Whether you agree with the idea that Australia is racist, I think there's a more important question.

Is it really such a bad thing for people to think your country is racist, that you're a disgusting, revolting, despicable bigot?

I was reading comments posted on the page on abc.net.au entitled "Racism in Australia," about how some people were disappointed after coming here and finding that our race relations were worse than in Canada or the USA. It's been a while since the first reported attacks on Indian students and the "Jackson Jives" on "Hey, Hey It's Saturday!"

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/31004.html

The initial reaction of many would be to deny this and argue that this perception was wrong, that things aren't really that bad. The more I thought about it, however, the more I wondered if it really mattered.

Is it really that dangerous for people to think Australia is a racist country, whether or not it's true? I very much doubt it's going to lead to more Australians getting bashed up overseas. You may encounter people who say some unflattering and unhelpful comments to you like, "you're a bigotted, racist Australian," but nothing that would put your life in immediate danger.

The more important thing, however, is whether negative perceptions of Australia are really a danger to this country. If people think Australia is racist, they might think twice before coming here. That would be a good thing for our politicians, who want to limit the number of people coming here.

Telling people this is a great country would leave many people disappointed if instead of friendly, welcoming people they get insults and abuse. If we tell them it's such a horrible place to live in, then yay, we'd get to keep this wonderful land to ourselves and not share it. Spreading negative propaganda is a great way to protect this country from invasion.

Noone should ever apologise for being what they are.

Soren wrote on Jul 15^th, 2012 at 9:03pm:


It is so, my friend. The Pakistani race has a proud tradition of superior curries.

Mnemonic wrote on Jul 15^th, 2012 at 8:43pm:


Why does everybody keep saying we are racist when we are not even a race?..do you mean the australian aboriginals when you say australian?..because if you are talking about the whities then surely we have to be some sort of a race to be racist?

... wrote on Jul 31^st, 2012 at 5:38pm:


Do not be so racist.

Unfortunately, I already join the country. So racist is unacceptable. The people like me have to against racist like you when we look Australia as our new home.

Mnemonic wrote on Jul 15^th, 2012 at 8:43pm: