Does anyone notice racism on our streets?
Published 1 year, 8 months ago in Where I Live.I was at Footscray station two nights ago and an elderly woman with a European accent was having a go at a group of Asian looking young men. I didn’t catch the specifics of the conversation but she was muttering something about “this country” and “Australia” and accusing them of not caring and being disresepctful. I found it quite bewlildering not only because she had an accent herself, but also because we were in Footscray which is one of the most multicultrual places on earth. What’s the go? Does anyone else notice this sort of stuff? What should we do about it? (No-one at the time, including myself, stepped in to say something I might add….)
12 Responses to “Does anyone notice racism on our streets?”
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Its kind of sad that this thing has to happen in this country.
I think that I can sort of understand your situation as I know from experience (I’m Italian), that when my parents came to this country they adopted it as their home, FIRST HOME and the “old country” as their birth home or where they have come from to this new and shiny place that will make them rich (and not necessarily in the monetary sense).
The europeans and many people that migrated in the 50’s and 60’s are generally, fiercely loyal to this country and are proud of it as it gave them their “wealth” and allowed their children to grow up in a great country with everything that can ever wish for.
When they see races/people that disrespect this country, and by no means am I saying that the situation you saw the other day had the Asian people disrespecting this country, but it may have been to the elderly lady, she is defending her country of Australia not the country she came from.
Does this make any sense ??? if not I need more coffee today (and maybe some pasta)
COCO!
I love how Australia is multicultural… granted, no country can ever be “perfect” and racism-free, but I think we generally come pretty close. I have personally never witnessed racism that was of an abusive or intentionally harmful nature.
People may crack race-based jokes sometimes, but I find the people who do that are generally either of an ethnic minority themselves or are perfectly decent and tolerant, taking people as they come rather than on the basis of race.
…What I do find strange is that people think that racism is somehow worse than the myriad other forms of cruel and unfair discrimination and victimisation out there… someone can’t help the shape of their body, physical attributes, age or financial situation any more than they can help the colour of their skin, yet it seems much more of a taboo for people to make rude comments on race rather than weight, age, physical appearance, wealth, etc.
Journalists and columnists in major newspapers admit to choosing people for jobs on the basis of their physical attractiveness; but never race, because such an admission would label them as a racist. Why is this okay? Racism is just another form of discrimination, all of which is EQUALLY WRONG.
That’s what I love about nook - Coco and Lady Chaos, thanks for offering up a couple of points I would never have considered…:)
:) Thanks!
;) Stargirl, u 2 r a star …. Thanks !!
also Ladychaos good points made, I love your thinking on this one.
COCO!
I was reading a short story by Stephen Studach in ‘Shotgun’ (an anthology published by Paroxysm Press and available at Dymocks in the city) just today that deals with part of what you are saying - in it a theatre goer witnesses a graphic and shocking murder and does and says nothing. He’s not the only one, and the story goes onto comment on how we often /don’t/ say or do anything in these situations. Like all satire, the over the top murder is just a means to make a point.
Racism is definately a thriving part of Australian culture - city and country. Having worked in a blue collar industry for 13 years I can tell you how horribly ingrained it is in people. I can tell you stories about a guy who when he was an apprentice every one there called him ‘Blacky’ - he was actually Maltese - and how when he came out of his time the CEO forgot his name and just called him Blacky. He quit the next week, the final insult.
I see what coco is sayin’, but I’m not sure I agree with Lady Chaos on all her points. I don’t think racism is in the same boat as some other forms of discriminations. Sexism, yes definately but some of your other examples, I would say not.
we are so full of many cultures and its sad we dont get on well this does happen my self i had that hate but i was converted when i lived in asia for ten years that changed me for love and tolerence now i just smile if i get that rude person
LadyChaos, I think racism is seen as worse than other forms of vilification for two reasons:
1. The victims can’t help being of a particular racial background.
2. Racial attacks, which are by their very nature senseless, tend to be stronger than other attacks. Racism, unchecked, leads to a kind of thinking that starts to devalue a race. English soldiers, for example, once considered Irish people to be a lesser race and used that to justify their awful treatment of them. The same thing happened between the Tutsis and the Hutus in Rwanda.
There are parallels. For example, gay hate crimes can be more ferocious than other kinds of hate crimes, but generally racist attacks are in a league of their own.
I live quite close to Footscray and enjoy the diversity of the area. I must say I have not really noticed all that much overt racism but there does seem to be a feeling that most people stick to their own racial groups. I do feel this is a sad thing.
This seems to be a problem that occurs everywhere. I have quite a number of friends that have come from all over the globe but I admit these people are more open to difference due to most being somewhat creative. I have discussed this at length with my wife, (who also came to our shores from another place) and she agrees that a lot of people hold onto their cultural identity through seeking out those who are the same.
This is not racism of course, but a lack of communication between different cultures does not help the situation. Those who embrace racism usually blurt “Why don’t they integrate?” and advocate forced integration or kick them out attitudes.
I guess what I am trying to say is that there could be more than just plain racism to the situation you saw at Footscray station. Many stories I have heard about growing up in Melbourne from those who came here from other places include racist scenarios, but there is an underlying feeling of not belonging in a lot of them. It is not easy to classify some things you overhear on the streets. Consider for example the kid that gets picked on for being different. He might put up with it for years. Then another kid comes along who is even more different and the bullies turn their attention to him. There is a good chance the first kid will join in picking on the new kid to take the attention away from him. It happens all the time, and it is not just confined to children. I do not disagree with your response to the situation, I just think you have simply taken one layer from the onion.
Humanity is far from perfect but we should always strive for a better world. We just need to work out how to remove the idiots from the helm.
Racism is rife. I can say so as my wife is from an imigrant family. I have watched her being ignorred by shop staff many times. Tehy just don’t want to serve someone “Different”. She is Australain, she does not have any different culture from the “Australian” culture.
At times too, I get treated poorly in areas of specific cultural density. I have not been served in restaurants and grocery stores either, because I did not fit in. Racism is a two way street, or a multi lane highway in this country. It should be stamped out.
Mattywag, I have also seen my wife being treated that way. I have a suspicion that a lot of it has to do with pure ignorance of otherness. It makes me sad when I hear people slowing their speech down when my wife gets served and it seems these people get somewhat annoyed when my wife answers in perfect english.
How do we stamp racism out? I can’t give you a solution to this. I can only guess that it starts at home, kids more often than not follow their parents attitudes. So does education have the task of righting this? Who knows.
As a 100% anglo I totally oppose racism and the issue is close to my heart for obvious reasons. I can only state that getting angry about it cant help. Look closely at the racists and remember that THEY ARE WRONG. It is THEIR problem dont make it yours. Anger only leads to situations like Sydney’s northern beaches.
Just a comment about people stepping in to help or difuse the situation. It is very sad that people don’t do this anymore but it is not because they don’t care it is that the world is a much more violent place. Look at the stabbings that occur today. Not to say I wouldn’t defend a little old lady I would, but people are too scared these days as they don’t know what the consequences will be.