Mercurius

Have a happy sojourn. And I hope you find the places you go as generous, tolerant, and open-minded as most of the places I go in Australia.

Why aren't you going to Asia, Arabia, Eastern Europe, the Balkins, Africa,(North Middle or South) Central America, South America? You would truely experience 'the gospel of mateship, honour and the fair go,' as well as '... warmth, openness, generousity of spirit.' in those places.

But no you're off to NYC... eh! Obviously the greatest haven from Anglo Saxon depravity you could find. Hope you make heaps and spend it wisely.
I've just two pieces of advice: it is prudent carry a little cash ... and don't continually criticise the natives when their ways appear to you as intolerant ... both will save you from a bashing. For NYC is not like here in this place here.

Sad to see that this and the OLO 'Thoughts on Australia' forum have both descended into self-righteous, reactionary bunfights about racism. A sad indictment on Australian identity.

Of all the comments on both forums, I nominate the contribution by Cannonfodder, Saturday, 26 January 2008 8:17:47 PM, as by far the most worthwhile and thought-provoking.

Well done, Cannonfodder!

White Warlock,
Thank you for outling your youthfull experiances in s/w Sydney. It is not the first time such happenings have been posted on OLO but we need reminding from time to time. I have a friend who lives at Sefton and he tells of a widowed lady, not far away, that is constantly being harrassed and racially abused by Lebanese Muslims, who are trying to get her to leave her home so they can buy it cheap. This lady is an anglo migrant in her marital home and the police say there is nothing they can do. I think it was at Westfield Plaza that, only a year or so ago, a business lady had to close her shop because of racial abuse of her/staff and customers.

I understand that there were 60 gang rapes of 'Aussie' girls leading up to the Olympics. Police issued public warnings but the media conspired to suppress them because they did not want adverse publicity for Sydney. Not all these rapes were done by Skaf and Co.

The beachgoers at Cronulla put up with racist and sexual harrassment for about 10 years before deciding to retake the beach.

The multiculturists ignore all this and others tend to forget.

I my experience the Muslim problem was only to do with Lebanese Muslims. Can you tell me if other nationalities of Muslims were involved in the incidents you experienced.

Friday 25th - took a day off to cycle the tour downunder ride with 3000 odd new found mates of all nationalities, men and women – no drunks, no racists. All celebrating an event far more popular on the other side of the world than it is here in ‘straya.
Saturday 26th – breakfast with mates (men and women, asian, European and brit heritage) – still no drunks and no racists. Barby lunch with mates (men and women), many of us drinking - no one ‘rat ased’, no racists, once again many heritages. To the beach after lunch. Some more drinking, no drunks, lots of families and mates (men and women) of many different heritages having fun, no racism.
Sunday 27th – caught a friend’s band at the pub in the afternoon with mates (men and women), some drinking, no one rat-ased. Later that night a friend’s party, some drinking some drunks, no racism, people of many heritages.
We weren’t particularly celebrating Australia, but we were certainly enjoying it. You must have been in the other Adelaide Clementine – or perhaps you spend too much time isolated with your box of wine and stale opinions and not enough engaging with your society. From were I sit the ocker/typical aussie stereotype is an obsession of 1) The former Howard government 2) unimaginative advertising types and 3) you media types struggling for a sensation to sell fish and chip wrappers. No one out here buys into it. We know it is rubbish because bulsht meters are something that we do have plenty of.

I think that part of the problem is that if a person of ethnic background doesn't like an Aussie it isn't seen as racism but if an Aussie doesn't like an ethnic, regardless of the reasons why, they scream racism. Aussies are basically forced to like those of a different culture no matter what they do and to make the rights of those others a priority. That isn’t freedom of choice. We should be free to exercise favoritism.

We should be free to like and dislike as we please. The only requirement should be that we treat each other with a certain degree of respect. And this is where the problems lie. There is no standard of respect required by law. So pretty much you can treat another like a piece of dirt so long as it isn't about their race. But how does that work for Aussies who are being treated badly by ethnics when they cannot cry Racism?

The anti discrimination laws discriminate because they do not protect all people from being harassed and bullied. Bullying fuelled by malice and spite is actually not against the law, the anti-discrimination laws only protect people who are being discriminated because of their race. People who are harassed and bullied but who cannot prove that it is because of their race are not protected. Aussies do not appear to be as valued as others. How is that fair seeing that this is Australia?

Education – Keeping them Honest
http://jolandachallita.typepad.com/education/
Our Children deserve better.

Jolanda, the foundation premise of your statement is that Australians can only be 'white' not ethnic. Ethnic is - according to your logic -anything other than white.

And yet the history of 'settlement' in this country was as diverse 'ethnically' as it is now.

So why is it that you continue to believe that only white people can be Australian?

Of course you will qualify this by diversifying 'whiteness' into groups just to give rationality to your arguement but at the very core of your reasoning is the notion that ethinic people are not Australian and therefore must not be what you consider to be white and Australian.

As an Indigenous person I see everyone as having an ethnicity but you choose to decide who is ethnic or 'not Australian"