I have to agree with those posters who have outlined that discriminatory views are more held against a culture than a race. This is demonstrated clearly by the anti-muslims. In no way can this view be said to be racist. We'll have to come up with a new term.

Heck, its basic human nature that no of us likes to be outside our comfort zones. Can we become bigger and better people by being outside of comfort zones - yes. Do we like it - no! So people tend to stick with their own race/religion/culture and view "others" with suspicion. Perfect non-racist example - my grandfather HATED the Irish, and HATED catholics. Given that he was white and christian, that certainly doesnt make him racist. Dont know what you'd call it really, other than just a personal view. He'd be rolling over in his grave now, as two of his grandchildren have married spouses of irish catholic descent! Just goes to show that these kinds of discrimination dont really that that much long term effect.

Seriously though, we have the right to be suspicious about the people that we let into this country, when they come from backgrounds of violence and hatred (I'll not call it racism). The hoons at the tennis need to take a lesson from the rivalry of the Aussies and Kiwi's, serious but not serious enough to HURT someone over.

I think that Australia is no more a racist than anybody else. It's a survival instinct to be a racist.

As a result we need to be careful that we don't become more violent towards each other, as has been clearly seen in other countries and our own, as we do not want antisocial and criminal behaviour to rule our streets.

We need to be taught to get on and be more understanding and considerate to our differences. No amount of pretending that we are the same is going to ever make a difference.

There is nothing wrong with being a racist, if we have freedom of choice we should be able to choose who we like - so long as we are respectful.

"you're racist against your own"

The mere suggestion of 'your own' is a strong indicator, I think, of underlying racism, or xenophobia under the guise of patriotism.

There was only one human race last time I checked. The world was round, too. We don't live in a multicultural country. We live in a multicultural world. If you aren't happy with that simple reality, there's always Mars.

Having said that, a lot of people appear to be suggesting an end to all immigration to this bit of land we happen to live on....maybe they're on to something. Insulating a continent from the rest of the world...yeah...can't see any problems there. North Korea do it, they seem to be doing alright.

Country Gal: I'm sorry, if hating the Irish (or people from any other country of origin) isn't racism, can you please explain what is? Do you really think it's not racism because their skin colour is the same?

@Jolanda

If you feel that its ok to be racist then thats your right. Just like the others. I wouldn't like to see any country opening up its door to just anyone.But the immigrants who live in Australia who are trying to become good citizen should be allowed to.

Then again you shouldn't feel insulted when people see some in Australia as racist and treat them that way.

spendocrat, go back to the definition posted by Leigh (2nd post I think). Hating the irish, english, greeks, kiwis, chinese, whatever, isnt racist if your dislike is one based on culture instead of skin colour. Is culturalist a word?? It would be a better fit.

This isnt to say it is any more beneign than racism, in fact it can be a lot worse. A true racist at least has the potential to feel benevolent towards the "inferior race" ("that poor fellow cant help it, he was BORN that way"). Culturalism is more likely to be based on hatreds, and thus has the potential to be more damaging. you may think that I am splitting hairs, but it is the different between superiority/inferiority and right/wrong. The difference is subtle but important.

As for me, my main gripe is telephone operators who have strong accents. Sorry, I am from the country, and thus am rarely exposed to strong foreign accents, and thus have a lot of trouble understanding them, especially when the person is speaking quickly. I have been accused of being racist simply for asking to speak to the supervisor of one operator, because I had extraordinary trouble understanding what was being said. I didnt care where they came from or what they looked like, I just wanted to speak to someone I could understand! Whatever happened to the customer being right? (yes you guessed it, it was Telstra!!).