"That Australia WAS racist (in the most benign sense) is undeniable. But the issue is whether it IS racist still."

Australia is a place, a lump of dirt in the middle of the ocean.
- This lump of dirt does not have feelings or opinions but it does have certain ideals can be attached to it.

The question is not whether the lump of dirt itself is racist.
The question is whether or not some of the people in it are.
And the answer is yes of course there are.

And the source of the the conflict is in-between the opinions of people themselves as opposed to the ideals attached to said lump of dirt.

Some racism is outright 'hate for other races' that's wrong.
But some is borne from a sense of tribalism and nationalism, and friendly competition between nations, and differences in culture - as much as prejudices.
- This type of 'racism' isn't necessarily hostile, or without a form of legitimate basis.

Democracy and Nationalism say the people living here should get to have a say on who comes here.
Globalists use the conflict that comes from 'racism' to deny citizens the right to decide who comes into their country.

And if we have no right to decide who we wish to share it with, then it's not our country.
It's now owned by ideals and elite, not us.

Are some Australians racist, and if so is it because they hate foreigners ?
Or because they loved their country and they see it going down the toilet?
Are the indigenous racist, and especially moreso on every Australia day?
Whose to say.

"Australia is a place, a lump of dirt in the middle of the ocean."

Well apart from the inane semantics, Australia is a concept, a political construct.

As I said earlier, the phrase 'racist country' ought to be defined. And no one has. Personally I see it meaning a plurality of the constituents are racist and the policies of the nation are racist. Australia passes the test on both counts - we are not a racist country.

If OTOH you think it just means some of the people are racist, then every country on the planet is racist and the term 'racist country' has no meaning.

I recall back in the 1980 the returning Ambassador to Japan commented that he didn't know if Australia was a racist country but, having spent 5 years in Japan he knew we weren't the most racist country ie Japan is fall more racist than Australia. Likewise I spent a lot of time in Russia and can say with confidence that in terms of racism Russia's racism far exceeds Australia's.

Again the left and particular the smashed-avocado left that inhabits the ABC want Australia to be considered racist because it suits their purposes.

Foxy's poll is misleading. Coming from the Australia Institute, how could it be anything but misleading.

As usual 'Yes Minister' explained these things to the more gullible...
http://youtu.be/ahgjEjJkZks

We see this in the Australia institute poll. One of the first questions they asked was about the ABC's roll in emergency announcements - where the fires are, where the floods are etc. Of course, almost everyone is in favour of the ABC doing these things since they are one of the few organisations with the reach to warn all Australian's. So people like the ABC when it does this community service and would support the ABC getting more funding for that project.

But the pollsters leave out that nuance and simply tell you that people favour more funding. They don't tell you that they never asked about the bias in ABC opinion reporting, and leave the gullible (no name mind you but their initials are Foxy) to draw the wrong conclusions.

Happens all the time. When looking at polls you always ALWAYS need to read the actual questions asked....unless you want to be mislead in which case you do exactly what Foxy did.

One great thing about this forum, is when between all of us we're able to cut through all the crap.

Like just between the two of us mhaze our last comments:
- The stuff we just brought up, they wouldn't let us have that discussion on Q and A.

Our points wouldn't be tolerated to even be given a chance to be heard.
They don't want people to consider such things.

"As I said earlier, the phrase 'racist country' ought to be defined."
- Great suggestion, since we all argue about the topic constantly.
Except for one problem: Look up.
'They don't want people to consider such things'.
- If they did, they'd have been carrying on about it incessantly years ago.

The Australia Institute surveyed nationally representative
samples of Australians about the ABC in 2019 and 2020,
including asking about trust in the ABC, and support for
increasing or not the ABC's funding. It asked very specific
questions and gave the key results.

It should be noted that the Australia Institute conducts
independent research. It takes a bi-partisan approach to
research and it does not barrack for political parties.

______________________________________________________________________

Australia as a sovereign country has the right to determine
who does and doesn't enter and remain in this country. Our
Courts have affirmed this. It is clear that Australia has
the right to establish, administer, and enforce its
immigration policy and maintain national security.

Sovereignty however is not absolute. It doesn't mean that
nations can do whatever they want, whenever they want, to
whoever they want.

This would lead to a breakdown in international cooperation.

Australia as a sovereign nation has recognized the need
to respect certain obligations and rights. It wants to
maintain its position among the community of nations.

Australia has chosen to participate in the international
system of law and has signed and entered into
agreements-treaties, with other sovereign states.
It has agree to be bound by the International scheme of
rights and responsibilities that govern the way in which
sovereign states act.

Armchair Critic,

The ABC has had heaps of programs on racism in
Australia. I've seen quite a few including
questions being asked on Q and A.

It's interesting though - the ABC launched a review into
how it handles racism after Stan Grant exited after he said
he was subject to relentless racial abuse and was
unsupported by senior figures at the TV channel.

There's more at:

http://bandt.com.au/abc-launches-review-into-how-it-handles-racism-after-stan-grant-exits/