Australia as a Racist Country?

Australia as a racist country?

As I was reading the MX on the train before the nation’s widely celebrated day – Straya Day, I came across the CelebrityFx where American celebrities ambushed comments about Australians being the most racist’s people on earth. Now from my experience as a Chinese-born Australian, racism does exist but not to the point that it is very direct and up in the face remarks. But according to our international friends and foes, we are considered to be the ‘anus of the world’ (Jerry Seinfield). Why is it the case?

The bad image of us Aussies made me wonder about the comments and racially abusive events that happened in my life. I’d say not everyone here in Sydney are all racists people but there are a handful of those who does not understand the meaning of multi-cultural community we have in the 21^st century.

Early Racism events in Australia

Pauline Hanson, One Nation Policy

The early racism remarks sparked when Pauline Hanson introduced the While Australia legislation, many were offended – especially the Asian community about this ridiculous policy of our immigration systems. Surely there is something wrong with her.

The minority of such ethnic groups are becoming less powerful due to the way us Australians think of. For example, a woman wearing an abaya or a hijab is considered to be a ‘terrorist’ or a man wearing a hygiene mask in the streets is considered to be carrying SARS are a few racial comments I’ve heard in the streets of Sydney.

When people from the other parts of the world think of Australia, they think of irrational, racists white bogans who just drinks beer and wears budgy smugglers. This stereotyping of people are the same, when an Aussie sees an Asian or African person. Regardless, we can’t be labelled as that bad for being racists against other countries. I’m sure other countries do the same but within their own people.

People who make racists comments just wanted attention….maybe?

Even though Australia see themselves as believers in being multicultural and being diverse in race, this is contradicting as the social media is trying to persuade. Like for instance, where the girl that held an African themed 21^st party on her Facebook page was largely engulfed with remarks about her ignorance calling her a racist b****.

Australian Facebook user holding a her 21st African themed party.

But we have to understand that the intentions that these racist extremists are trying to do is attention. So to stir up some controversy that may affect a minority group, knowing that there are sensitive people out there, and some person might just give a racist comment for the whole world to see.

In this day and age, it depends how people see these racists comment. Sure we can use a few jokes about Chinese, Arabs, Indians, Africans and Europeans but in some cases you do have some people out there who just takes it at heart.

But in the end, comedians like Russell Peters or Danny Bhoy use racial jokes for fame and attention. And yet most people take them lightly. So why can’t we do that?

References:

MX Gloss & Glam, January 23^rd , 2014, p 12-13.

Rawsthorne, S. 2013, ‘Why does the world think Australia is racist’, The Guardian, 25 October, accessed on 29^th January, 2014 <http://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2013/oct/25/why-does-the-world-think-australia-is-racist>

Russell Peters- Chinese, Indians, Jamaicans, Italians, 2008, YouTube video, nvscamb, January 21, accessed 30th January, 2014 <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QYiteaPBlz0>.

Waterland, R. 2013, ‘Australia: One of the most comfortably racists places I’ve ever been’, Mamamia, 18 April, accessed on 29^th January, 2014 <http://www.mamamia.com.au/news/john-oliver-australia-is-racist>.