Bruce Haigh did an interesting article on
the 3 June 2009 for the ABC called,
"Racism in Australia."

http://www.abc.net.au/unleased/stories/s2588104.htm

Haigh tells us that:

"Since the time of white settlement racism has been
part of the weft and weave of this country...

...The treatment of Aborigines is the most glaring example
and is there for the world to see...

Aborigines are not equal before the law in Australia;
they die in the back of prison vans. Whitefellas speak,
plan and make decisions on their behalf. Rehabilitation
programs in prison are minimal and many prison guards
display racial prejudice including visiting relatives.
White decision makers are currently in the process of
denying outstations to Aborigines..."

We've all seen graffitti and ugly text messages relating
to Aborigines, Muslims, Jews, Indians and refugees.

Haigh tells us that:

"Australians from dominant Anglo/Celtic culture expect
new Australians from other cultural backgrounds to
show some respect...until such time as they know the
ropes, cut their cultural ties and enter the mainstream..."

Haigh makes it quite clear that, "Polite and sometimes
not so polite racism is the underbelly of conservative
politics and conservative attitudes..."

Haigh points out: "John Howard brough his class and
race warfare to government. He was a champion of the
marginalised white middle class... Howard's treatment
of refugees arriving by boat was state sponsored and
sanctioned racism. It sent a powerful message, not to
refugees but other Australians to develop and
encourage their own racism..."

Mohammed Haneef was a victim. The Australian Federal
Police did not apologise ...

Racism comes from fear.
Not a physical fear, but some kind of fear that is
unrealistic, and based on ignorance. We've got to start
educating the children. We need to change their attitudes.
We need to acknowledge what's really going on in schools
and start getting accurate information into the schools.

The Government as Haigh says, needs to implement in schools
and universities - programs promoting human rights and
combating racism. We can do little about the racist nasties,
other than the threat of civil action - but we can make
a difference by educating our children.

cont'd

Oooooops - I did a typo with the Haigh website
it should have read:

http://www.abc.net.au/unleashed/stories/s2588104.htm

Dear Piper,

WASP - means 'White Anglo-Saxon Protestant.'

PP, you didn’t answer my questions.
Your answer to runner was nuts, the drunken wife-beater IS doing those things, himself. No-one else handed him the bottle, no-one has or will kidnap his wife. Blaming the early settlers for his current problems is a tenuous link, and one he can break at any time.
Get them off the alcohol? What, impose our laws or ways on him? Isn’t that what all the disputation is about? You want to FORCE them to behave how you think they should?
Never bothered anyone else? Wrong. Study the history, they may have been ineffectual, unco-ordinated, yet they killed many, and disrupted much, as was their right to do, resisting the invasion of their land. They lost, it happens, get over it.
As for previous tenancy earning them anything, no, sorry, we all are the descendants of survivors, the difference being ours contributed to the growth in the quality of life, health, and happiness, (and the destruction) of the entire planet. Theirs merely managed a hand-to-mouth hunter-gatherer culture, and little else. They are a people swallowed up by the flood of history, as has happened countless times before, and will doubtless happen again, quite probably even to our descendants. That’s life.
Foxxy, that’s only one man’s opinion, and there are many more. Doesn’t mean he’s right, or wrong, it’s only one view, and ignores much, and assumes much, just as most people do

Austin Powerless
You do not understand me! You are not POWERLESS but you worry from muslims or asians or other migrants, you see them as competitors, as opponents, as a threat. You are not the only person who worry from migrants, especialy from muslims, from people from Meddle East or Asians.
BUT Muslims, people from Meddle East or Asians worry from your worries, they heard and have seen many bad guys, they are victims from discrimination, race or religious.
Both sides have exaggerated the threat and the risks from the other side.
The question is how we can bring closer the nationalists (you) with new migrants, especialy with muslims? You worry from the 3% of our population! For me you do not seem for a scary man!
I am between BOTH SIDES! I am European as you, same skin colour, with same western values as democracy,etc,BUT I do not believe any more to any God. Some idiots use their power to victimize me in my workplace. You know that I am one from you But with some different ideas!
The Muslims know that I am a migrant I am a victim from discrimination, I am an atheist and I do not care or worry for any god or religious and MAINLY that I have OPEN my hands to BOTH sides.
WHERE DO YOU SEE THE PROBLEM WITH ME?
I try to bring both sides closer, I try to convince both sides that there is no real, logical threat from the other side, that we, the mass majority of australians will protect both sides, that we understand the worries from both sides, we respect their values and we protect their essencial rights.
Austin Powerless WHAT REALY I SAY TO YOU AND TO EVERY ONE ELSE IS VERY SIMPLE. WOKE UP! IT IS GOOD FOR ALL SIDES, IT IS GOOD FOR AUSTRALIA, IT IS GOOD FOR THE NEXT GENERATIONS OF AUSTRALIANS IF WE LEARN TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER, IF WE LEARN TO RESPECT EACH OTHER, IF WE LEARN TO COOPERATE.
This country is yours and ours!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

Pied piper,
You really are ignorant! If you don't know who Noel Pearson is or what a WASP is, you have been here less than a month. I am not religous so WASP to me means White Anglo Saxon Person. I suggest you find out a bit about us, our society, culture and history before you try to tell us about how racist we are.

You think Lebs have a bad reputation because of their religion? Wrong. The Lebs reputation is due entirely to their anti-social behaviour, the fact that they gang bash young blokes, show contempt for our laws and judicary and treat women abismally with sexual slures and so on. We do not, in Aus, call a female a slut or a whore just because she wears a short skirt or low cut top. If you think I am racist then I tell you I have no problem with non-muslim Lebanese or and little with muslims of other nationalities.

Do you think aboriginals should not be allowed alcahol, but others can? Thats a racist attitude and your ignorance is further shown by your kidnapping remark. I do not honour or respect any person because of their colour or dress, my respect comes from their acts and deeds.

It might pay you to look and learn before you show how foolish you are.

Antonios. Information that may interest you. For the year ending 30-6-08 we granted 318000 student visas and 22858 permanant resident visas were granted to those with student visas. Also there were 110570 temporary work 457 visas granted and 24950 permanent resident visas were granted to 457 visa holders. I am trying to find out what courses the students granted PR took. Australian workers have to be affected by these figures in many ways.

"1 in 10 ‘racial supremacists’ in Australia"

No one asked me.

...anyone else here get asked?.