I have never denied that racism exists in Australia. I do believe that it also exists in every other country. Racism is born out of fear of people who have different religious values or different skin colour.

When there is competition for jobs or welfare handouts, or we fear our country will be over run by people different to us, there is a tendency for people to use racist words to describe the perceived opponent. I have been described as having a trusting nature because I am prepared to travel alone overseas and because I open my home here to Korean backpackers every harvest season. Okay, I lose a few spoons and once a saucepan, but nothing more than would be pilfered by Australian backpackers.

It was because I saw the Koreans being denigrated unreasonably that I chose to befriend them. Since then the ones I have welcomed into my home have proved excellent and reliable workers.

Not all farm employers are racist. They value any worker for their efficient labour, but initially they may be reluctant to hire a group whose culture they do not understand. During the harvest season I only take Koreans because I have found there will be squabbles, sometimes started by the Koreans if I take Irish, German or French backpackers at the same time.

I observed that these squabbles were territorial, rather than directly racial. This brings me back to my initial point that racial actions are born of fear. By my example I believe I am showing others that they have nothing to fear from one particular racial group. What example are you setting to reduce Australian racism.

'What example are you setting to reduce Australian racism.'

When I perform imitations of darker skinned people than myself, I use quality make-up instead of boot polish, and use quality wigs.

I treat dark skinned racists exactly the same way I treat light skinned racists. As far as my attitude towards others is concerned I tend to judge them by their attitude towards me.
The way I see myself is that I must either be a glutton for punishment or I am not racist because I have lived the past 55% of my live amongst Australian indigous people & if I am not prevented by some dim witted bureaucrats I'll continue to do so.

Dear Country Girl,

Firstly, let me say, "Welcome Back,"
it's been some time since I've seen
you posting on this Forum.

Thanks also for this thread.

How proactive am I to reduce Australian racism?
That's not an easy question to answer. I don't
wake up each morning with the thought that "Today
I'm going to treat everyone equally." Because I
couldn't keep that promise for very long. I know
the first slow driver on the free-way that's
going to drive me nuts will bring out my reaction
of , "Bet they're Chinese!"

We all have our scapegoats and stereotypes.
I'm ashamed to say that I was confronted with mine
at uni - when I was compiling an anthology of
Anti-Nuclear Australian Poetry and I came across
the wonderful poetry of Kevin Gilbert, especially
his, "The Pen is Mightier than the Sword." This
poem came to me as a total surprise. I had expected
from Kevin Gilbert poetry that would reflect the
Aboriginal people, something compassionate, dignified, simple,
and peaceful. The poem was written by a poet, who
"happened," to be an Aboriginal. A poet who wrote in
the most elaborate English turn of phrase - who was
passionate in his concern for humanity. I was
confronted by my own stereotyping.

Anyway, that was a lesson that I learned well and truly.
And from that day on - I made the conscious decision to
try to judge people as I find them to be - not by some
sort of "image," that's presented of them in the media.

I'm not perfect, I don't always succeed - but I'm working
on it!

Damn you Foxy!

I've just spent an hour trying to find Kevin Gilbert's 'The Pen is Mightier than the Sword' on Google without success. Can you provide a link, pleeeeeease. I would very much like to read it right at present, for reasons you may very well appreciate.

Thank you for standing out against the lynch mob on the 'Polanski conundrum' thread. Often the key to an understanding of any matter lies in the asking of the right questions. The question you posed there was one such. I think I may now have the answer to it. Its now very much 'watch this space' on the 'Polanski conundrum' thread.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3093#73631

You have helped enormously with respect to the case of another two persons facing extradition without hearing to the US, people who were never fugitives in the first place, although the US process brands them as such from the outset, thereby stripping them of any rights they might otherwise be expected to have had to due process of law. One of the upshots of that is what is coming out on the 'Tall Red Poppy Syndrome?' thread.

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3128#73766

To answer Country Girl's question, I try to be as inclusive as I possibly can, whenever I can. I was, for example, in my opinion, pro-active here:

http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=3053#71605

To try to reduce Australian racism, I tried to let every race get a mention, let every race have a place in the sun. Treat everybody equally, I always say. Sticks and stones may break my bones, but names will never hurt me.

When will you people stop all this navel gazing?

