Being indian ( asian ) in australia

[richardcoull]

Hey guys,

 

Just a quick question- Is australia really a racist country?

 

FYI:-

I have been to australia many times and whenever i walk on aussie streets, i always get some racist vibes. Whenever i read their newspapers, there's

always a column of racist attacks.I have been to uk,us and canada as well but i never felt racism there or maybe i was just lucky.Im moving to aus next month, so i would really like to know if im making the right decision?

[peterc1983]

If your perception of the country is that it is racist (which you have indicated), then it really doesn't matter what anyone else thinks.

[richardcoull]

hey Peter,

 

your absolutely right but also mentioned my experience in other english countries. Just wanted to know if it was just my luck that i experienced such incidents or aussies are really racist :l

 

rich

[peterc1983]

I'm not sure what you want to get from the thread

 

Anyone saying yes - or no - is generalising hugely.

[Gbye grey sky]

You will probably spark a number of posts arguing whether it is or it isn't. A lot will depend on where you settle I suspect. If there is a thriving Asian community that is well integrated then I suspect that you will feel more at ease than in an area where there are very few Asians. That's my experience in the UK but as a non Asian I doubt that I would be aware of subtle racism.

[richardcoull]

Um i guess ill get to know about positive and negative experiences, which is gonna help me for decision making ?

 

rich

[MovingtoTasmania]

Australia is the same as any other country in the world. There are some people who are racist and some who aren't. It's not as bad as it was 20 years ago or so but it depends on what you are like too. If you walk around with a chip on your shoulder, people will react accordingly. If you make the effort to integrate at all levels of society, then you will make a wider circle of friends, regardless of their colour or yours. I am Asian, my husband is white; I've experienced racism from whites and he's experienced it from Asians. A lot depends on the person that you are interacting with, there is no yes or no answer to this question. Best to settle in an area where there's a good mix of people from everywhere.

[richardcoull]

Thank You for the response

 

Im a teenager, so im kinda scared and got some mixed emotions for this big step. Ill try my best to fit in

 

cheers

rich

[wakeboard1980]

You say whenever you have walked in the Aussie streets you got a vibe? Can you elaborate?

Can I ask why you are moving to Aus?

[Parley]

I'm sure if you refrain from making ridiculous sweeping generalisations, or insulting your hosts you will be fine.

[blossom]

Thank You for the response

 

Im a teenager, so im kinda scared and got some mixed emotions for this big step. Ill try my best to fit in

 

cheers

rich

Are you coming on a working holiday visa or coming with your parents? I ask as a working holiday visa isn't 'moving' it's a long holiday. You end up not socialising with Aussies as much as if you moved.

 

Personally I think there is more racism here, but I work in a lower class area where there is also more crime, drink driving, drugs etc, so my view would not be the same as other parts of the country.

[flag of convenience]

Australia has been termed the most casually , comfortable racist country perhaps in the world. Canadians I have spoken to seem to consider it far more racist than Canada. A number from UK not long ago said the same. Unsure of latest general UK thinking as an argument could perhaps be raised that UK has become more racist or at least less accepting in recent times.

 

What is for certain is that India now tales the proud place of being the biggest provider of migrants for the past three years. Melbourne and Sydney being their prime destination but also now I believe the biggest provider to migrants to Adelaide, but on a much lower level.

 

Indian restaurants are certainly springing up everywhere. In fact went to a great one last night up here in The Kimberley town of Broome, The place was full on leaving with the barmy weather making al fresco dinning de rigour in this environment.

[Harpodom]

I work with a Muslim colleague from India, she has a very positive personality and is a very moderate Muslim, so much so that I doubt whether many punters are even aware of her religion.

 

I asked her the other day if she was feeling discriminated against in the current climate of fear and Islamophobia, and she said no, not at all.

 

Australians (like Brits I suppose) welcome people who make the effort to 'fit in', who present themselves well (both physically and in terms of their demeanor) and who don't stand out from the crowd too much.

 

She is very popular with colleagues and clients. She is a real success story for an Indian migrant. I'm not saying her experience is typical, but she's someone I know.

 

 

Now, on the other hand, IF we're talking about a Tamil asylum seeker from Sri Lanka, who originally arrived by boat, the reception may well be VERY different. Boat people are regarded as sub human.

