Oceangirl - your comment that white people don't suffer racism is wrong. Heard of Zimbabwe! Plus may parents experienced racism when they arrived in Australia, even though they were 'whites' (Italian).

But nonetheless, I don't think Australia is any more racist than any other country I've been too.

Roberto

The problem with these kinds of debates is that the word 'racism' is typically injected by those who subtly seek to defend unconscionable behaviours and attitudes by the so-called 'victims' of so-called 'racism.

Behaviours and axemplified by such events as Redfern and Palm Island--not to mention the South Africa of today and much of Africa itself. And let's not forget a certain large group in the USA itself (http://www.oz-aware.com/black1.htm)

So disingenuous is the control over debates such as these that it effectively forces into silence people who would otherwise point out that "disrespect" for some ethnic groups is largely motivated not by a belief of racial superiority, but by rational and honest observation of unfortunately-common and too-regularly occurring attitudes and behaviours within a particular social group.

One virtually never hears the word 'racist' screamed when (for example) a Japanese person is criticised. That's simply because they have EARNED great respect across the world over the many decades since WWII.

Yet state even one small but 'uncomfortable' truth about those of a black skin and the epithets start ricocheting off the walls (is that a pun or is that a pun? - see http://www.oz-aware.com/black1.htm). Strange to note, almost everywhere one goes in the world, one finds manifestation of so-called 'racism' directed specifically at black-skinned people, but rarely at (for example, the Chinese).

I guess it's just 'coincidence'.

Continued in next post....

(I say again, Graham, if you want this forum to be a venue for intelligent and non-frivolous debate, then the word limit of 350 is too short. Anyone want to reduce these two posts to less than 350 words and simultaneously maintain their integrity?)

If racial slurs are a consequence of Freespeech then we should all get used to suffering slurs -

What next, the public burning Enid Blyton Books because Noddy referred to his golliwog buddy? - Germans in the early part of the 20th century were fond of Book BBQs...

Give some a law to use against Freespeech and it will become a stick to beat down other valid expressions of belief, which ultimately becomes the rule and justification for the despotic state.

Now lets get rid of the Bracks / Hull anti-vilification rubbish and preserve what we presently, too easily, take for granted.

There is racism and there is RACISM. Some people slander people as racists just to make themselves look clever. The word 'racist' can be interpreted to mean anything.

For instance it could refer to racial segregation in the 50's or in the year 2005, a white man not having a black girlfriend! I feel at times we are being cynically manipulated by the racist tag.

continuing my previous post....

It is time responsible people accept---and aggressively respond to---the fact that such concepts as 'racism', 'homophobia' and 'politically correctness' were hi-jacked, invented or reframed by leftist apologists and aggressively disingenuous self-interest groups whose activities and attitudes are, generally speaking, contrary to our historical moral values.

Values that gave to humankind the best living conditions it has ever experienced. Period!

I perceive Hagan's entire essay as a classic example of the clever disingenuity of such 'counter-cultural' people. Few would understand the horrific implications of his statement that "it is OK to wear clothes of their popular American Hip Hop artists and imitate their mannerism," but (take note Graham), due to a word limit of 350, I am not at liberty to explain further.

The specific (even if unconscious or unintended) purpose of such people is to silence truth and decency, promote barbarism and thereby destroy our civilisation. Or does any civilised person think that "rap" and "hip-hop" are civilised? (See http://www.oz-aware.com/censor1.htm)

Such individuals and groups will seek to viciously destroy anyone who does not play the game according to the 'rules' they have *arbitrarily* set. They actually are closet facists, wearing an ill-fitting coat of 'caring' and 'compassion'.

Ask, for example Larry Elder and Armstrong Williams, intelligent and honest black Americans who have always said it like it is (for example: http://www.oz-aware.com/black1.htm)and have experienced the viciousness of many 'caring' and 'compassionate' liberal thinkers.

And now a message for those who would falsely and disingenuously accuse me of being 'racist' or 'homophobic' (or whatever) as a consequence of what I have written here and anywhere else. They might consider two realities:

a) I absolutely WILL sue for defamation, not so much for money as to bring into the public awareness the evil disingenuity that invariably in recent years suffocates these discussions. (those who do not know what 'evil' actually means, can read http://www.oz-aware.com/evil.htm)

b) Such people should also read http://www.oz-aware.com/racist1.htm --- and stop lying to themselves because they may be fooling themselves, but they sure don't fool the rational and the decent....

What happened to those who agree with the Authors viewpoint? Where are the explanations of how the authors approach is helping the self image of Indiginous people or reducing racism in the community?

I for one am keen to read a thoughtful explanation that does not focus on calling those who have a different view racist or patronising. There are certainly issues facing race relations in this country. Clearly in the view of many contributers to this thread the call racist is used way to quickly as a means of avoiding real debate about a way forward.

For anyone who agrees with Stephen Hagan, the challenge is to write a response which explains how his approach is really helping rather than making things worse and to do so without resorting to calling any other contributers racist/patronising etc.

Maybe some contributers are racist but please try giving the benefit of the doubt and write as though all of us really care about truth.