Dear Banjo,

Accents can be difficult for some.

I know from experience. Some Americans
are the worst tolerators of accents -
which is surprising for a country that's
supposed to be a "melting pot," of so many
different cultures. However, I found that
working in Los Angeles - I was forced to
develop an "American" accent pretty quickly
because the locals refused to understand
me. I got called a "limey," and other
endearing names.

I guess its all a question of what you're used to,
and of actually making the effort to listen. Or simply
ask them to speak more slowly - until you get used to
their speech. We do live in a diverse society - and I
guess in a few years time - accents won't be such a
serious problem as we get used to each other.

As for claims of "racism," I would have thought
that those claims would not be taken seriously -
unless there was substantial proof and a case to
answer to.

OK we are racist, ask the Indian students.
But not those Indians who burn foreign Christians to death.
Ask the youth who fly the Lebanese flag from their cars, but not those who burnt ours after tearing it from its RSL pole.
We are human, no more no less bad good ugly live side by side and in equal numbers no matter race or religion.
But tomorrow, we get a chance to? stand side to side with people who came from all over the world and who, for the most part are just as proud of this country as we are.

I've just been reminded of an incident that
happened to me in the library when I was
joining up for membership an elderly Chinese
gentleman.

He asked me to fill out the form
for him and I was happy to help. I began by
asking him for his name. He smiled at me and
said slowly - "NNNNNNG." I looked at him and again
asked, "Your surname please?" Again he replied -
"NNNNNNG." This went on for several minutes.
I thought perhaps he was hard of hearing , so I
raised my voice. He shouted back at me, "NNNNNNNNG."

My colleagues were cracking up behind me. And I
was getting a bit frustrated, thinking what's wrong
with this guy. Does he not understand what I'm
asking?

Finally, his young grandson came up and explained to me
that their surname was, "NG." The poor man had been
trying to pronounce the name for me by stretching it
out - "NNNNNNNNG." The problem wasn't the elderly
gentleman. It was me.

Austin,
You got it in one,Taggart was the name of the show. It should be on SBS with subtitles.

Sorry Lexi, but racism is the first call. For a bloke that opposes high immigration and the ideology of multiculturalism, I can tell you that racism is usually the first thing thrown at me.

Take the Indian students, that Belly mentioned, they were quite happy to brand us as racist when some of them were attacked, even though they knew who the attackers were and the motives for the attacks. Of course the Indian press took it up in a big way. Only later did we learn that it was Lebs in Sydney and Africans in Melbourne mainly and robbery the motive. What really disgusts me is that the police and polys knew the facts but were quite willing to let Aussies be branded as racist.

This and other incidents makes me very wary of the calls of racist.
Like this stupid article in the business section of a major paper.

Most likely they did not get the jobs because of poor english.

Now even more twaddle coming from academia.

Some fool West Australian female professor with an unpronounceable name, has declared her research has proved that people who fly the Oz flag from their car are racists.

Do we really pay these twits to spend time doing this cr4p?

Well, sorry love, you got it all wrong, as usual.

My navy son flew Oz flags from his car a couple of years back. The reason is something more like an Ozzie would do.

He saw the admiral driving around the base in a car with, you guessed it, flags fluttering from each front fender. Deciding he was worth any two admirals, he flew flags 4 flags from his fenders.

Of course he must be racist according to this fool professor, but of course, none of them would have any idea of what motivates a real Ozzie. They never will, while they believe real people have similar motivation to them.

Hasbeen I agree think that fool maybe be the reason the story started.
Be aware PC is driven by such folk often female.
Headlines this morning of the way women are treated even publicly flogged in some country's.
Remember it is from some who come from that back ground we are charged.
Find me ANY COUNTRY that could not be charged in the same way.
I too without reserve, think all party's betray me and my country by not truly considering the nature of refugee/migrants separating them selves in our country and charge many of those doing so with racism.
My home flys flags that is my concern, tomorrow if they want it,I would feed people from any nation on the earth.
But this idiot lady? she and those who think as she can starve.