Racism in Australia
by What I thought was one of the most liberal countries is actually racist. The Australian attacks on Indian students in the news is disturbing to say the least.
In the news I have seen horrifying images of a student from India struggling for his life. He was the victim of an attack in Australia where three Indian students were stabbed with screw drivers. If it were an isolated incident one would not be so concerned. There is crime in all countries. Yet this is the fifth case of attack on students of Indian origin in the last month.
Not exactly great for the image of any country to have but with Australia it is shocking. A country that is essential emerged from people of all origins being racist is not great news. There is something wrong with the picture here. Why are the Australian Universities wooing children and parents from India if they can not provide them a safe education site?
Are the locals finding it tough to compete with the Indians? Is there a shortage of jobs in the market and are Australians not getting jobs? Do they see Indian students as potential and threatening competition? Or do they just feel that Indian students are soft targets to be mobbed and robbed? Away from family support and unable to get immediate assistance?
We Indians are a melting pot of many different types of religions and have many unshared customs and traditions. You won’t say a south Indian family and a north Indian family look or act like the members of the same country. Yet they are. And they live in peace together. There is a very high level of tolerance in most Indians about the other person’s religious, political and economic views.
So it is incomprehensible why others are so close minded? Is it just economics at play in times of a bad financial crisis or is it a more deep rooted evil? Why can’t the Australians keep up the great image that they have in the international community? Why are they not training their children to be tolerant? How many more cases like this one will need to be reported for a change to come in?
Perhaps these are all rhetoric, but I did need to lodge my personal protest. I hope the boy recovers. I sympathize with his parents. And one thing is for sure, my son will not be seeking admissions in any Australian University. I could not deal with the anxiety of placing my son in danger intentionally.
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Post CommentJuhls
On June 1, 2009 at 4:33 pm
How scary and frustrating. It is quite surprising that these violent events have been occurring in Australia… It seems that even as the world takes leaps forward, there are still steps backward that hinder progress, tolerance, safety, etc. Very sad…
ken bultman
On June 1, 2009 at 4:49 pm
I listen to Australian radio from time to time. They are neglectful in mentioning those attacts. Your article is well taken and very well written. Not rhetoric. You were venting your anger.
chris73
On June 1, 2009 at 5:06 pm
Unfortunately i am not surpized when i listen to such things anywhere in the world.
Lostash
On June 1, 2009 at 5:12 pm
I live in a very cosmopolitan county here in England, and I think it’s great for all concerned. I think part of the problem these days is when citizens begin to lose their own cultural identity through political correctness. We should all be culturally tolerant and embrace it all, but not at the expense of your own identity, and then have the government force correctness down your throat at every opportunity. I want to be able to call Christmas, Christmas!! Not a corrected ‘Winter Festival’. If we asked other communities to change the names of their religious/cultural festivals they would be uproar!! It’s time to abandon political correctness and just let people live together, side by side, within whatever faith system they choose to follow. I can understand your fear and loathing over this incident, and the attack was appalling.
mdartist
On June 1, 2009 at 5:46 pm
Unfortunately, racistism is everywhere. But this was a very good piece of information. Some of it I did not know or realize. Thanks for sharing.
DA Cournean
On June 1, 2009 at 8:23 pm
Horrible!
skylite
On June 1, 2009 at 8:26 pm
That is horrible … at some point you would think people would grow up and get over racism, we are all people therefore all the same no matter who we are, what color we are or where we live etc. Well Written !!
Ask Cash
On June 1, 2009 at 9:40 pm
Juhls, that’s what I feel. One needs to come together to go forward, not stab each other.
Thank you Ken for understanding what I was trying to communicate.
Chris, I wish I could be so unconcerned.
Lostash, I would hate for Christmas to be called Winter Festival. We are very keen on Christmas even in India. My MIL is a catholic.
Mdartist, I wish it were not so.
DA , My sentiments exactly.
Skylite, If only more people would realize that the world would be rid of racism.
Joe Dorish
On June 2, 2009 at 6:20 am
Did not know Australia was so racist, thanks for the info. Hope the boy recovers and the government there starts doing something about this. A civilized culture should not tolerate such acts.
@robotsoul
On June 18, 2009 at 1:46 pm
The Indian students are not taking Australian jobs, they are in fact contributing to the OZ economy by spending tuition dollars there. The government of Australia absolutely has to address this situation, there have been few repercussions for those perpetrating violence. There have been 70 attacks this year against students a shameful stat that makes action on the part of the govt. imperative. Here is more on the issue (great story very informative): http://www.newsy.com/videos/indian_students_fight_back_racial_attacks
Cashmere Lashkari
On June 18, 2009 at 8:29 pm
As many as 70? Wow, what is the government doing?
TheTruth
On July 8, 2009 at 12:24 am
Australia has always sweep racism under the rug. Earlier Chinese students were mocked, and treated as basically outcast to a certain extent. There’s also an underlying racism in Australia if you are a minority and looking for employment. Australians tend to hire within their own skin tone. Now the Indian racial overtones. This doesn’t get picked up much by the mass media, and the locals tend to put the blame game to the immigrations and those on visa.
You can boycott their economy and their goods if you feel that the government is insensitive to the minorities.