Anyone who reckons that there aren't national, & racial traits is either a dill, or a fool.

When I go to New Caledonia, I find the locals much nicer than the French. Does that make me a racist?

When I go to Asia, I find the Taiwan chinese, much nicer the mainland lot. How am I doing there? That is national to me, but racial to them.

I find the Japanese even nicer, much harder to negitiate business with, but much more trustworthy, after the deal is done. Is that a racist remark?

I always found the people of the outer, smaller islands, & atolls of New Guinea, & the Solomon islands to be more welcoming people than those of the larger islands. These people have enough polynesian ancestry to be a different race. [EG, their hair is straight] Was this a racial trait, or did they just get less visitors, so were more interested?

Was it racist for me to notice?

I wonder what the racial background of Ex senator Bill O'chee is. Damned if I know, but I sure wish he was still in our parliament. I wonder if that makes me racist.

Come on folks, get a life.

Racism is much more complex than many like to admit. Its not simply a case of having xenophobic thoughts. So many people here on OLO like to provide simplistic and virtuous examples of their interactions with this or that race (sometimes these examples are obviously ficticious) - that apparenty proves they are not racist.

Being racially oppressed means the absence of life choices - being racist is choosing to be deliberatly blind to why these these absences exist, historically or in the momment

Sadly, the only way to reduce Australian racism is to reduce the number of non-whites coming to Australia. But, that won't happen because businesses need lots of new citizens to buy their crap.

Dear Forrest,

Thank you for your kind words. I also tried to find a website
for you regarding Kevin Gilbert's poem. However I
was unsuccessful, so I dug up my anthology - and here
it is:

" The Pen is Mightier Than The Sword"
by Kevin Gilbert.

" The pen is mightier than the sword
but only when
it sows the seeds of thought
in minds of men
to kindle love and grow
through the burnt page
destroyed by huns and vandals in their rage

The sword in russet hues lies mouldering
its sharp and shiny edge now dulled by peace
and blood-lust sated between customers
like some old time worn harried whore
well past her prime
awaiting some brute hand to wield her hate

The bugler sounds, the drummer sounds his beat
bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet
gay ribands, uniforms and epaulets
entrap the eye, the soul till madness sway
them to the dance of death the piper plays

The pens in great tragedienne lines extol
the meritorious lie, the grand excuse
justification for this carnivore
called man who can't evolve in his estate
clothed and fed, his universities
and halls of learning yet avail him nought
the jungle beasts enact the same stage plays
one kind, one king, one death the same
differing nought for death wears the same cloak
regardless of technology or sport."

Gilbert shows not only his poetic intensity, but also
that he has an ear for different rhythms and registers
of language. Especially effective is his use of old-
poeticisms such as - 'gay ribands,' 'nought,'
'epaulets,' 'carnage,' and so on. It gives the poem
greater vividness and adds to the atmosphere of the
'old world' theme of plumes, pens, and swords as given
in the title.

As I stated earlier - it was a revelation to me to discover
this poet. I should add that he's also written
love poems and children's poetry. However,
I read somewhere that publishers don't want his
love or children's poetry because it seems to be commercially
more profitable to publish a militant Aboriginal writer.

Country girl,
"Not all farm employers are racist"..... Just most of them, hey?

"During the harvest season I only take Koreans because I have found there will be squabbles, sometimes started by the Koreans if I take Irish, German or French backpackers at the same time"; if this isn't discrimination, stereotyping and racism, I don't know what is!

"I observed that these squabbles were territorial, rather than directly racial"; what's the difference?

"By my example I believe I am showing others that they have nothing to fear from one particular racial group"; it's not the racial group we need to fear, it's the common human element!

