Part ONE
I believe that some attacks against Indian Students was rasial motivated.
The question is what we can to do about it. How to solve the problem.
There are two schools about the solution of the problem.

1S. Racists are in every country of the world, not only in Australia. If we be hard against them, then probably we will sent more racists to them, we will strength them. The best doctor for this problem, they said, is the time. Do you remember what happened 50-60 years before against Greeks or Italians? Soon or later the same thing will happen with muslims, asians or Africans. MAKE ONLY THE ABSOLUTLY NECCESARY ADJUSTMENTS FROM THE BACKGROUND.

2S.The other school want to see the government more active, more visible in the fight against racists. They say
a) When we do not do anything to protect innocent people, indirect we destroy innocent's lives, innocent's families, we destroy children's lives. From studies we know that the cost from race discrimination transfered to second or third generacion of migrants.
b). It is not only the cost for migrant's children in the next generations, which of cause the whole sociaty will pay , the whole country, it is that the stories about the attacks, about the negative role of the government to protect them pass by mouth from one generation to an other, from one race to an other race from one religious minority to an other minority. They say leaving migrants unprotected the only thing we do is to ALLOW THE PROBLEM TO BIULD UP, WE TRANSFER THE PROBLEM IN THE NEXT GENERATIONS, BIGGER AND MORE DANGEROUS.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide
Condinue

Part TWO

3. The example with Greeks and Italians does not apply in our days. The conditions today are very. They was hangy, non educated, they had no support, they had no choice and no way for reaction. Then we was powerful. Today the conditions are very differentm we are not any more powerful, they have millions of votes, and soon or later they will be the majority in this country.
They are educated, they know their rights, they know how to claim them, they know the local and mainly the international channels, the internet give them big power, they know how to use it and they use it to promote their rights, the international environment is changed.
Do you see the bastard, Greek migrant? He is with new migrants, with muslims, with asians, with africans, with Indian Students he is against race discrimination and he is ready to fight for migrants rights. There are hundrends of hundrends like him, Greeks and Italians and Germans etc. They have more weight in their communities than known personalities from their communities.
4. Transfering the problem to the next generations we put at risk the interests from our grandchildren, may be we bring them in the position of migrant's children today.
LET'S RESPECT AND PROTECT MIGRANT'S RIGHTS LET'S START BIULDING A BETTER FUTURE FOR ALL AUSTRALIANS, THIS COUNTRY IS YOURS AND OURS
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

At present, Australia is one of the most ethnically
diverse societies in the world. Well over twenty per cent
of all Australians were born in another country;
more than half of these have come to Australia from
non-English-speaking countries in Europe, the Middle East,
South America and Asia. More than 7 million (42 per cent)
were born outside Australia or had a parent born outside
Australia. Seventeen per cent spoke a language other than
English at home (1991 Census).

However, the concept of 'multiculturalism' continues to
have different meanings for different people.

As I've stated previously - hidden anti-migrant prejudices
may not be voiced in public until they are highlighted by
some well-publicized event, for example,
Pauline Hanson's 1996 maiden speech in
Australian Parliament. Some Australians still believe
that a 'unique Australian society and identity emerged
with Federation and... this identity should be the basis
of immigrant assimilation. Most people have moved on
to recognise the importance of 'integration,' rather than
'assimilation.'

When discussing migrants, however, especially non-British
migrants people are sometimes tempted to lump all newcomers
together and treat them as one homogenous species.

Nothing is further from the truth. Australian immigrants
vary a great deal in their ethnic backgrounds, religions,
and certainly educational levels. Their current social
and educational needs are not homogeneous, either.

People have settled in Australia for various reasons:
economic, change of lifestyle, adventure, refugees,
family reunions.

The early months, (sometimes years),
after arrival in a new country call for
the greatest adjustment, not only for the migrant, but
also for the local people who interact with the migrant.
Nino Culotta's humorous exposure clearly showed us this.

Eventually most immigrants to this country will become
Australian citizens, and will prove to be loyal members
of Australian society. This has been what's happened in
the past and will, hopefully, continue to be
the case in the future.

As for the case of the 'Indian Student,' media frenzy.
I agree with examinator - possibly better policing
might help with this problem.

Foxy,
Except for your last sentenance, would not your post be more suited to another thread.

Students are not immigrants, or not supposedly so, they are here simply as visitors paying for a course at our colleges.

Everyone in our community deserves protection from thugery. It seems that this thread is debating whether or not the claims of racism by students being attacked is correct or not.

Foxy
If I did not know you I will think that you are a beaurocrat of a state agency as Human Rights Comission etc.
I found that you ignore migrant's working conditions, they are bad, the worst job, the lowest paid jobs, the job with no future and no hope etc. May be your experiences about working conditions is with white colars or the golden boys! The migrants have no other choice than to fight for their rights. They have to fight in the Unions, in their organizations, they have to press the political parties for their rights, etc.
I thing they must trust more their eyes than books and articles which have nothing with the reality. The question is not to seem good but to be good. Migrants have long way to go until their rights to be respected. For me a NATIONAL OPEN, DEMOCRATIC, MASS ORGANIZATION WHICH WILL PROMOTE AND PROTECT MIGRANTS RIGHTS SHOULD BE TOP PRIORITY.
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Dear Banjo,

Yes you're right - I was merely responding, by
presenting a contrast, to Antonios's
comments. That you can't lump all migrants
together. There are many differences between
them.

I've pointed out to Antonios in one of my own
threads - to stick to the subject, he should
have known better, as should I.

My apologies.