There is something rotten in Australia

[CountArach]

OT: Australia is a wierd one, whether it has something to do with the "convict colony" thing as a common history, or what, I don't know. Certainly there does seem to be a strong racist current in Australian culture.

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that all major parties in Australian politics up until the 1970s supported the White Australia Policy. In varying shades since then no Australian Party has fully supported broad immigration policies, and have instead decided to marginalise groups for electoral gain by creating a sense of Australia being under siege from immigrants, which is a claim that has no basis in reality. Thus those in power are creating a societal 'other' that they can easily blame for problems. Further, segments of the media push this anti-immigration line, despite the fact that the statistics tell a different tale.

So yeah, I blame those with power and those with the power to stop those in power. A mythologised history, as you said, does undoubtedly play into the public consciousness, but that has been shaped very carefully by governments over various periods. Every government has had its own vision of our shared history and will glorify certain time-periods and aspects.

[aimlesswanderer]

I'd say it has more to do with the fact that all major parties in Australian politics up until the 1970s supported the White Australia Policy. In varying shades since then no Australian Party has fully supported broad immigration policies, and have instead decided to marginalise groups for electoral gain by creating a sense of Australia being under siege from immigrants, which is a claim that has no basis in reality. Thus those in power are creating a societal 'other' that they can easily blame for problems. Further, segments of the media push this anti-immigration line, despite the fact that the statistics tell a different tale.

So yeah, I blame those with power and those with the power to stop those in power. A mythologised history, as you said, does undoubtedly play into the public consciousness, but that has been shaped very carefully by governments over various periods. Every government has had its own vision of our shared history and will glorify certain time-periods and aspects.

I'd agree that the good ol White Australia Policy still lingers in the hearts and minds of some (though my grandparents got through somehow!), and that feelings towards migrants have been manipulated and inflamed by various governments for their own end. I'd say that the Howard government (the previous, conservative govt) was (despite protestations to the contrary by them and fellow conservatives) quite egregious in this area, thanks to the above mentioned Tampa and Children Deliberately Thrown Overboard (but not actually as it turns out, but not the politicians fault of course, and look, they just happened to be Muslim! Whaddaya know, just before an election and soon after the Sept 11 attacks).

Also, the Pauline Hanson circus, when the PM declined to call her a stupid bigot, and then proceeded to modify and steal her policies, and some more moderate rhetoric. Whatever his faults, at least Peter Costello was loud in his denunciations of her.

And there was the whole #*@$ up of the Mohamed Haneef saga, and the stupid government response, based on fear, paranoia, and a need to appear "tough" on terrorism, when the doctor was completely innocent, but was deported anyway. Also just months out from an election.

And then there was the OMG, Sudanese migrants are criminals saga, despite good ol Kevin Andrews (immigration minister to boot) not having any of that pesky evidence and statistics stuff to back it up. Whaddaya know, and election was in the offing then too - is there a pattern here?

However, despite the above incidents, Australia is generally a very welcoming country for migrants. After all, about 25% of the population was born overseas, and at least 7% of the population is 'Asian' (inc me). Thankfully, I'd say the change of government has generally improved the situation, with less fear mongering and inflammatory rhetoric. As with any country there are dodgy areas and people, but avoid those few and you should be fine.

[pevergreen]

Its a bad issue.

Would I welcome a return to the White Australia Policy, or something like it?

Yes.

Do I know why? No.

I have no problem with people of other ethnicities. Beefy is one of my best friends.

Drive through the main street of Moorooka (suburb in which i work, >90% population african immigration) and you can see why many people are not fans of immigrants. But then again, the tales that go around about people in ipswich (40-50km outside of CBD) and you wonder why we keep those australians.

[Megas Methuselah]

Its a bad issue.

Would I welcome a return to the White Australia Policy, or something like it?

Yes.

Do I know why? No.

I have no problem with people of other ethnicities. Beefy is one of my best friends.

Drive through the main street of Moorooka (suburb in which i work, >90% population african immigration) and you can see why many people are not fans of immigrants. But then again, the tales that go around about people in ipswich (40-50km outside of CBD) and you wonder why we keep those australians.

You're a descendant of European criminals; if you don't like immigration, then go back to Europe, you hypocrite.

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

You're a descendant of European criminals; if you don't like immigration, then go back to Europe, you hypocrite.

You know, I've been thinking, we should pack the entire human population into Tanzania. Or maybe Iraq.

[Megas Methuselah]

You know, I've been thinking, we should pack the entire human population into Tanzania. Or maybe Iraq.

And then plant this one big special tree, right?

[Evil_Maniac From Mars]

And then plant this one big special tree, right?

I'm sure you saw my point.

[Furunculus]

You're a descendant of European criminals; if you don't like immigration, then go back to Europe, you hypocrite.

how's that chip coming along, eh?

-------------------------------------------

back on topic:

to me; pevergreens comment is merely evidence of my much derided concept of a shared social and cultural history.

the greater the commonality, the less friction points exist within a group, and the easier it is to rub along together.

i'm putting words in pevergreens mouth for which i apologise; but i imagine he goes through those badly integrated disctricts and recognises the tension that has arisen from those points of friction.

.......... but of course it couldn't be that, because as everyone on this forum knows we are all exactly the same, with exactly the same expectations and desires about what society should be, with identical aims and objectives as to how we wish to participate in that society..........

[Beefy187]

btw pever, if I was to visit Australia right now, would I make it out of there alive?
How badly do they hate the Japanese for whaling?

[CountArach]

How badly do they hate the Japanese for whaling?

We know the difference between Japanese whalers and every-day Japanese citizens.

[Subotan]

btw pever, if I was to visit Australia right now, would I make it out of there alive?
How badly do they hate the Japanese for whaling?

Wait, you're Japanese?

And whale is tasty

[CountArach]

However, despite the above incidents, Australia is generally a very welcoming country for migrants. After all, about 25% of the population was born overseas, and at least 7% of the population is 'Asian' (inc me). Thankfully, I'd say the change of government has generally improved the situation, with less fear mongering and inflammatory rhetoric. As with any country there are dodgy areas and people, but avoid those few and you should be fine.

Yeah, but we still have detention centres, even if they aren't as bad as Howard's. The continuation of all the racist aspects of the Northern Territory Intervention with the patronising rhetoric that goes along with that doesn't help either.

The effect Pauline Hanson (for non-Australians, think of something like the British National Party, but rolled into one woman...) was something that I had forgotten to mention as well. The fact that openly racist commentary has been allowed into our national discourse at some point or another means that people are more likely to get away with racism, simply because our politicians can as well.

[pevergreen]

Most people knew she was a joke though.

The Chaser on Pauline.