Well… I’ve been lurking from time to time but not posting. Once you post… well… you need another one… then another, then soon… you know the story. You wake up 6 months later in the same spot wondering if you have just dreamt it all.
Glad you’re still hangin’ around Bess
xxx
[size=200]OMG HES BACK!![/size]
Yes, embrace! Let’s hope he stays!
Km,
You mentioned other countries having their own bigot-culture. Any clear examples of that? Or is it more subtle?
(ps… I have tried to leave for months and now I don’t even apologize for my addiction anymore! Harmless… or is it? A time-drainer no doubt.)
Wow that’s a big topic Bess and not one I expected on a comedy thread. I honestly don’t know where to begin… history, culture, politics?
If you’re wondering about whether there’s bigotry in Australia, the answer is yes – not as pronounced as other parts of the globe, but it wouldn’t take much to ignite it.
To understand Australia’s white/black issue, it’s more accurate to compare our indigenous people with America’s indigenous Indians – not African Americans. Both have relatively small populations (aborigines make up about 1.5 to 2%), both have been corralled into reservations or the outskirts of towns, both have almost totally lost their culture, land and identity, and both are politically impotent.
Racism against Aborigines is by far the deepest. Aborigines aren’t “cool†or sexy like some American black stereotypes. Aborigines have an enormous economic, social, alcohol and drug (glue sniffing) problems. (Too large a topic to go into detail here)
Regarding bigotry and other groups: Australia’s population has more immigrants per head of population than any country (except Israel) and has been touted by many as the best example of a successful multicultural society. Having said that, subtle racism still exists but I believe it has more to do with disturbing the status quo, than disliking the people themselves.
For instance, racism against Asians (South East Asians) is creeping up as their perceived numbers get larger and larger and racism against Arabs/Muslims is creeping up as people become aware of pockets of extremists and angry Arab youths. Then there’s the waves of bigotry aimed at gay and lesbians from time to time – usually when they push their agendas into the mainstream.
As far as all other groups go, bigotry is extremely low or non-existent.
Apart from my attacks on Israel’s / Jewish-American politics (and pearls of wisdom from PoR) I honestly can say I am unaware of anti-Semitism in Australia. I think it’s because the Jews here are more laid back – they don’t dominate the political landscape and use it to further their own hidden agendas as they do in the U.S.
(phew… now back to the humour)