We all choose our attitudes. When someone asks you that question, I suggest you choose to be positive about it. There's no point trying to stop people from saying it, and only China might consider doing that anyway.

I think there may be a bit of paranoia creeping in here. I live in
the country, where everybody knows everybody. When a new face
turns up in town, "where do you come from?" is a common question

As an older Australian who has been around the country and come in contact with people from many countries, I have found that a fairly reliable indication of whether someone is born here or not, is their proficient use of the language and the accent they use. This means that when I ask the question, I can do it in a way which produces a positive outcome. Most people will respond positively if you show some genuine interest in their background.

David

I've been asked this question plenty of times since coming to Australia from China 20 years ago. I've never seen any harm in treating the question as one based upon curiosity and an attempt at having something more interesting than the weather to discuss. In my opinion, to interpret and react to the question as having racist undertones when none are evident is itself a derogatory act, based upon the assumption that Australians are inherently racist.

Chau xiaojie,
Nin hao ma?

One of the first things I see when I look at my old Chinese text book (published in Beijing) is : Ni shi na guo ren ?
[Where are you from ?]

So it would appear that asking someone where they are from is not some strange trait endemic to Aodaliya!

A major difference is that Australian born Chinese -many of whom speak with a distinctive western Sydney twang,with liberal lashings of "yeh mate" and "bloody hell" –are unlikely to be in any real sense seen as foreigners (except, in very limited circles).

But there is an entrenched habit on the part of large sections of the (Mandarin speaking) Chinese community to refer to anyone non-Chinese as a wai guo ren [a foreigner] ,or the much less tasteful (Cantonese equivalent) guilo [which despite revisionist attempts to explain it away literally means foreign devil].

And another thing of note is that until very recently there was a tendency on the part of Hong Kong cinema –on those limited occasions when they had Western roles -- to portray Westerners as slow & dimwitted.

Now, it is not my intention to run a Anglos are better that Hans argument. But I feel the need to challenge some of your assumptions. Since many of the readers of OLO and other Forums (and mostly those on the left of politics) still cling to the archaic meme that Australia is an island of racism in a Asian sea of tolerance –and it suites them to peddle that line.

So please do not feel too offended if and when someone asks “Where are you from?”
I am sure that in the vast majority of cases it is not meant to isolate you.

You are most welcome.

And don’t be in a hurry to trade your Hong Kong accent for a Kath & Kim twang.

Zhufu

Hi Wesa,

I must correct a simple inaccurracy.

While it is correct to say the final element of The White Australia Policy was abolished in 1972, it is incorrect to say the White Australia Policy was abolished in 1973. All that occurred in 1973 was the Whitlam Government ammended the Immigration Act to allow immigrants to attain citizenship after three years residence.

Harold Holt, in 1949 as Immigration Minister, in the newly elected, Menzies Government, started the dismantling of the White Australia Act with minor ammendments. While other relaxations occurred during Menzies term as PM it Holt's first action as PM in 1966 to amend the Immigration Act to remove restrictions to block immigration of non-Europeans, that had the greatest impact. Later followed such amendments as the removal of the 'English Language Test' which had required new arrivals to translate a piece of writing into English. The piece selected could be from any other European language and not necessarily from the native language of the arrival.

By 1966 both major political parties had removed the White Australia Policy from their policy platforms.

This history is often overlooked by political commentators but it was to Holt's and the Liberals great credit they started the process. It was not until the occurred did the Labor Party catch up.

This is the most accurate link to a chronology of events I have found. Other searches on the topic are also quite imformative.

http://www.wanowandthen.com/White-Australia-Policy.html

The White Australia Policy was a dismantling over time rather than as a single act of abolishing. I don't know whether it was the changing population attitudes that led to the changes or whether Government Policy led to a change of heart in the population. It was probably a combination of both.

Cheers

oops, correction.

The White Australia Policy was never an Act of Parliament. THe Immigration Act was the vehicle for this policy.

in the earlier post I incorrectly stated, 'started the dismantling of the White Australia Act'. It should have read ' started the dismantling of the White Australia Policy, with minor ammendments to the Immigration Act'.

sorry

...This article is "too stupid for words"...

Isn't the victim mentality wonderful? Last time I was in Malaysia people asked me where I come from. The answer to the question is obviously Adam amd Eve. Accept the last Adam and you will no longer view yourself as a victim.

Runner, you must be a very unique person.

The article seems to me a bit more subtle than some posters imply. It distinguishes different ways that the question “where do you come from?” can be asked, ranging from hostile and belligerent to curious and welcoming. It does not insist that the question is necessarily racist or exclusionary, as some people seem to imply.

It also turns the issue back to native white Aussies – where do we “come from” (colloquially, what are our assumptions and motives) when we ask the question?

VK3AUU

'Runner, you must be a very unique person.'

Thanks for your compliment.

I came here 41 years ago & I have no qualms about being asked where I'm from. It's always a good harmless conversation starter.
I must admit though it took some getting used to the lack of cultural aspects. But this lack has also opened my eyes to some pretty pointless & outright stupid cultural aspects which I'm glad aren't here. Some of them though are gradually contaminating the scene here. I hope Australians can see that in time & put a stop to it.

Wesa Chau.It is not the colour of your skin or the angle of your eyes which make you Australian.Language is the real bond of all nations and societies.

There are 800,000 Chinese living in Aust and most have intergrated and some inter-married with many cultures.Many Chinese choose not to intergrate and keep a distance from the predominate European one.That is their choice and no one cares.

I think you are looking for conflict that mostly does not exist.

Asians will soon be a demographic majority in Sydney, so it's ridiculous to keep playing the victim card.