Thread: Australia the most racist country?

I aint saying much about Singapore that hasn't been already said (I've lived here a loooong time) but with regards to Australia, it can be overly perceived as being racist, especially by others who have come from a position of being in the "majority" wherever home is and suddenly find they are a minority in Oz and not able to behave/act/comment on or towards others in the way they do at home - in effect their own racism is suddenly frowned upon in the new country and they in turn feel racially villified/condemned for what is "common" practice wherever home is.

Classic example here is the ethnic Chinese warning their kids to stay close or "The Indian man will catch you". I've even heard it said in my own office in the presence of the individual's boss -an Indian guy, and they don't see it as a racist at all...

Last but not least, the fact that such a topic can be openly discussed says a lot about Australia's openess and fairness - some individuals are racist no doubt, but by far the majority are not.

Originally Posted by seano87

My thoughts on it are that as a whole Australia does have a bit of a racism problem, but certainly not to the extent that a label of being the most is justified, far from it I think.

All racism is justified in the mind of the racist. however I would sagest that the majority of Australians do not regard themselves as racist ( are really more preconceived) but are possibly racist in action, even when with good intent.
While I was typing my last post there was a programme on TV about a Sudanese family. the local old biddies were intending to understand and help out AND with good intentions change there views \ couture ( men don’t go into the kitchen) these women with all good intent were in practice racist but they would never believe it if you told them.

Originally Posted by clean32

Depends on how you define racism.

As a White English speaking Male you will probably be exposed to reverse racism, your white so your rich and are a target for every shop keeper or mother with an unwed daughter who wishes to sell her off. You may just think every one is being nice you and since stepping of the plane you have become 20years more attractive. (as an example not you personally)

But if you define racism as say : to be treated in a different manor than how you would treat a local, then yes you would certainly have been exposed to racism just at times its hard to spot

Re : what you said about reverse racism, that's a definite personally, particularly in larger cities, in fact, in Slumdog Millionaire, the movie that's currently receiving multiple awards, it paints (from my experience of India) a very frighteningly accurate picture of slums, and how they do target westerners at times!

Of course how racism is defined is a large factor in a discussion such as this, and I guess I take it to mean that inherent differences among groups (whether is be skin, religion etc) is seen as one is superior over another, thats how I take it to have been meant when I was first hearing radio discussion of it.

I believe there is racism in Australia, but there is in most places. That's odd considering everyone in Aus is from somewhere .. if you know what I mean.

What interests me is that many people who complain also come from countries that display significant racism themselves.

For example, just last week a workmate was telling me how the firm his daughter works for has a factory in China. They permanently have Australian representatives there to control quality. Anyway they have sent his daughter there a couple of times. She is young, and attractive (I gather). Well she can't walk anywhere without being stared at and talked about. The males are openly disrespectful towards her. As a result she feels like a prisoner just moving between work and here unit, and not wanting to go outside. Needless to say she doesn't want to go back.

Can anyone give an example of a country that has no racism?

Originally Posted by clean32

Or even Burma which don’t even recognise Muslims as citizens. Not racially motivated but religious persecution.
China where going to the wrong church can put you in jail, no trial. Again, not a question of race, but Chinas religious intolerance.
Russia, if you are not a Russian citizen you cant work in Retail etc. Citizenry, not race based I guess! If you are a Caucasian, Asian, Negroid Russian, I assume you can work in retail!

At least in Australia, racism is based on a Miss conception. Yes it is. In my opinion, many confuse bigotry (based on religion, geographic origin) for racism (which relates specifically to ethnicity and which homoniod group you are genetically part of).

Neither is desirable, but still often confused.

But I suspect you just posted to get a rise out of someone so I volunteered first. If not you, it would have been me!

Ralph

Racism is everywhere. Australians are no more racist, on the whole, than anyone else in the world. Individuals are racist, not countries. Australians in the main are not racist, we pride ourselves on giving everyone a fair go. There are exeptions, for varying reasons.....insecurity, experience and influence probably being the most common. As a population I believe we are amongst the least racist people of the world. Incidents of violence are rare, that however is no reassurance to a victim I know.

Originally Posted by V8Ian

Racism is everywhere. Australians are no more racist, on the whole, than anyone else in the world. Individuals are racist, not countries. Australians in the main are not racist, we pride ourselves on giving everyone a fair go. There are exeptions, for varying reasons.....insecurity, experience and influence probably being the most common. As a population I believe we are amongst the least racist people of the world. Incidents of violence are rare, that however is no reassurance to a victim I know.

I think there have been more than a couple of wars fought because countries can be racist.

Cheers
Simon

Japan was quite xenophobic. I don't know if it has improved but Korean-Japanese were once second class citizens.

When I worked in Saudi Arabia, I was dismayed at the racism of the Saudis towards Asians. As a white male, I was treated quite well by my Saudi counterparts yet the highly qualified (and far more qualified than I) Filipino, Bangladeshi, Indian, Sri Lankan, etc., engineers with whom I worked were treated like dirt.