"One word- Xenophobia.
And it's written in our genes, there's no escape.
Education and experience can overcome it, with an effort, but it still lurks, even in the best of us."

Shallow? Illogical?
Care to explain that?
Since it IS in our genes, and I DID say it was possible to deal with it, hence your comment about me claiming it as SOLELY genetic is way off-course, how so you're denigration of my observation?

Maximillion

Are you, therefore, claiming that there is no such thing as free-will? That we are "programmed" to behave a certain way? That we cannot consciously change?

I beg to differ. As someone who has since their teens, suffered from mental illness I have managed to change much of my behaviour in order to function. Psychologists call it cognitive behaviour therapy. Sure there are a minority who will cling tenaciously to a set of beliefs, but the majority of humans actually manage to get over their preconceptions of others by getting to know different people. It is very simple, by becoming familiar with people, finding out that we have things in common is very characteristic human behaviour as well. Otherwise we would've wiped each other out eons ago.

Interestingly, those who argue "it is in our genes" are those who do not wish to change their behaviour - there is a perceived advantage to them to believe they have some kind of superiority over others to prop up their own insecurities. We see examples of this behaviour on religious, immigration and human equity threads.

Are Aussie more narrow-minded, prejudiced and intolerant than other nations? No, there are bigots world-wide, but there are more tolerant people than bigots, therefore your claim of xenophobia being hard wired into everyone is incorrect.

Jewely - we do have a culture. It's one of general tolerance and a fair go for all. I spent 2 years in NZ and saw plenty of racial tension - predominantly between those identifying as Maori and the Pacific Islanders - Tongan, Samoan, Fijian. For a time I lived close to the Auckland suburb of Otara (Once Were Warriors territory) often visiting the Markets there for cheap fruit and vege. Witnessed big blue between group of Maori and Samoan which involved machetes, bloodshed and panic amongst those getting out of the way. Things have changed. Now my NZ friends inform me everyone hates the "Arabs" - the predominately Islamic middle eastern immigrants.

Personally I don't care where you come from, your breed or creed. What does matter is your willingness to make Australia home, to be loyal and uphold her laws, strive to make a good life for yourself and family and contribute to Australian society and the economy through that lifestyle.

Many Australians view immigrants who do not speak English with some suspicion and distain. Likewise those who enclose themselves in "cultural ghettos". Fair enough! Some of us regard certain "cultural practices" likewise. Apart from really unsavoury ones like female circumcision which are illegal, there are some which make the average Aussie uncomfortable. For me an example is the woman in a sack with slits for vision. As far as I'm concerned, in Australian culture only criminals cover their healthy faces as to be unidentifiable.

Often there are groups of immigrants who express distain for our society/culture/country. As far as I'm concerned - #$%# off back to where you came from. These are the people who won't let their children (or in many cases, their womenfolk) mix with other "Aussies"

Australians have generally welcomed genuine newcomers - those that want to make a new start, work hard and take advantage of all that this peaceful, prosperous Nation can offer. When immigrants make the effort to fit in, they generally do and they will do well for themselves.

Fractelle, I'm sorry, what part of.... "Education and experience can overcome it, with an effort," did you NOT understand?
Nurture and nature both contribute, that's beyond question, it's a matter of the degree that gives rise to dispute. I don't hold either as paramount, far too many variables inherent, IMHO.

Maxi

I took your comments in their entirety:

>>"One word- Xenophobia.
And it's written in our genes, there's no escape.
Education and experience can overcome it, with an effort, but it still lurks, even in the best of us."<<

I do not believe it is as hardwired you as you claim. I concur, it is natural to be cautious when encountering the unknown, but this is common sense as opposed to full blown "xenophobia". The term "phobia" should have indicated to you that it is an overreaction rather than a normal reaction. And, yes, phobias can be overcome and it does take hard work.

For reasons stated above, I disagree that xenophobia occurs naturally within all human beings. I normally don't indulge in semantics, but claiming a phobia is in our genes is completely erroneous. I am not having a personal dig at you at all - I find your posts to be very interesting. But I am concerned at the attitude that human behaviour is somehow 'set in concrete' and therefore, we should just give up on working towards a more equitable world. This attitude is often used to excuse behaviour rather than to take responsibility for said behaviour.

Cheers.

Foxy “The question is still asked by some,
"Do you believe Australia should become
a multi-racial society?"”

Well let us consider what is meant by a “multi-racial” society?

1 One where people are recognized as being of a different race, thus making us a “multi-racial society”?

or

2 One where ones racial origins do not matter and we are not a “multi-racial society”?

Imho otion 1 has been tried and practiced most recently in Germany in 1930’s, in South Africa in the 1950’2-70’s and in the Balkans in the 1990’s.

The outcome of each of these attempts at separate racial recognition / multi-racial differentiation has been
Excessive deprivation on the part of many
Death on the part of many
The worst excesses of inter-human abuse ever seen.

Anyone who thinks separate racial development is an ethical option is a fool and you can substitute “Cultural” for “Racial” in that statement too.

Option 2, Cultural and Racial Assimilation is the only successful model to have ever worked.

As for xenophobia… at what point does “a personal pride in family and historic lineage” become a phobia?

Xenophobia is a word bandied around by those who like to polarize discussion, a convenient ad hominine which pretends to characterize a natural human quality as extreme.

Any “character weakness” is more often found more often in those who like to label other people as “xenophobic”, more than in those who are labeled “xenophobic”.