Is Australia A Racist Country

[Strawb]

Well with recent attacks on Indian students in Melbourne and K. Rudd's nephew protesting i am putting the question up. Are we a racist country.

[GWW]

What was Rudd's nephew protesting about?

[Strawb]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/pm-kev ... 5823624890 Have a read

[bayman]

definately not, but no doubt there are racist people that live in the country...in other words the country isn't but some people living in the country are

[Thiele]

No we not

[dedja]

What does racist country actually mean?

5%, 10%, 25%, 50%, 80% ???

As bayman states, there will always be some proportion of the population that have some form of racist tendancy, but does that mean the country is racist?

In my book a country can only be racist if those tendancies are condoned or supported by the government or leaders, a la South Africa in the apartheid years.

[Cambridge Clarrie]

definately not, but no doubt there are racist people that live in the country...in other words the country isn't but some people living in the country are

What 'e said...

[southee]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/pm-kevin-rudds-nephew-reportedly-ejected-from-the-australian-open-after-kkk-anti-racism-protest/story-e6frf7jo-1225823624890 Have a read

Bloody hell...he is doing a better job then Kevin is!!!

[GWW]

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/news/pm-kevin-rudds-nephew-reportedly-ejected-from-the-australian-open-after-kkk-anti-racism-protest/story-e6frf7jo-1225823624890 Have a read

Bloody hell...he is doing a better job then Kevin is!!!

Fair suck of the sauce bottle mate.

[JAS]

Of course you're not a racist country...it's ignorant individuals who are racist...and, sadly, every country on the planet has those.

I don't think any country could be called racist regardless of it's government policy as even in countries like South Africa there were those who disagreed with and were actually brave enough to fight against apartheid...problem is that, no doubt for their own safety, you rarely hear about them.

Regards
JAS

[redden whites]

No we not

Still want to shoot them in the boats Thiele???

[fisho mcspaz]

I wouldn't call Australia's antipathy to foreigners 'racism'. I think the real reason is that a lot of Australians are tight-fisted and narrow-minded enough to think that foreigners are a threat to their way of life. They think that immigrants are bleeding the country dry and somehow depriving them of their entitlements. They express these views in a typically racist manner - everyone knows the insults and derogatory terms, I won't repeat them here.

So yeah, I think that there's racist behaviour in Australia, certainly. But I think it generates from ignorance and fear, rather than an actual conscious prejudice based on a person's race. Which makes it no more excusable - just makes me feel that we're not a racist country, we're a country full of idiots only too eager to find scapegoats.

[cripple]

My big gripe with many australians is the phrase " I am not rascist, BUT..." and they then conitnue into their speil about whatever issue. It is used far to many times and people IMO see it as a defence to say whatever they want about another race which leads to a lot more rascist views and actions then should be tolerated or accepted.

[cje]

we are not racist those imigrants that come here and dont learn to speak english are more racist than any of us aussies

[Punk Rooster]

we are not racist those imigrants that come here and dont learn to speak english are more racist than any of us aussies

Immigants! I knew it was them! Even when it was the bears, I knew it was them.

[Iron Fist]

we are not racist those imigrants that come here and dont learn to speak english are more racist than any of us aussies

spot on
every person seeking refuge in aus or wanting to live in aus should be able to speak fluent english

[Wedgie]

we are not racist those imigrants that come here and dont learn to speak english are more racist than any of us aussies

Damn racist aboriginals that didn't learn to speak English thousands of years ago!

[Hondo]

we are not racist those imigrants that come here and dont learn to speak english are more racist than any of us aussies

spot on
every person seeking refuge in aus or wanting to live in aus should be able to speak fluent english

Do you know how many years it takes of study to fluently speak a second language?

When people say that to me I ask them a hypothetical. If they were transferred in their job to Germany for 2 years and their employer didn't need them speak fluent German and there was already a group of Australians over there that they would live with. ie, basic German would suffice for the 2 year stay.

Would you make a special effort to become fluent German in the 3 months you had before you left? Is that even possible? Would you speak exclusively in German to the other Australians over there at all times.

I don't think many would do anything other than buy a "basic German" travellers handbook. Yet, over here it's totally unacceptable to some of us unless they are fluent in English and speak it all the time even to each other.
usually I get blank looks and then the subject is changed

[redandblack]

Totally correct, Hondo.

A huge number of Europeans speak English fluently, often along with several other languages.

We're isolated and therefore have every reason not to speak another language, but it's a bit rich to insist that new arrivals are fluent in English when they arrive here.

As for refugees, if you were fleeing Saddam Hussein or the Taliban, I'm not sure whether you'd have the time to stop for a few years to learn fluent English.

[mick]

Not too many of the migrants from outside the UK who came here in the 50s, 60s and 70s could speak English when they arrived, and I think most people would agree the vast majority went on to become good and useful citizens and learnt English as well. English skills should not be a basis to reject migrants.