Overall, a charmingly innocent vignette from the bush. Stick to milking the cows, country girl.

my search reveals some discussion on the meaning behind some of the words
http://books.google.com.au/books?id=5HcDutppfe0C&pg=PA344&lpg=PA344&dq=gilbert+burnt+page+vandals+in+their+rage&source=bl&ots=iBg451Fj_o&sig=Bh5njv8KmqKAtMw7R7iqaWuUKbA&hl=en&ei=g6_VStizDYvo6gOelajAAg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1&ved=0CA0Q6AEwAA#v=onepage&q=gilbert%20burnt%20page%20vandals%20in%20their%20rage&f=false

as to what i have done...supported ellie gilbert and the other embassy widows..at the tent embassy canberra..even got speared with kevins memorial spear...racism is fear...

just that...scratch the surface ...racists are scared shirtless...or as swartzneigger would say..sissy frightend/-girlly girls...

and all of us..have/got a feminin side

we fear that we dont know

and govt feeds of divide and conquer
media loves focusing on negatives and platitudes
when its not doing fluff pieces and sport star reportage

none of us is perfect
racism is impossable...only..if were empowered in fearlessness

"The bugler sounds, the drummer sounds his beat
bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet
gay ribands, uniforms and epaulets
entrap the eye, the soul[should there have been a semi-colon here?] till madness sway
them to the dance of death the piper plays"

Here is some music; images,

the like of which his words evoke.

Look at the FACES of these blokes!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Zak_P6O2Rbc&feature=related

More, to show where led the pen

When held in Munich, caught by von Epp's men.

Another YouTube old film clip, around about three minutes in

"bright swords refurbished tilt to marching feet"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tkajXeVLpk4&feature=related

How did Gilbert KNOW? OUR swords stay upright on the go!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Foxy. Have a great big acronym of the sort that exhorts the intellectually challenged to retain simplicity. Sorry about the OT post Country girl. Sorry, sorry, sorry, but left there's plenty electronic space. I now must race. Pots to stir, tweets to twitter: I know it sounds a bit frenetic; I must now do some things Helvetic.

Hasbeen
You are right Bill O'Chee was a perfect answer to racism.
He proves beyond a doubt that irresponsibly and self centredness knows no racial boundaries.

His antics raised the issue that Parliament pensions were beyond the reach of being counted as a assessable asset in legal disputes like a marriage dissolution. The likes of pensions for the you and I ARE.

I remember the instances of his avoidance of his ex-family responsibility despite a lucrative parliamentary pension and a well paying job. Their care (disabled child), housing handed over to the welfare system.

Oh yes there was the attempt to avoid the body corporate fees on his luxury Gold coast apartment.

Where is your anti free loader BBQ guests now when it involves a an ex-country party senator? (sorry I must not call the country party, the Country Party...naughty corner for me...again [sigh]).

Good example though.

Dear Forrest,

I'm glad that you found the poem useful.

It still gives me goosebumps.

When will we ever learn?

Country girl,

Para phrasing Martin Luther King Jr example "We will remain racist untill we can meet a person for the first time and ten minutes later remember the person but not their race".

Squeers is unfortunately right. "I'm not racist but." is a dead give away. In your case implied.

The mere fact you note a person's race, ethnicity, gender or such generalisations etc indicate you rank their individuality to a lesser importance. Therefore you are prejudiced (racist) you simply are less obvious about it.

We all have personal issues about the unknown, different(not like me).

The key is what you do about it.... try an hide it with faux liberalism ( the infamous but implied or explicit)Or acknowledge it and work to overcome it...Activate the frontal cortex more (reason centre of the brain.

For the record, I have these undesirable failings too, I just choose not to feed or luxuriate in them.

What Rainier said. While I'm sure that most racist Australians genuinely think that they aren't, their words and actions (or lack thereof) demonstrate otherwise.

Country girl is to be applauded for her proactive stance regarding Korean backpackers, but her exclusive employment of them is as racist as if she refused to employ them because they are Korean, as Squeers points out.

Also, she is conspicuously silent about the anti-Aboriginal racism that is rife in the district in which she and I both live.

What makes a racist ?
If you called a white person a useless layabout there would be no responce.
The same label to a black person and you are racist.
How can you begin to understand what is racist or not racist.
Where are the rules, I think the rules are in the person digesting the said words.

I have always deplored the way some writers criticize other writers, rather than the content of the statement or the question. I've noted that at least six of the writers who responded to my question, did not attempt to answer the question concerning how proactive they were to reduce Australian racism. The word proactive means to take action. What are these writers actually doing physically to change the racism that exists.

