Any links to as to how to get a fair go ?

Hello there Lexi...

I hope you don't mind me making a comment to something you've said to HASBEEN ?

You mentioned, as part of your job in a library, you've had many positive experiences with all manner of folk from differing ethnic origins, and backgrounds.

Unfortunately, in my former line of work, my experience could only be described as being diametrically opposite to that, which you've glowingly described earlier.

I would agree with you totally, when you say there are many of those people who've come here, and made a tremendously good fist of living in a new country.

I must tell you though Lexi, there are parts of Sydney that could only be described as ethnic enclaves and war zones. Police must first appraise themselves of all available intelligence before embarking upon normal enquiries.

Obviously, I'll not identify these areas, but I can assure you...sorry ! What I mean to say, I can absolutely PROMISE you, there are ares in metropolitian Sydney, that police have (almost) lost control - Naturally, the Politicians will deny it - just ask the average detective, or any patrol within that area, they'll tell you ?

From my point of view, as a former detective, I can only say that, in my opinion, multi-culturalism has failed miserably. Unfortunately, the very good people we do get here, are substantially out-weighed by some of the most undesirables'. Criminals in their former country of origin. We'll rue the day that we've EVER let in certain ethnic groups. Am I racist ? No, I'm just a realist, based purely on the evidence I've seen in my former vocation. Are there ethnic groups that I'd not attempt to befriend, yes absolutely. That statement gnaws at me greatly as a practising humanist.

I'm sorry if I appear to be so negative and full of gloom, regrettably it's the truth. Australia will regret this human 'experiment', unluckily. Why in heaven, don't our politicians listen ? We must be far more selective with our migration policy.

Cheers...Sung wu (who, for the sake of my grandchildren, is proved wrong.)

Unfortunately pc has replaced commonsense in Australia. Aussies have always been good at having a go at immigrants as well as themselves. My eighty odd year father would call the Chinese slant eyes but then have a best mate as a Chinaman to go fishing with. He would call soccer wog ball but still have many European friends. Most immigrants copped a bit, toughened up and gave back as much as they got. Nowadays the pc brigade would jail the likes of my father and encourage litigation. The same mob are happy to encourage migration here from people who despise any sort of Western values. Go figure. Australians were certainly a racist mob but not enough to deter multitudes from coming here and making themselves a homes.

I agree Lexi, we can only take people as we find them. I personally have never had a problem with anyone, apart from a couple of poms in the Royal Navy, when I did my aircraft carrier training over there.

I have happily mixed with islanders, aboriginals, & all manner of other Oz population. In my first house in an outer suburb of Sydney, my neighbours were a Pom on one side, a Czech on the other & a Maltese over the back, & we got on famously. We did all speak English, [except the pom of course], which helped, even if a bit unusual in that area.

I have never experienced the feeling of being forced out of my chosen area, but the anger of those who feel they were is very real. If too great an influx of immigrants were to enter the area I believe the reception would be less than welcoming. The few market gardeners we have are mostly welcome, at least since we managed to get them to understand that when water restrictions said no pumping from the river Tuesday & Friday, it meant them too.

We have absorbed many, & made them ozzies, but if the rate becomes too great, as I believe it is now, we will end up with all the problems of the middle east right here, in your & my grand kids faces, with not much likelihood of fixing them.

Dear o sung wu, Hasbeen,

My experiences have only been positive - that's
all I've got to go on.

Perhaps I've been
lucky - or perhaps it's how you re-act to
people and situations. I've been in a couple
of incidents that could have gotten out of hand.

I remember one particular situation when I
took a short cut through a tunnel near a railway
station on my way to evening class when I was held up
by a young African bloke who demanded my money.

I said -"I'll give you everything I've got (I only
had a couple of dollars on me) but could you at
least leave me enough for a cup of coffee - as I'm
on my way to class.

Surprise, surprise - he did just
that. And I went on my way. I saw him a week later
walking with his friends near that same station.
He didn't recognise me, and I said nothing to him.
I did not report the incident because I felt that
the young guy was "high" at the time - and I didn't
see the point of making things worse for him over a
few dollars.

Another episode took place - when a gang of Italian youths
broke into a vending machine outside the library
and were stealing bottles from the machine.

I ran out and confronted them with "Put the stuff back!"
at the top of my voice. One of them said, "Lady,
take it easy. Do you know how much money we've lost
on this bl**dy machine? We're now just getting
some of it back!" I continued to yell - "Put it back!"
And another of them called out, "Hit her! Hit her!"
To which the first bloke replied, "Nah, she's allright.
She's helped me with assignments." Anyway, I told
them, "I'm going into the library to call security.
You guys had better not be here when they arrive."
The blokes took their bottles and left. I did call
Center Management (the library was in a shopping centre),
and reported the broken machine.

cont'd ...

I forgot to mention that over the years
I've lived and worked in some of the
toughest neighbourhoods in both New York
and Los Angeles where I mixed with the
local population, did my laundry at night
in the area, and not once did I encounter
any problems with anyone. Luck? Perhaps.
I tend to take people as I find them - and
a smile and politeness usually works wonders.
But hey, that's me!