has a scholarship to go to ANU because of her heritage. The thing is, I don't think that she has been particularly disadvantaged. She may have had to counter some racism in the form of bullying or something, but she didn't have to counter a systematic lack of resources or role models as such. However, at the same time, she's still breaking boundaries. For instance, there were certain positions that she applied for where, if she got it, she would be the first Indigenous person filling that role. This is something I'm not sure about, and it's probably in cases like these where debates about affirmative action really takes place. Nobody would reasonably argue that people from remote communities suffer from disadvantage, but you could well argue that not all Aboriginal people do.

I guess, in the end, it really goes down to the question of role models, finding community leaders and people willing to lead others. For instance, this girl I know does do some volunteer work with Indigenous communities, and by going to university and having a scholarship, she effectively show them that race doesn't determine your ability to have a good education. In the end, I think that does more good than harm.

[MuggedByReality]

   ^Perhaps you're right, when it comes to communities as sadly disempowered as the Aborigines. I wouldn't support affirmative action for an minority only somewhat underrepresented (though I don't know exactly where I'd draw the line) or for women.

[appianway]

I must say though, I do feel a little bit conflicted. For instance, I know someone who has one Indigenous parent and the other parent is white. She was brought up in a regional centre (not quite the same opportunities there as in capital cities, but still a lot compared to remote Aboriginal communities) where she went to a Catholic school where it was the expectation that most students would graduate and then go to university or TAFE. She now has a scholarship to go to ANU because of her heritage. The thing is, I don't think that she has been particularly disadvantaged. She may have had to counter some racism in the form of bullying or something, but she didn't have to counter a systematic lack of resources or role models as such. However, at the same time, she's still breaking boundaries. For instance, there were certain positions that she applied for where, if she got it, she would be the first Indigenous person filling that role. This is something I'm not sure about, and it's probably in cases like these where debates about affirmative action really takes place. Nobody would reasonably argue that people from remote communities suffer from disadvantage, but you could well argue that not all Aboriginal people do.

People who have 1/16th indigenous heritage can qualify for affirmative action. I'm fine with this if the students concerned are actually part of an indigenous community, but can people manipulate the system? If one of your great great grandparents was aboriginal, what does that mean if you live in middle class suburbia, speak only english and go to a school where most students go to university? I think that there should be checks on students in this scenario to ensure that they actually identify as indigenous and are part of a community... because showing that it's possible for students in indigenous communities is so important.

Just because students are of 1/16 indigenous heritage doesn't always mean they identify as being indigenous. My great grandmother was Jewish, but I don't identify with the Jewish community because I'm not Jewish. I follow a different religion - it's by no means my community or culture. Hopefully this illustrates my point to an extent.

[MuggedByReality]

I must say though, I do feel a little bit conflicted. For instance, I know someone who has one Indigenous parent and the other parent is white. She was brought up in a regional centre (not quite the same opportunities there as in capital cities, but still a lot compared to remote Aboriginal communities) where she went to a Catholic school where it was the expectation that most students would graduate and then go to university or TAFE. She now has a scholarship to go to ANU because of her heritage. The thing is, I don't think that she has been particularly disadvantaged. She may have had to counter some racism in the form of bullying or something, but she didn't have to counter a systematic lack of resources or role models as such. However, at the same time, she's still breaking boundaries. For instance, there were certain positions that she applied for where, if she got it, she would be the first Indigenous person filling that role. This is something I'm not sure about, and it's probably in cases like these where debates about affirmative action really takes place. Nobody would reasonably argue that people from remote communities suffer from disadvantage, but you could well argue that not all Aboriginal people do.

People who have 1/16th indigenous heritage can qualify for affirmative action. I'm fine with this if the students concerned are actually part of an indigenous community, but can people manipulate the system? If one of your great great grandparents was aboriginal, what does that mean if you live in middle class suburbia, speak only english and go to a school where most students go to university? I think that there should be checks on students in this scenario to ensure that they actually identify as indigenous and are part of a community... because showing that it's possible for students in indigenous communities is so important.

Just because students are of 1/16 indigenous heritage doesn't always mean they identify as being indigenous. My great grandmother was Jewish, but I don't identify with the Jewish community because I'm not Jewish. I follow a different religion - it's by no means my community or culture. Hopefully this illustrates my point to an extent.

Mmmm. Just as some people qualify for SEAS on account of having been being diagnosed with a disablility, even if they're about as much impaired as you are Jewish.
  I suppose they could use means-testing so as to make sure they're helping the indigenous students most in need.