There were misunderstandings too of what I am doing. I am not an employer. My husband and I are too old to farm our land, so we operate our large home as a B&B during the winter/spring months and as a hostel for Koreans during the summer/autumn harvest months. I choose to take people of one race so that I have a harmonious home without squabbles. The Koreans seemed to me to be the most despised racial group amongst the backpackers who work in this district, so being a bit of a Joan of Arc I set out to fight their battle for them.
One person can make a difference, but one person can't fight every battle or right every wrong.

Territorial squabbles are over something as simple as who had the right to use a refrigerator shelf. If all the people concerned can speak the same language they can sort it out without bringing such issues to me.

It was nice to be welcomed back as a contributor. I read most forum posts most days, but don't wish to enter into slanging matches, hence I seldom respond.

Dear Country Girl,

Chin up. As I said earlier - we can only try
to do the best we can in our dealings with
people. I think that most of us are pretty
tolerant on the whole, and wouldn't
go out of our way to hurt or demean anyone.
You seem to me to be a very fair-minded person,
I've always thought that from all of your previous
posts as well. And your actions speak volumes.
Were you a "racist," you wouldn't be concerned
about being proactive in trying to reduce racism.

Hats off to you!

Country girl,

I did in fact offer what I do about racism. Don't let my self judge people by their race etc.

In stead of saying that the Irish et al fight squabble with Koreans etc
I would weed out the trouble makers regardless of race and either warn them to pull their heads in or rack off.

I would simply identify back packers as individuals and deal with them accordingly. rather than as racial groups. It simply requires more effort.
CJ is right at least you are taking the first steps.

Desmond

If you generalise on the base of race e.g. If I said anyone that drink a particular pub in Alice were drunken brain dead yobs and should be (your word/terms) "castrated" or "it's in their genes.... that would be offensive to all who have ever drank in that pub....in short prejudiced ignorant nonsense. Despite what may have observed(?) add race component and it becomes racist.

Observations on their own don't necessarily mean accuracy or understanding.

You give all the signs of being a severe racist. Sure there are some indigenous people in Alice that have drink issues but then again so is there many individuals from other races.

The so called genetic link to drink addiction is highly tenuous and as Prof Susan Greenfields clearly showed occurrence/intensity depends on nurture.(circumstances, environment options etc) Watch ABC Fora on line.

NB many of the white bigoted racists in the NT and elsewhere forget that these indigenous people didn't start off from the same base as them i.e. belonging to the dominant culture type, languages, options etc

Country Girl, you take backbackers from other countries yet you seem to think that just because you've extended your welcome to the Koreans, you are proactively not racist. The fact that you've singled them out in your post is racist. If you thought of them as no different to any other backpacker from any other country, you would not have found a need for your post. If, however, you had written: "I open my house to backpackers from anywhere in the world" you would have been more convincing.

The truth is, there's a racist in us all and there's nothing particularly wrong with seeing people who are different.. as different. Everyone has personal preferences over the types of people they like best and get along with the most.

I could never see myself sitting down, having a drink and a chat to a Muslim woman dressed in one of those ninja suits. I mean what the hell are we supposed to talk about when we have absolutely nothing in common? I don't wish them any harm or mind sharing the street with them but I'm not going to open my house to them. If I do, I'd be doing it, not because I want to, but because, like you, I'd be trying to prove a point which is stupid. Does it make me racist for prefering to mix among people I share beliefs and values with, people I have things in common with and enjoy the company of? If it does then what can I say, I'm racist then.

A couple more thing I'd like to point out..

Are you opening your house to these backpackers out of the kindness of your heart or because you really like? Is there a small fee involved? Are you providing them with accommodation and food in exchange for work done around the farm? If so, your invitation doesn't prove your not racist. It's a business arrangement. Do you keep in touch with these Korean packbackers and remain friends with them?

Country Girl,
I apologise for being so abrupt.
I've been married to two country girls, from properties in Warwick and Biloela in QLD, and this has caused me to be acquainted with many country folk over the last 25 years. Sadly, in my experience not just racism, but prejudice of every kind seems to be broadly embraced in the bush; against race, sex, dole bludgers, urban dwellers, environmentalists, refugees, etc etc. This, in turn, has caused me to become prejudiced against the denizens of the bush, by and large. There seems to be a widespread superiority complex directed at anyone who's not "like us"; and if "we don't like it", it is bad by definition. Thus the cattle farming parents of my present wife loath nothing more than greenies, though they despise the other categories above with almost as much viguour.
Of course I know that not all country folk are like this; nevertheless, it's a big club!
So you have a tall order on your hands, I reckon, and good luck with it.

