I live in the north of Queensland and I often hear this very odd expression – “reverse racism”.

This expression can often be heard in pubs and more increasingly in Letters to the Editor sections in the locally published newspapers in Mackay, Townsville and Cairns.

We have been told so often that we are a racist nation that when a group of indigenous youths beat up and rob an unsuspecting local or naive tourist in the Townsville Mall the only expression the ignorant can muster is “reverse racism”.

I have heard racist remarks from many.
I have heard it from teachers in the safety of staff rooms at both state and non-state schools.
I have heard it from migrants who themselves have had racist taunts thrown at them.
I have heard them in pubs and clubs (even those clubs that have the word International or Italian or some other identifying country in their name).

Racism is taught at home to children by parents.

Armed with negative stereotypes children will selectively find examples to support and reinforce their parents’ attitudes when they enter the world outside their homes.

All we can do is show good example and hope that positive experiences can alter someone’s attitude before they start influencing their own children.

Here we go again, Conservatives bad, Socialists good.

Bruce, never have I read a load of false facts. If anything, it is the socialists who have racism as its underbelly. It was Socialists parties (Labor) that introduced the white Australia policy and the Conservative parties (Liberals) who abolished it.

It was the Socialist parties that denied the aboriginal population a vote and the conservatives that championed and introduced voting for these people.

It was the liberals who first had an aboriginal elected to parliament, Labor never have.

It was the conservatives in America that fought to end slavery.

It is the conservatives that are the true moralists and the ones that fight for equality. You will never get this from the left side.

I have always found that it is the socialist who are the real racists, true conservatives are not.

Bruce, please spare us your false propaganda!

Well spoken, Bruce. I agree, there is a firmly entrenched undertone of racism running right throughout Australian society. It's so endemic now I'm losing faith in us ever being able to counter it.

You mention schools and universities and I agree, education is the key. Most state schools in my experience though are places of inclusion and do embrace multiculturalism and acceptance of difference. As pointed out by The Observer, the problem lies in the fact that these same values and attitudes aren't reinforced and modelled within the home environment.

As well, the growth of private schools has destroyed the universality of Australian education. Where children once rubbed shoulders with all classes and races, they are now increasingly restricted to mixing with their own kind, and as such tend to perpetuate the snobberies and intolerances peculiar to their particular group.

High schools and universities have become very instrumental in their focus. The Humanities subjects, which help promote greater understanding and acceptance of other cultures, have been progressively sidelined in the interests of maths, science, vocational and business subjects, so that many students now walk away with 'how to' job qualifications and little else.

In the same period that rightwing conservative values have permeated the education system, so too has education's ability to buffer the effects of ignorance and intolerance been severely weakened. Looking to the education system is I think a noble but vain hope.

Bruce sounds like the Dutch woman journalist who was raped several time by the Taliban. Hating Western culture so much she writes that the Taliban are not monsters but they respected me. I wonder if she feels the same way about the Taliban who rape young girls.

http://www.brusselsjournal.com/node/3946

When are the lefties ever going to wake up to the fact that they themselves are the most racist people themselves. They have taught the aboriginals through their perverted untrue versions of history to hate the whites, they defend terrorist accusing anyone with half a brain of racism and seem to loathe Western civilization which has given them more freedom than ever before. Bruce is more a reporter of the mantras of the left rather than a Political commentator.

Just happens that the middle eastern men bashing Indians are the same who bash old ladies as revealed yesterday. Unfortunately this does not fit Bruce's self loathing views of most white Australians.

You must be a very bitter and unhappy man, Bruce, to feel the need to badmouth your country and countrymen as much as do on OLO.

Your racism rant is your most appalling effort so far. With citizens like you, Australia doesn't need any enemies.

Racism or Prejudice?
We are continually accused of being a racist society. But is it racism? Or plain old Aussie prejudice! For instance, Chinese restaurants dishing up stray cats as rabbit or chicken! This old tale kept me off Chinese food for years! Aussie ex-P.O.Ws from ww 2 refusing to buy Japanese cars because of their treatment. Is this racism? If so, what is color prejudice? If you're white you're right, if you're brown hang around, if you're black get back. This is a determining factor in Aboriginal society as well. Is this racism? And if you're Islander (Mud) get back even further! The division between Full-Blood and caste Aboriginal People is legend. An issue not discussed in the public domain. Almost like a taboo subject ! But a fact of life. You won't hear Michael Mansell talk about this. A Full-Blood will accept and trust a white person before they would a yella fella or mixed blood Aboriginal they know will exploit them. Is this racism? Torres Strait Islanders are derided by us. Is this racism? This is one reason why they are seeking to annul the marriage "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders". On the grounds of non consummation. It was a marriage in name only. Regarding and involving easier and continued access to funding. A marriage of convenience so to speak. (A.L.B. c. 9/07) An extract from, www.whitc.net.bigpondhostings.com A.L.B.