Upon first reading the article, I for some reason was put in mind of a clockwork orange.

In what I now know to be my subliminally passive racist way, I checked the main page to see under what category the article had been contributed, half expecting to find it had been submitted under 'satire'. Imagine my confusion when instead I found 'society', but at least in the process I had revealed to myself the connection with the clockwork orange: the article had to be a wind-up, didn't it!

Otherwise, just where was this guy coming from?

I found myself wondering whether perhaps he had come from the Society Islands, but didn't think the Indo-Hispanic sound of the name to quite fit in that putative connection. Was there perhaps, analogously to Juan Fernandez Island off Chile, a Ramesh Fernandez Island out there somewhere in the oceanic vastness of the Pacific, and was I Robinson Crusoe in wondering that, I wondered. I mean, look at when the article was posted, man. Friday!

More to the point, I wondered that if this were to be so, what were the author's chances of returning to it? You know, of going back to where he came from. It just isn't fair that anyone with skin so thin should be exposed to the relentlessly abrasive blizzards of passive racism that so characterises the Australian climate, and yet to which so many of the native-born seem so immune.

It is said no man is an island, but Juan Fernandez is. Perhaps there is hope for a Ramesh Fernandez? After all, we are an insular lot here in Gert-by-Sea, and time cures all eels.

Passivity to all.

There should be a law against that sort of thing!!

Fernandez's arrogance and ignorance have been fully exposed.Magnamously, Australia accepted him as a refugee from Sri Lanka and awarded him citizenship, and now as CEO of a fund raising organisation he exploits the democratic freedoms in Australia to issue "media releases" and propaganda articles to attack Australian values.And another important principle is at stake:providing refugee status should not presume citizenship.
As he has been here since 2001 and has had time to become an Aussie, I think that this is a legitimate case of saying, as you reject our values " go back where you came from." Leslie

One of the most interesting places to meet people from different cultures and backgrounds is in a taxi. Over the years I have had many pleasurable conversations with interesting taxi drivers, often starting the discussion with "Where you from mate?". Sometimes they say "Cronulla" or whatever, but mostly they are happy to talk. I guess from their viewpoint, it is better to have a friendly talkative passenger than one who sits silently the whole journey.

So I think, Ramesh, that most of the commenters on your post are saying that you are misreading friendliness as rascism. Nothing surer than if you see the world that way, that is the world you will get.

Actually, you couldn't live in a friendlier place than Australia, unless of course you include New Zealand. And yes, many of the taxi drivers are interested to know that I come from there. Many years ago.

Well I applaud Ramesh Fernandez for speaking up. I think Aussies are by and large a parochial lot, especially further north and inland.
I'd have to disagree, Forrestm that "so many of the native-born seem so immune". I doubt they get half so much respect as Fernandez, but they're not nearly so capable of resentment or speaking up for themselves, and far from immune they seem to me to show all the signs of an ethnic group dying of its own self-loathing--taking its cue from us of course.

But it's good to see you posting again.

I dunno perhaps I'm getting too old for this touchy feely stuff we all seem to go on with these days...

Look Ramesh, more than likely this bloke was only trying to be friendly with you. You were both buying coffee at the time (I think?)and he was simply trying to engage you in conversation while passing the time waiting for his coffee. I really don't know.

But I must say to you my friend, if you choose to reside in this country permanently, you've got to learn to 'loosen up' more and simply go with the flow. Sure, he may've been a bit of a dill, but what does it really matter !

Australian's tend to be very gregarious and convivial with our speech.
And I'll admit it does take a little getting use to in the beginning. But generally, nothing nasty or sinister is meant by it.

Before I retired, you should have heard some of the epithets and profanities levelled towards me and my colleagues. You just let it roll off you back. Nine times out of ten, it's just the p...and bad manners talking, so what !

Ramesh my friend, a little advice if I may - as I said at the outset, you've got to learn to let these hurtful little remarks to just dissipate into thin air, and NOT take them to heart.

You know we Aussies are pretty good people by and large, so try not to be overly sensitive to any peceived slight that may (seemingly) come you way. Initially, not that easy but it'll come, believe me.

Perhaps too, you may well find it useful to mix a little more with Aussies, by doing so you'll pick up our quirky, unusual levels of humour together with the nuances and absurdities that accompany that humour.

Hang in the Ramesh, and wellcome to Aussieland !