What do I do that's proactive? First, I acknowledge that I too am prejudiced, and in ways that I'm barely, or perhaps not at all, aware of. I don't know that I initiate anything that is likely to get taken up; I think about how I present myself to the disabled, or the overweight, or about difference in general. I try not to treat anyone any differently, at least not to their face, though I often can't help thinking to myself, "God! s/he has a weight problem!" or whatever. And yet These prejudices are inevitably transmitted, I fear. Anyone who strays too far from our cherrished norms cannot fail to be aware of the alienation, the unspoken comments, or the awkwardness of those they pass in the street--not to mention the cruel and deliberate jibes they undoubtedly contend with from family and acquaintances, even strangers. When I meet my kids after school I often see a young girl perhaps 11 or 12 walking home; tall for her age and very overweight; no friends around her and ineffably sad. I think about her a lot, and wish her happiness, though I imagine she has prescious little of it in her life.
I try to be proactive by talking to my kids about prejudice, and compassion, and the cruelties people inflict, by their thoughtlessness or with malice, and I hope, without much hope, that things will change.
All humanity is sensitive to pain, physical and mental; yet, perversely, there is precious little empathy on show.
A good book to look at is Terry Eagleton's "Trouble with Strangers"

The coulture of the Aboriginal does not allow them to mix with society, you can't be tribal and urban at the same time. The massive problem they have around Alice Springs will not be solved by letting this tribe stay where they are. It is an act of cruelty allowing this to continue.
Surely they would be much happier away from petrol ,paint cans,and booze.
You can't re educate a coulture, They are nomadic.
Every day they wander to town and back again.
They must be bored beyond belief.
You need to think how they view your efforts to change their coulture.
If your not trying to change their ways, they would be better off away from white mans coulture.

Understand, its my first move against racism.
To know every one is human.
To understand fear, ours and theirs leads to racism.
To know education or lack of it, wrong education can bring racism.
To be the first to say Gday.
To look for the opportunity to open doors not close them.
Those are some of my tools against racism, I use every day.
And often, too often, it is those who do not understand , who are not educated, who may well be minority's, who act like racists.
Needless confrontation will not mend this problem, a smile may.
No not a retreat never not a back down, being strong enough to stand your ground hand extended is about the best way.

Is it possible to re-educate a Desmond, or at least teach one to spell?

Country girl - sorry I didn't address your question specifically in my first post. I've been "proactively" addressing racism for decades, probably most effectively in tackling the issue directly while lecturing social science, education and medical students. At a personal level I've been heavily involved in supporting Indigenous and multicultural advocacy groups for years, and have many friends from diverse ethnic and cultural backgrounds.

These days, the most "proactive" thing I do to counteract Australian racism is to speak out against it whenever it rears its ugly head - whether it's at my place of business, at social occasions and in public fora like OLO.

CJ
Should we increase the IQ of Alice Springs by simply telling him where the spell check is or just give up?

I am sorry chaps for bad english, but in my line of work i don't need it.
I am only one of those builders that can't understand your plans.
Academic or not you don't understand the plight of abbos.
It's what happens on the ground that counts, simpathise all you like it will not do a thing.
I offer solutions, you offer simpathy.
Simpathy is no good to a town that is screeming for action.
You may say you know the plight of obbos, so give your solutions.
This can not continue forever, we have misplaced people, what is your solution....

How you react towards others really
depends on how you see yourself...

As the Australian Aboriginal poet,
Kevin Gilbert wrote:

"Once I met a mad Rosella
He was quite a crazy fella
Who got drunk on nectar-ferment
From a rich old bottle-brush
His wings he flapped and fluttered
While foolishly he muttered
I wish I was an eagle
Or a fine plumed English thrush.

I am racist by the pc definition however my closest friends are Asian, African, South African and Indigenous. I do however believe in selective immigration which many find abhorrent even though they themselves also believe the same when pressed on it.

Come on Desmond, I am just a working bloke too but obbos?, well abbos?
See your posts say mine are not far from true.
Up early two hour drive pre work start and with a crew containing an Aboriginal with 30 years service, he is my delegate.
Why the difference?
opportunity, education, a lot but not any different than this once country boy.
Alice? well we need answers but that is out fault not theirs.