[rammygirl]

I don't think they are more racist tbh. BUT I do think they are more likely to show any prejudice they have.

 

in the Uk people are much more guarded and PC about such things, whatever people think they wouldn't dare express it in public.

 

I do find the odd casual comments here quite shocking sometimes as I worked in the very PC public sector in the UK. These are educated middle class people too, just have not had equality message drummed in like in the UK.

 

For what it is worth there is some resentment against the Chinese here as they have taken over a lot of Aussie business, including wineries. As far as I'm concerned they have looked, learned and worked hard to achieve what they have. Mostly they have made a better job of it in terms of profit as they see it as a business not a hobby.

 

Also they do like a friendly jibe, not meant to hurt ( although it can) nothing malicious is usually meant.

 

i would come and be confident in yourself, be open to new friends and try not to interpret any vibe as racist. It certainly isn't personal. If you look for it you will find it, but the teenagers here are pretty friendly and I see many groups of mixed race teenagers hanging out.

 

my own son gets ribbed for his Lancashire accent, he is white, if he were paranoid he could feel racially abused I guess!

[flag of convenience]

I'd say it depends on the environment one finds themselves in. If vulnerable in the sense of having no influence, race can be just another issue together with accent and a host of other things that can be picked on. Laws in place tend to make it less overt than in previous days I guess. Still know a Tamil Asylum Seeker who immigrated with his Danish wife from Denmark, speaks English with a Danish accent who experienced a hard time at a meat works down South of WA. He packed it in before he hit somebody which would have impacted on his visa.

[Parley]

I work with a Muslim colleague from India, she has a very positive personality and is a very moderate Muslim, so much so that I doubt whether many punters are even aware of her religion.

 

I asked her the other day if she was feeling discriminated against in the current climate of fear and Islamophobia, and she said no, not at all.

 

Australians (like Brits I suppose) welcome people who make the effort to 'fit in', who present themselves well (both physically and in terms of their demeanor) and who don't stand out from the crowd too much.

 

She is very popular with colleagues and clients. She is a real success story for an Indian migrant. I'm not saying her experience is typical, but she's someone I know.

 

 

Now, on the other hand, IF we're talking about a Tamil asylum seeker from Sri Lanka, who originally arrived by boat, the reception may well be VERY different. Boat people are regarded as sub human.

 

Not at all. Just illegal would be immigrants.

If a Tamil came by the correct channels they are as welcome as anyone else.

[Harpodom]

Not at all. Just illegal would be immigrants.

If a Tamil came by the correct channels they are as welcome as anyone else.

 

So much so that they and their children deserve to be punished with indefinite remote offshore detention in facilities unfit for dogs, until they go mad, kill themselves or give up and return home to the place they fled from, eh parley? Be honest now.

 

Perhaps the OP should read some posts on the Pacific Solution thread to see Australia's 'dark side'?

[flag of convenience]

So much so that they and their children deserve to be punished with indefinite remote offshore detention in facilities unfit for dogs, until they go mad, kill themselves or give up and return home to the place they fled from, eh parley? Be honest now.

 

Perhaps the OP should read some posts on the Pacific Solution thread to see Australia's 'dark side'?

 

No one deserves punishment apart from the government with their antics of locking up innocent folk in the name of a lack of policy in order to appease the haters in society,

[flag of convenience]

Not at all. Just illegal would be immigrants.

If a Tamil came by the correct channels they are as welcome as anyone else.

 

I don't fancy the prospects of the haters asking for resumes before deciding who to hate do you? The zealous reaction of government to appease the haters in formulating such policy does little to stifle the flames of racism.

[tina0101]

I would say that where I am (Brisbane) i have certainly come across more comments about religion/race than I experienced in the UK. But I also think that Australians are on a higher terror alert at the moment (and we have the G20 here in a few weeks) do some are more paranoid.

I also agree that if you just carry on as normal and be friendly, people won't judge you.

Moving can be hard, especially on teenagers, but please don't worry too much about it.

[Harpodom]

I wasn't meaning to sidetrack the thread, apologies to the OP. Just thought that any discussion of racism/xenophobia would be incomplete without examining Australia's treatment of 'boat people'

[MARYROSE02]

Hey guys,

 

Just a quick question- Is australia really a racist country?

