SGS05 said:
Australian society is not racist. People just over react. My mates joke about me being an ABC all the time but they're jokes and thats it. Its like joking about people for being fat. Everyone is different.They are not actually racist. In all of my 18 years here I've never actually encountered a person who said anything about me being an Asian out of the mentioned context.
hmmmmmm not necessarily true. for many people, this may be true, but for some, particularly who have immigrated here for LESS THAN 18 years this is a different story.
racist discrimination works like this. an aggressor, say is Bob, says something particularly racist at Sam, the victim, who casts a hostile glare, but Bob merely dismisses it as "dont worry mate, jokes jokes", BUT Bob's comment is forever sealed in Sam's mind.
Next time, perhaps a day later, or week later, the same thing happens. "oh, dont worry, just a joke. just kidding". again, the comments SLOWLY but SURELY increment. the fuel keeps on building, waiting for just one spark to unleash it all.
and when that time comes, Sam would unleash it all, vehemously attacking all those comments that built inside him for perhaps weeks or months. yet, Bob merely would say "hey, hey, what did i say? only a joke", and the irony is, many bystanders would agree with BOB, and Sam cops it all.
and the cycle continues.
and yes, although we have free speech, there are many other hard won rights, like living in peace and harmony, and without prejudice and unwanted scrutiny, that have been threatened by some foul, unwanted comments directed at them.
we all have a responsibility, on both sides, to combat racism, to upheave engrained values and promote understanding, rather than wallow in smear campaigns, stereotypes and generalisations.
the war has just begun peoples.