Desmond,
Now you are sounding like "DESPERATE" DES trying to excuse the excusable or laziness. By the way, every Word processor package has a spell checker.

Just for your information I left school at 16 all my study (education) happened in my late 20's-30s. After I had done everything from working as a chicken slaughter to cleaning septic tanks and lots of dirty jobs in between.

Sympathy be damned!

A number of us have actually spent years in the front line down and dirty actually delivering assistance to indigenous people among others. So cut the bull and simply think what's being said, that doesn't require an education just effort.

To the question of the thread, "How proactive are you to reduce Australian racism?"

The best thing one can do is to treat all people as you would like to be treated yourself. Understand that everyone has different abilities and levels of understanding. And that goes for Australians too. But don't dwell on it either, because if you're overly nice, people will take you for granted. As the saying goes, "familiarity can breed contempt". Be nice to others but in as balanced and sustainable a way as possible. It will soon be clear if you're going too far one way or the other.

In terms of personal relationships, my advice would be render to God what is God's. That is, everyone is created differently. Don't judge, but accept others for who they are. Then once you see what they are and believe, make a decision as to whether they are who you want to mix with. There's no need for any rancour - just part ways if it isn't working out. Both parties will be better off that way.

It sounds easy, but that's what it boils down to. If people can do that at the core of their relationships with others, racism will not be an issue.

'Tis true, Desmond. I left school at 14 after an indifferent education and spent twenty five years working in factories, but it never stopped me educating myself.
I agree with your earlier point about the aboriginals being better off without white culture, but I don't think there's any going back.
It's going to take momentous effort on both sides, I think; aboriginals have to adapt to how things are--which also means dealing with Western prejudice, often particularly virulent against aboriginals. And Westerners should empathise with aboriginals, trying to imagine what it's like to be the focus of so much derision and hatred.
Personally, I think I'd be having psychological issues if I couldn't walk down the street without being treated by many with suspicion at best, and contempt and hostility at worst. ...I think that would play on the mind a bit!

squeers
Thats the first time some one has said anything that is remotely posative. [ There is no turning back.]
So how about some suggestions on forward movement.
Our govt; is going to make some tough decisions on this matter.
The situation in Alice Springs is volatile.
I can not see a way of forward movement while these camps remain where they are. What the kids learn at school when they go, is discarded when they get home.
If seperation is a way forward then so be it.
Maybe we have to have adult education.

I recall an old Koori man being pulled up by a white ocker in the country town we lived in and he chastised him loudly (for the benefit of the enjoyment of other whites listening in) saying " you abos gotta learn how to work and live like us mate.

The old man walked away and said nothing. Clearly he had encountered this many times in his life. The strength of character that it took for him to simply walk away is for me awe inspiring.

He had worked hard from the age of 10 (perhaps even younger)hardly ever took sick days and reared 8 children along with his wife of many years.

His early work history was mostly for rations or half the wages he was entitled to. He had experienced racism all his life but he did not let it define who he thought he was.

I'm offering the above for one simply reason and that is to prove that no matter how wrong racists are with their assertions and beliefs about the apparent 'inferiority' of non white others, or indeed the how wrong they are about the history and politics of race relations that support their assertions they will defiantly hold on to their myths, half truths, paranoia, prejudices etcetera.

Why? Because for them the thought of giving up what it means to be white and superior is just too scary.

One of the best ways to be proactive is to simply review and modify the prejudices and racisms you already harbour. You can do this by reading broadly.

Remember, lots of racists are friendly, law abiding, affable people who like to think they are beyond racism. They are not.

Correction:

Why? Because for them the thought of giving up what *they believe* it means *for them* to be white and superior is just too scary.

Desmond,
You have still missed the point of what racism is and how it undermines anything that is done.

The obvious contempt or unwarranted superiority you and dare I say a large minority of Alice Springs whites put out IS A GOOD PART of the problem.

Wizard of id: Sir Rodney says "Sire the peasants are revolting"
The king replies disinterestedly "They sure are".
The point is treat a group of people with patronsing contempt often and long enough don't be surprised when they become demoralised then resentful and aggressive.(and revolt)

I've been to the Alice a few times ranging over 26 years there are one constant the white bigotry . In the last trip 8 months or so ago I noticed that the resentment by the indiginees was bubbling away.
When it goes pear shaped the ones who'll scream the loudest surprise will be those same well known, white protagonists (I think you know who I mean.). The sad thing is that they and their tacit supporters will be the root cause.

We can't impose solutions on them any more than I can on you. Both the whites and the black need to work out an acceptable solution.

It is gross arrogance to assume that all the fault is theirs and the whites are merely bystanders.....watching them sink lower while leaving it up to others to clean up.

The people need to have identities, dignity not become, just the drunken, useless mob at the creek.

Who told you our our culture is SO much better. The two cultures can co-exist. But definitely not if the effort is one sided. While I was there I saw NO attempt by the whites in general to do anything except to create an apartheid system out of site and out of mind.

Neither am I saying that there isn't problems similar problems exist in certain opportunity deprived suburbs only the racial mix may be a little different.

"The old man walked away and said nothing. Clearly he had encountered this many times in his life. The strength of character that it took for him to simply walk away is for me awe inspiring."

A true story:
I emigrated from England with my parents when I was ten, and soon found myself at Richlands High School, in Inala (Brisbane). In grade nine I remember waiting outside class, leaning against the port-rack, keeping to myself (there's an illusion of safety in isolation, but actually it's more dangerous), when the biggest abo I'd ever seen, probably half-cast, who had recently come into my class, loped up and stood next to me. After a few moments he punched me on the arm and I said, "f-ck off!", and he punched me again, harder. I told him to F off again and he repeated the dose. After that, the second or third time, I shut up and he stopped. And I never had a run-in with him again.
Several years later, when I was secure in my job (machine operator) a new bloke was started, and it was him! The factory was in the grip of "positive discrimination", I think, and Peter H was hired as a cleaner. I don't think he remembered me. Yet I remember him still!
He didn't last long and I don't know what became of him, but I remember being shocked at his appearance. We were in our early twenties, but he looked like sh!t.

I don't know about forward movement, Desmond. The one thing I always had on my side, was I believed in myself. Maybe that's the answer; Australians ("aboriginal" is a demeaning collective noun) have to break with their culture, which is dysfunctional (whatever that means), and become individuals--this is how westerners escaped their own tyranny ... only to have it tyrannise them in turn. There's a knack to individuality, called modesty, that's almost as hard to master as culture is to overcome.
Abo's have to renounce their culture ... and Westerners denounce their cult of the self.
The two authors I've found most inspirational in this regard are Montaigne and Emerson; but they can't be read in a hurry--neither has any time for small talk.
I want to say, "you don't need books" .... but it saves a lot of time.

So, I was humbled by an abo for a minute, while he asserted himself.

One way to address reverse racism is for the Government to say sorry to the many missionaries who went to aboriginal communities at great cost to themselves and family in order to bring about a civilised lifestyle. Compare them with highly paid secular workers on the gravy train and you will get the picture. Fortunately many aboriginal elders in the lands still hold these men and women in high regard understanding that they did more good than the millions and possibly billions of squandered money spent since their demise. Gough Whitlam and his hopelessly flawed philosophies that led to the pits of alcohol, drug abuse, child abuse and despair. The only elders we normally hear from are the politically handpicked ABC revised historians who have no knowledge or desire for truth. Thankfully Noel Pearson who has benefited from his father's upbringing offers some ray of hope for our indigenous people. The lying historians have done nothing but create a myth in the eyes of many white people who might have visited a community or two to five minutes. A recent UN representative was a good example of this. His/her conclusions were absolutely pathetic and offensive to all decent Australians.

I'd like to nominate runner as someone who has tirelessly and consistently worked to reduce Australian racism, at least from his efforts at OLO.

Who knows how many closet racists have read his drivel and undergone an 'oh sh!t' moment when they realise that he represents their own sentiments writ large?

Keep it up, runner.

My proactive step was born out of the Howard government's treatment of refugees. I had done my letter writing to the papers and complained to the relevant pollies but felt I had to do something positive to counter some of the pretty negative stuff that was bubbling through my community.