 

FYI:-

I have been to australia many times and whenever i walk on aussie streets, i always get some racist vibes. Whenever i read their newspapers, there's

always a column of racist attacks.I have been to uk,us and canada as well but i never felt racism there or maybe i was just lucky.Im moving to aus next month, so i would really like to know if im making the right decision?

 

To be frank, if you have always found Australia to be racist, unlike the UK, US, and Canada, why come here? I thought I was going to be called a Pommie B*stard by every Aussie I met but, after more than 30 years here, I am still waiting.

 

Most of the Australian cities have large migrant communties from just about every part of the world. Of course, there is some racism, and contrary to popular opinion, 'racism' does not mean white people being nasty to everybody else. The worst racism is often committed by non-white ethnic groups, and Aborigines hardly live in harmony with each other, but it's just not politically correct to say this. Look at the awful revelations recently in Yorkshire.

 

You might recall the attacks on Indian students in both Sydney and Melbourne which were reported in depth in India. The attacks were not racist and neither were they committed by white Australians. The motive was robbery.

[flag of convenience]

To be frank, if you have always found Australia to be racist, unlike the UK, US, and Canada, why come here? I thought I was going to be called a Pommie B*stard by every Aussie I met but, after more than 30 years here, I am still waiting.

 

Most of the Australian cities have large migrant communties from just about every part of the world. Of course, there is some racism, and contrary to popular opinion, 'racism' does not mean white people being nasty to everybody else. The worst racism is often committed by non-white ethnic groups, and Aborigines hardly live in harmony with each other, but it's just not politically correct to say this. Look at the awful revelations recently in Yorkshire.

 

You might recall the attacks on Indian students in both Sydney and Melbourne which were reported in depth in India. The attacks were not racist and neither were they committed by white Australians. The motive was robbery.

 

It could be something to do with the fact that Australia pushes the multi cultural agenda at every opportunity if to its perceived advantage. On the other hand it maintains some of the harshest policy towards those seeking protection. Not forgetting the lingering memories of the most racist of policies The White Australia Policy.

 

The USA, UK and Canada of the Anglo had long ditched such unsavoury policies leaving Australia and South Africa with racial policy unfavourable to non whites.

As such hardly remarkable that the race issue raises its head with such frequency.

[MARYROSE02]

It could be something to do with the fact that Australia pushes the multi cultural agenda at every opportunity if to its perceived advantage. On the other hand it maintains some of the harshest policy towards those seeking protection. Not forgetting the lingering memories of the most racist of policies The White Australia Policy.

 

The USA, UK and Canada of the Anglo had long ditched such unsavoury policies leaving Australia and South Africa with racial policy unfavourable to non whites.

As such hardly remarkable that the race issue raises its head with such frequency.

 

Many countries ran, and continue to run, their own 'white Australia' policies, but they are just protecting their own culture, whereas we have no culture and we are racist. You know as well as I do there are plenty of countries with no multi-cultural societies, or if they do, the minority cultures are treated far worse than in Australia.

 

Are you saying that any country which favours a 'mono-cultural' policy is bad, and multi-culturalism is the one true way? Tell that to China or Japan! Australia has never suffered the race riots endemic in both the USA and the UK. Of course, you could argue that we will suffer the same kind of racial unrest precisely because we ditched the White Australia policy. You can't have race riots in a country that favours mono-culturalism.

 

Canada has experienced exactly the same problems as Australia trying to assimilate (if that is the right word) both the native Canadians, and the French speakers in Quebec.

 

Yes, South Africa had its apartheid policy but then again just about every black African country is dominated by a particular tribe, relgion, caste, but as usual, it is only the whites who are condemned. Even at the height of apartheid, Idi Amin, to name just one tyrant was killing his own people by the tens of thousand, as opposed to the few hundred in South Africa.

 

Yes, Australia maintains a harsh policy towards ILLEGAL migrants but it also maintains a generous official refugee intake, and again, I ask the question, 'If Australia is so bad, then why do people from so many different races and cultures continue to want to come here? It is irrational.

[blossom]

Ok people, back to the op's question please. If you would like a debate then head off to chewing the fat and start one.