Foxy,
Reading these posts it is obvious to me that many have different concepts of the meaning of the term 'racist'. Therefore I think you, and others, should define what you mean by the term.

A racist is a person that believes certain traits are inherited in different races and they believe some races are superior or inferior to others. They are critical of others solely on race. I think that there are not many that believe in this.

Valid critisism of a persons conduct, a culture or religion is not racism.

I even think Redneck, who says he is a racist, maybe a little off track. He has not criticised any purely on race. At least to my knowledge. In the past he has criticised Muslims but has given reasons for doing so. If the reasons are valid, the critisism is warranted.

Anyone that has been critical of multicultural policy or high immigration has been branded as racist. This is done by opponants to scapegoat the critics and put them on the defensive. This is now changing and not before time.

We all should clearly understand the meaning of a derogatory term before using it.

I also think Boaz is correct in that the media blow it up because it sells newspapers.

Valid critisism of a persons conduct, a culture or religion is not racism.
Banjo,
you are absolutely & totally correct.

Horus,

That's an excellent challenge, but I wouldn't define your hypotheticals as racism. Racism is NOT any distinction made because of race. It is believing that one race is superior or inferior to another. Your middle two examples indicate the government thinks one race is advantaged or disadvantaged compared to another. And it therefore trying to make things easier for certain disadvantaged groups, like Indigenous people.

The first example exempts an employer from anti-discrimination laws probably because race is important. I.e. it's a new migrant centre in a Muslim community and they want to find someone middle-eastern. I don't think that's racist, any more than my Welsh mates meeting up to watch Wales play soccer together and not asking me is racist.

And yes, I'm sure you'd find it hard get an exemption to employ a white male.

Example 4 is a different kettle of fish. I don't agree with permits either, but I don't think it's racism. Again, it's attempting to deal with dysfunction and disadvantage among a particular community.

As I understand, you are a small government advocate, so it seems to me your argument is a political one. Is that right? The problem for you is not actually the exemptions to the act but the fact we have an act at all?

"And of course, anyone who dares to challenge any of the above is immediately branded a racist."

I'm sure that happens, but don't get too victim-y about it. Not all lefties are idiots. (Though some are, of course.) You and I have had a long discussion about multiculturalism in another thread where you outlined similar views and no one thought you were a racist. If you're not a racist, what do you care what others call you?

Again, not everything to do with race is racism. I've always thought that racism is believing that another group has a less rich inner life than you do.

I just read an article in the New Yorker about IQ tests that's slightly relevant. It can be found here: http://www.newyorker.com/arts/critics/books/2007/12/17/071217crbo_books_gladwell

Dear Banjo,

I'll try to define what I mean by "Racism." Here goes:

Racism is a global phenomenon which is influenced by a range of historical, social, political and economic factors. It takes different forms in different contexts and as a result has been defined in many different ways.

In Australia, the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission (1998) defines it as:

"Racism is an ideology that gives expression to myths about
other racial and ethnic groups, that devalues and renders
inferior those groups, that reflects and is perpetuated by
deeply rooted historical, social, cultural and power
inequalities in society."

Racism is the result of a complex interplay of individual attitudes, social values and institutional practices. It is expressed in the actions of individuals and institutions and is promoted in the ideology of popular culture. It changes its form in response to social change.

Racism has its roots in the belief that some people are superior because they belong to a particular race, ethnic or national group. The concept of race is a social construct, not a scientific one.

Racist attitudes and beliefs are misconceptions about people based on perceived racial lines and are often founded on the fear of difference including differences in customs, values, religion, physical appearance and ways of living and viewing the world. This includes negative attitudes towards the use of different languages,
"foreign" accents or the use of non-standard variations of a dominant community language.

Racist attitudes may be manifested in a number of ways including common expressions of racial prejudice towards and stereotyped assumptions about other cultures as well as more extreme forms of prejudice such as xenophobia. These beliefs are reinforced by prevailing social attitudes towards people who are seen as different and are often a reflection of the values which underpin social relations and institutional practices.

CONT'D

These attitudes and beliefs find expression in racist behaviours, both in the actions of individuals and in the policies and entrenched practices of institutions. Where these behaviours involve unequal power relationships between individuals or groups from different cultural backgrounds racist actions on the part of members of the domiant culture have the effect of marginalising those from minority groups.

Examples of racist behaviour include ridicule, racist abuse, property damage, racial harassment, racist propaganda, racial vilification, physical assault. It also includes practices that exploit or exclude members of particular groups from aspects of society. Extreme examples of racist behaviour include ethnic cleansing and genocide.

The race discrimination in Australia not only exist but it creates huge problems to many Australian.
About 32-35% of employees are victims of race discrimination, race humiliation and bulling.
The race discrimination destroys the integrity, dreams, hopes, self esteem of the victims and creates huge problems not only on the victims but also on their families and their children and grant children.
We remember how many thousand of Australian Lebanese people asked the government to move them from the South Lebanon last Year (conflict Israel-Hesbolah). These people left Australia of cause the race discrimination and race humiliation. None leave a paradise to return back in a country with so many problems.
We remember the racial riots in Sydney, This kind of extreme racial conflicts do not happened in many countries, 2-3 countries had this kind of problems world wide and cause from race discrimination and luck of opportunities to many people.
The existing law against the race discrimination is very weak and the victims of race discrimination (including me) avoid to use it. For example if you own to a bank $20.00 the bank can claim this money with in 7 years, if you have a problem in your workplace you can claim your rights with in 6 years, if you are a victim of race discrimination and cheap, dirty racists destroy your future, you have the right to claim your rights ONLY within 6 months!!
Only a very small number of the victims inform the Human Rights Commission for their victimization and they do it when it is very late. The whole system needs deep, huge changes if we want to bring justice and stop the victimization of innocent people.
When 75% of Australian people say we are racists they know what they say, but
In really I am not sure if the Federal and State Governments understand the size of the race discrimination in Australia
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide