While many would agree with Country Girl that names such as pom, kiwi, aussie, leb, abo etc don't offend the majority it seems their are a minority who take offense. A bit like calling aussie women sheilas. Most women just accept, smile and generally don't take offense. It depends largely on the tone of the comments. Some women (dare say a minority) are probably not even offended by being called meat. Everyday you see men portrayed on movies as meatheads! The difficulty is where to draw the line.

Not to many people wake up in the morning and just decide to have negative racist attitudes. These attitudes develop over time and often due to exposure and experience.

People/groups get reputations for a reason, sometimes the reasoning is unfair but other times it isn't.

When people dont like each other it usually isn't because of the colour of thier skin or their place of birth it is usually because of perceived actions and or reactions.

There is nothing wrong with thinking that you are superior so long as you treat others and the law with respect.

I think the problem with Australia is the lack of differentation in the language. People are always lumped together and that is wrong and unfair. We are individuals. We might be of the same race but we are of different breeds and that is blatenly obvious as is the fact that we dont really all get on.

Somwhere between just a little bit and not too much.

All sorts of different racial and ethnic origins make up this country. People are only human. Says a lot about this place that people dont riot along ethnic lines every other month.

When are people like Amel going to stop using the racist tag and their own victim status to gain unfair leverage?

Amel ,if you want to know about real racism,go to Japan or China;but they are not easy targets like the self flagellating,guilt ridden Anglo Saxions who continually apologise for their success.

Jolanda ,
I find it very hard to believe you have said "there is nothing wrong with thinking you are superior", respect or no respect .
And of course you pass this kernel of Truth on to your Children.
This gives them some real good old Aussie values and prepares them for a productive life in a fair and just democratic society of one vote one value .[Remember]
Boaz david,
Your argument for true race intermarriage breaks down when the lovers are often faced with having to decide what religion their children are to be .How have you got around this problem?

kartiya jim. I didn't say that there was nothing wrong with thinking you are superior - respect or no respect.

I said that there was nothing wrong with thinking your superior so long as you treat others and the Law with respect.

When other people wan't to control your thoughts then your thoughts are no longer your own.