It is people like this that damages the great reputation and values of this country. Most of the people here don't realise that we are living and surviving economically due to the great Asian economic boom. Tall Poppy Syndrome strikes again!

The interaction between cultures and people in Australia is simply amazing! We have developed a seperate identity that makes us unique. Our multicultural society is a fantastic model to achieve peace and tranqulity amongst race, religion, values and belief.

Not one of your best Mr. Ring

Graham,

best article published on OLO for a long time.

Peace,

T

I laughed out loud Graham! Though you do seem to have touched a raw nerve here and there amongst some fellow Aussies.

Incidentally, re a previous post. Sorry, racism is not a 'white only' trait. And it is not only 'white' societies that have multiracial societies and discuss the implications. Some more successful than others, some less so. Suriname is one, Brazil,Singapore, Malaysia, Madagascar come to mind.

yes but it is a problem here.

Fiji is another good example. Not denying that some Australians (of all skin colours and religious inclinations) are racist, but I really believe its a minority that are truly racist. There is a general fear of arabs at the moment (otherwise referred to as muslims, despite the fact that plenty of other "races" are muslim) - but that is fed by fear of terrorism and pumped up by the media. I wouldnt consider it endemic racism. I've pointed out on another discussion that fear and wariness is not racism. Yes, it can LEAD to racism, but is not in itself racism.

Why is it that those who have never really experienced racism on a continual basis always profess to be experts on when or where racism happens?

But that's not all- they want all people of color to pretend to be white just to keep them comfortable with their apparent expertise.

And why is something called "racial" difference so important in these people's sense of their own identity as white people - but then they have difficulty explaining 'what it means to be white'.

Go figure?