Australian Politics Forum - Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism

fakir

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OzPolitic

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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #45 - Nov 11^th, 2008 at 4:25am

freediver wrote on Nov 9^th, 2008 at 6:59pm:

Fakir, did this Canuk mate of yours by any chance try to convince the Australians that they were racist, while ignoring everything they said, then get upset because the locals thought he was a nutter?

There really is no wonder racism will never change in Australia! You really don't get it do you? Everyone I talk to OUTSIDE Australia always says "yeah I heard about the racism in Australia".

You think it's a big joke just because I seem to be "ignoring" what you "locals" are saying. It's the other way round mate. You're ignoring what the world sees in you.

As for the other white Canadian who loves Australia - so? It's bound to be natural that a white person will find it homey in Australia, what's weird is when a white person can clearly see racism in Australia - and he wasn't a tourist, he lived in Sydney for a while.

What's the point of saying that some white people think there's nothing wrong with Australia? Ask someone in the KKK whether there's anything wrong with Pauline Hanson, and he's likely to think nothing either and probably ridicule others just like you guys.

You can't smell the stink in your own house.

Do you think there's cultural racism in America? Compared to Australia, you probably wouldn't think so since there are so many minorities in American popular culture. There's even an Asian amongst the top 5 upcoming teens to look out for (Brenda Song). And yet, because the black people make a stink about things (and rightfully so), we now have a Black American President. Compare with the shameful 99.9% white Australia in popular media.

On the other hand, Asians in Australia should be ashamed for their complacency and putting up no fight at all. That's why the white folks on this forum think there's no racism in Australia. I find it disgraceful. But is it any surprise that white Australians can't see their own sht? Because minorities in Australia keep their mouth shut. Asians can learn from Black America!

As much as it disgusts me that you white Australians keep ridiculing this thread, it disgusts me even more that the few Australians of Asian Descent (AADs) on this forum aren't speaking up more. Australia will always be racist with AADs like you!

But you know what? I used to be like you when I lived in Australia. When I lived in Australia, I used to say "racism isn't that bad" whenever a foreigner would ask me about the racism in Australia (which by the way is the #1 question I get about Australia, go figure). However it's only when I left Australia that I realized how friggin bad it really is compared with other countries. You obviously can't see it (just like I couldn't see it) because you still live there.

That's why it's refreshing to see Obama become President. Having lived in different countries before, he has a more open-minded perspective. It's flabbergasting talking with some of you with your obviously insular and narrow-minded perspectives.

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« Last Edit: Nov 11^th, 2008 at 4:40am by fakir »

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freediver

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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #46 - Nov 11^th, 2008 at 5:21pm

Fakir you can't even count the number of non-whites on Australian TV ads, so I can hardly expect you to accurately gauge the actual level of racism in Australia. It's like you live in a different world, with different TV ads showing only white people. I have lived overseas for a large portion of my life. I didn't experience the things you claim to have experienced. Instead of confronting us with the truth, you are confronting us with an absurd conspiracy theory to explain why we cannot see what you can see and what you claim is right in front of us. Why would you expect any other response?

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People who can't distinguish between etymology and entomology bug me in ways I cannot put into words.

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Grendel Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 28080 Gender:	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #47 - Nov 12^th, 2008 at 2:40pm Well I note that photos for 2 different news articles on the weekend had at least 20 people in each one and there were probably 2 caucasians in one and none in the other.
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easel Gold Member Offline Posts: 3120	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #48 - Nov 12^th, 2008 at 3:14pm Australian racism cannot be understood by foreigners. Most of it isn't serious. Ever heard of taking the piss?
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Grendel Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 28080 Gender:	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #49 - Nov 12^th, 2008 at 3:54pm Yes some cultures aren't big on sarcasm and irony.
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fakir

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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #50 - Nov 14^th, 2008 at 1:53am

Grendel wrote on Nov 12^th, 2008 at 2:40pm:

Well I note that photos for 2 different news articles on the weekend had at least 20 people in each one and there were probably 2 caucasians in one and none in the other.

were they advertisements?

I'm not blind. I see pictures of minorities too - but they're always in the context of minorities. It's never in the context of "these are true blue Aussies", in a very colour-blind fashion. However if those pictures were in a colour-blind "true blue Aussie" fashion, then that's great! I've just never seen it. If you could post the pictures I'd like to have my perspective changed.