So I went and did a course to teach English on day a week to a new arrival. Still at it nearly three years on (the tutoring not the course) with the same chap. Probably should have moved to a new student but I have had a lot of pleasure teaching him and seeing him grow into the Australian society after a pretty rocky start.

Our families have met and dined together and I have learnt as much as I have taught.

Two weeks ago he drove his family to Uluru and was awestruck. His knowledge of Australian history is surpassing mine in more than a few areas.

I certainly recommend the teaching gig if anyone was thinking of doing something similar.

When I was in about Grade 1, an Aboriginal kid in my class at school visited me at my place. In one easy lesson, he taught me - with unerring confidence - how to kick a torpedo with a plastic footy. (It stuck with me ever since.) He was competently showing his adroitness by riding his bike in the back yard weaving around the fruit trees. At school, he was head and shoulders above everyone else at every type of individual or team sport.

One day when I was walking home from school, I passed by his house and peeked through a gap in his back fence. He'd wagged school that day and it was then I realised how different he was. The whole family, and probably extended family as well, was slipping their feet around in mud in some kind of ceremony in the back yard. I didn't think any more of it but it stuck with me.

When I left that state school about 2 years later, I never saw him again until about 10 years later when he was playing in a footy match with another local team. While he still had all the talents, I was struck by the amount and vehemence of vitriol flowing out of his mouth. And it wasn't just gamesmanship - it was real anger directed at his white opponents. While I obviously don't know what happened to him, it seems pretty clear that the racism, cultural differences and most probably marginalisation had taken their toll. He had definitely changed as a person - for the worse.

I was pretty shocked at how talent could be so destroyed by other factors. I remember Brian Goorjian's comments (a NBL basketball coach) extolling the natural athleticism of Aboriginals. These talents have been harnessed by Kevin Sheedy's Essendon Bombers in the AFL (they've got about 8 Aboriginals or part-Aboriginals in their list). The mentoring of Aboriginal talent should extend much further down the footy hierarchy to the grass roots. This would be a strong act that went some way to reversing discrimination and racism.

Rob Your last comment sows it up. Part indig; as against black indig.
There is a gigantic leap in genetics.
This is the problem we face with the tribal indig.
Their colture does not allow for them to integrate with white colture.
Maybe the solution lies with the women of the indig;
They must integrate or face a life of misery, surrounding a town of about 20,000 around 18% are indig.

May not seem related but I fight for workplace fairness. Also I read anything and everything I can from the eyes of others. I never really "get" another culture but a little bit can change a viewpoint very quickly.

I do not see any racism really. However I do see a lack of understanding and tolerance of culture. I can also say I have Indigenous friends but they are westernised so I do not see any skin colour or need to tolerate different cultural aspects in my dealing with them. So really no great achievement, they are just regular people. I see the same with wealthy who are often very vocal with their "I am ashamed to be Australian" whenever the latest fake race row occurs. Most wealthy people live in expensive neighbourhoods so any interaction with people of different ethnic backgroud in easy as culturally they are westernised and successful.

I do however feel the squirm factor whenever Indigenous people are mentioned as I do have those friendships and feel embarrassed the same way I do when a naked lady appears on TV when my mother visits.

However from their eyes they are represented by everyone and anyone and never themselves so no side is better than the other. One trots out the stereotype to prove Australia is racist, then the other side presume the stereotype is true because the liberal press keep on about. One feeds the other. Same with many "debates" on asylum seekers. Sometimes the negative stereotype of an entire country is used to prove a person had a right to seek asylum then the other side use this stereotype to say why would we want such dysfunctional people here?

However our greatest cultural trait was that we were very egalitaran and this provided equal opportunity. We never did embrace the servitude mentality still evident in the US until recently. Our ability to give migrants equality was based on our workplace culture and I see that eroding away opening the opportunity for workplace exploitation. Then we will have something to cry about.

May not make any sense. To summarise I feel we obssess too much about cultural differences without any evidence of any real understanding and not enough about our positive cultural traits that we are losing. Most understanding of others comes from the workplace. Take away egalitarian cultural trait then workplace start to see who they can exploit and that leads to hostility from those that feel threatened and charges of racism from those exploited.

I keep hearing how business would have collapsed without all these workplace changes but then never have seen this country so rich. Really does not make sense business is so poor they cannot survive in such a climate. We have been dudded.