If we are going to talk about apartheid, it still exists. If you are white, and you enter a black area for example, then you can expect to get your head crushed into a pulp. Race relations in South Africa are as bad as they have ever been.

The white /black dichotomy in South Africa is the only visible racial divide visible to the naive western observer. In reality, black/white ethnic tensions is only representative of the much broader and complex societies across the African continent. The black/black ethnic tensions are invisible to the western observer, and therefore sanctioned accordingly. Slavery still exists in parts of Africa (black/black), and there are activists working to stop it. Are these activists on your list of heroes Trinity?

Redneck !
a bit rough around the edges, but basically your observations of the human condition are spot on. EXACT.
For those who feel sorry for Redneck, and are glad they don't think like him, I don't think many of you actually read his post.

He was making true observations of how real humans behave. I don't think I noticed anything in his post which suggested we should all LIVE like that, but he does point out how things 'are' in the real world.

Most of you who are kicking him in the guts, it would surprise me if you have ever lived in a community where various ethnic populations are of a similar size and resources are limited. He mentioned Malaysia, and its not a bad place to begin. See how the indigenous people there are being trampled on (in Sabah and Sarawak) deprived of their land etc. The reason it is happening is because they are not of the 'preferred race' (Malay) the politically powerful Malays (Muslims) grant themselves huge timber concessions, and sell them to the rich Chinese who then go and drag out all the timber.

If anyone wants to get a feel for how communities feel about others, ask Irfan or Ash how they would feel if a Christian wished to marry their daughter !! In malaysia it is unthinkable for a Muslim girl to convert for the sake of the husband, it ALWAYS goes the other way, why ? wellll just read Rednecks post and you will know.

If Irfans daughter (should he have one) convert, she would be considered "MURTAD" apostate, and that is the lowest of lowest of the low to Muslims

Boaz-David and redneck, what do y'all think of the situation historically of New Zealand vis-a-vis Maori and Pakeha? How do you explain the fact that no Maori today is full-blooded, and that this situation has come about through amicable intercourse between Maori and Pakeha ever since the two peoples came into contact with each other? Why didn't we have a Malaysia or South Africa in New Zealand?

Racism/xenophobia is natural and partly inescapable, and this is significant how? Is it stated in order to suggest that racism is good or legitimate, that we shouldn't denounce it or those who are racist? Or is it meant to justify racist policies, in order to protect us from the "inevitable" conflict?

Racism/xenophobia is born of ignorance, which is distinct from honest disagreement with aspects of a culture while possessing a proper understanding of them. The main targets of the claims of racism surrounding the Corby case weren't those who knew the facts of the case and the Indonesian legal system, or those that waited for the evidence -- but those that quickly formed an unwavering belief that the she was innocent and that the Indonesians were rigging things against her. We should not support ignorance of any form, wherever it may occur.

What was this thread about? Oh yeah, the underlying racism evidenced during the Corby trial.

Somehow BD manages a swipe at Islam - give it a rest BD.

How does separatism reduce racism? Could someone please explain - oops attack of the paulines.

In my last workplace - in a staff of 20 we had a total of 15 people with oh, slightly darker skin than the average causasian. Did we have race riots, no. Did we have disagreements? Yeah I disagreed with my big fat white skinned, blue-eyed boss regularly.

Oh, BTW we had the best lunches once a month when everyone would bring a plate which represented our 16 + nationalities. Did this bond us together - you bet. Did we work well together - absolutely.

I have no doubt my workplace experience is reflected throughout Australia.

I think it is called (shock, horror) multiculturalism - bad word like feminism has become a bad word - according to the same old suspects.

You are really living the multicultural dream 'eh Trinity! How beautiful, a brady bunch of cultures all living happily ever after. Like a fairytale in a children's book!

But what I ask, makes you so dissatisfied with your own culture that you must have people from every corner of the world around you? Are you one of those people who are nasty to other white people but super polite to non-white people? Those people are really annoying, I'm telling you now.

My theory is that multiculturalism is the dregs of a post-colonial era. No longer can we colonise and conquer, so those ambitions manifest themselves through multiculturalism.

I also suspect that when there is a feast, people are kind and generous. But when there is a famine, people are fighting for scraps. There are numerous examples around the world where different peoples who once got along when times were good, are now fighting each other since times have gotten bad. But that won't happen here 'eh