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fakir Junior Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 54	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #51 - Nov 14^th, 2008 at 1:54am Grendel wrote on Nov 12^th, 2008 at 3:54pm: Yes some cultures aren't big on sarcasm and irony. You can't expect someone who doesn't know you to "get" your sarcasm. That's just a very unrealistic position to have. Context is everything.
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Soren

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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #52 - Nov 14^th, 2008 at 2:44pm

fakir wrote on Nov 14^th, 2008 at 1:53am:

Grendel wrote on Nov 12^th, 2008 at 2:40pm:

Well I note that photos for 2 different news articles on the weekend had at least 20 people in each one and there were probably 2 caucasians in one and none in the other.

were they advertisements?

I'm not blind. I see pictures of minorities too - but they're always in the context of minorities. It's never in the context of "these are true blue Aussies", in a very colour-blind fashion. However if those pictures were in a colour-blind "true blue Aussie" fashion, then that's great! I've just never seen it. If you coultd post the pictures I'd like to have my perspective changed.

faker,
tinted people are depicted as minorities because they are. They may well be contributing to the country now but they have not made it what it is. The Europeans did, especially the English, Scots and Irish and their descendants.

Read the names on the war memorials.

And stop whining.

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Grendel Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 28080 Gender:	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #53 - Nov 14^th, 2008 at 4:25pm Yes fakir YOU did miss it... I suggest you star googling the press... maybe nsw rail might get those stories. I think one was front page of the DT. Takes a bit to miss a front page. AS for humour... most Australians get it...
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Middle Sky

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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #54 - Dec 2^nd, 2008 at 3:35pm

Hey guys, new member here. Just some basic info about me to start off with:
Age: 22
Race: Asian
Born and lives in: Australia
Occupation: Student/PT shelfstacker (ugh)

I've been lurking for a little bit and i just had to respond to this thread (of course since this topic is a touchy subject for me Tongue

)

I don't want to seem hostile/intrusive/long-winded as a newcomer, but i really disagree with what some of you guys have to say in regards to telling fakir to shut up. I personally don't care so much about inclusion of other races in the media so much as promotion of stereotypes in the media, but i feel a lot of you guys have to ask yourselves:

what do you truly know about the recieving end of racism?

i mean do you guys understand why slurs such as gweilo are not as offensive to white people as gook or black person are to non-white people? It's not because non-white people are a bunch of whingers who "can't take a joke". If you were in the same position you'd be feeling the same.

You have to think of the history behind these words.
Basic history behind the slur 'Gook' for example:
http://au.youtube.com/watch?v=Z2rpvj9NSXM

The slur 'gweilo', as it relates to whites, came from the situation of colonisers occupying hong kong as a result of the opium wars. Most of you guys don't have a violent or unpleasant experience from it either.

A racial slur is like me telling you to f off, but to me, it means a lot more to do with world history and my own personal history. Just because it's not offensive for you, doesn't mean it's not offensive for others.

For a more eloquent way of putting it and from a white guys perspective, I'd recommend Tim Wise's essays.
http://www.lipmagazine.org/~timwise/honkywannacracker.html
(It's about the USA specifically but mostly applies here in any case)

Thanks for reading and i hope you understand where i'm coming from.

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« Last Edit: Dec 6^th, 2008 at 11:50am by Middle Sky »

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freediver Gold Member Offline www.ozpolitic.com Posts: 53257 At my desk.	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #55 - Dec 2^nd, 2008 at 3:47pm Welcome to OzPolitic Middle Sky.
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Middle Sky New Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #56 - Dec 2^nd, 2008 at 8:23pm thanks, glad to be on board.
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NorthOfNorth Gold Member Offline OzPolitic Posts: 17258 Gender:	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #57 - Dec 2^nd, 2008 at 8:37pm I've noticed there is one racial slur that appears to evoke a strong response from those of European descent (at least in Australia) and that is the term "white trash".
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muso

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Gladstone, Queensland
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Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism
Reply #58 - Dec 2^nd, 2008 at 8:59pm

Hi Middle Sky. Which country are you from originally?

Thanks for providing some personal insight. Having read some of the racist comments that are tolerated on this forum, I start to despair about what's happening to our younger generations in the cities.

I guess there is less ethnic diversity where I live in rural Queensland, but at least we have the old Aussie ethos of accepting a person for what they do and say - not for their culture, their religion, or the colour of their skin.

Please stick around and continue to contribute. Some parts of this forum should only be taken in small doses.

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1523 people like this. The remaining 7,134,765,234 do not

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Middle Sky New Member Offline Australian Politics Posts: 14	Re: Asian Australians and Australian-style Racism Reply #59 - Dec 3^rd, 2008 at 9:41am muso: born and raised here, but my parents are from Hong Kong. So i'm suothern chinese i guess.
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