Society & Culture Racism in Australia

[CLUBMEDhurst]

Well I did. Then I turned 17 and realised my opinion was inherently worthless. Getting upset and trying to convince staunchly arrogant people that they're wrong is just boring. It just upsets and frustrates you. It might be burying your head in the sand, but I accept the shitness of it, as opposed to Harry O's dream world of stumbly sentences and Kumbaya. And the fact you're using a 'meme' (the cancer of arguments) from a Family Guy episode (was lame when it was relevant, is lamer now that it's forgotten) doesn't really insult or sway me in the slightest.

You can complain and petition about the perils of racism all day, and I absolutely agree with the sentiment, but far out – realistically, the chance of it changing that lower echelon, uneducated, low-socio-economic Australia is kind of low. They simply don't have the social awareness or the ability to, y'know, analyse – because their parents and social circles reflect everything of their own.

Then again, if we all listened to me, we'd still be in caves...

Almost as low as the number of black faces at The Melbourne Club

 

[Caesar]

It's easier to change the mind of the 'lower echelon' than a teenager.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

IS AUSTRALIA Racist?

Yep. Absolutely. but 50years ago, the same hate filled diatribe aimed today at Africans and Asians was spewed forth at Italians and Greeks. As for the Goodes/Aboriginal issue.

Up until 1967 Aboriginal people (of which I am one) were legally classified as Flora and Fauna. we werent allowed to vote in an election. We were allowed to be refused entry to pubs, RSL's and even banned from enrolling in govt schools until the EARLY 80'S based on our race. Our elders who fought in WW2 came home to be told that while all other soldiers would be given a free house, they would not as they were flora and fauna. Plants and animals. When Adam Goodes mother was stolen from her mum and separated from her siblings (she has never found them despite searching her whole life) she was told it was because as an Aboriginal, her mum was flora and fauna. An animal. And that is why she couldnt raise a light coloured "more human" baby.

I could go on and on. But the above are a few points to the real history of this country, that even in the 80's saw us being blatantly treated with apartheid policy. When you call Adam Goodes an ape, youre pushing that bruise that exists from generations of "youre an animal. Flora and Fauna. You cant be with your mum for that reason" This country treated every migrant fresh off a boat 100x better than its first people. Today, Aboriginal men die on average 17 years younger than every human in Australia. A man in an Indian slum lives 8 years longer in comparison. 70% of the population in Australia have finished year 12 as opposed to 4% of indigenous people. Football is pretty much the only place Aboriginals are thriving in the real world. Everywhere else is a battle. 70% of the kids in prison around this country are indigenous yet we make up 4% of the population. So again, calling Adam Goodes an animal. Its a reminder and reinforcement of the way this country has treated his people for 220 years, and continues to.

Finally, to all those who sit back saying "toughen up" If the above history was YOUR familes history. YOUR story. with all the hurt and fallout that includes. Would you still feel that way? Or would you want others to attempt to understand you, and work together to help you and your family back to an equal footing? We want mercy for ourselves and justice for everyone else most the time. No doubt this will be lost on some of you, but hopefully helps some of you understand the battle that Aboriginal people in this country STILL face on a daily basis.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

Not to disagree with the overall sentiment, but you might want to ease up on the old "flora and fauna" thing. Because it's a myth.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

Not to disagree with the overall sentiment, but you might want to ease up on the old "flora and fauna" thing. Because it's a myth.

holocaust never happened either. you honestly need to stop listening to andrew bolt.

 

[Caesar]

You need to read more law. It's an ignorant statement.

 

[HappyChappy35]

Up until 1967 Aboriginal people (of which I am one) were legally classified as Flora and Fauna. we werent allowed to vote in an election. We were allowed to be refused entry to pubs, RSL's and even banned from enrolling in govt schools until the EARLY 80'S based on our race.

Please point out the law stating Aboriginal people were to be classified as flora and fauna, in addition to the law regarding refusal of entry to certain places that supposedly existed until the 1980's (I'm fairly sure this was abolished back in the 60's).

Today, Aboriginal men die on average 17 years younger than every human in Australia.

The most recent, accurate figures suggest Aboriginal men have a life expectancy of 10 years less than other Australians, not 17.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Life_expectancy

A man in an Indian slum lives 8 years longer in comparison.

A man in an Indian slum can expect to live for 47 years, as opposed to an Aboriginal man who can expect to live for 20 years longer. Google "Indian slum life expectancy" and the 47 years figure is the first thing that pops up.

The figure for Indigenous life expectancy also varies significantly by state- it's as low as 61 years in the NT and as high as 75 years in NSW.

70% of the population in Australia have finished year 12 as opposed to 4% of indigenous people.

Multiply that figure by 10 and you have a more accurate answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Education

70% of the kids in prison around this country are indigenous yet we make up 4% of the population.

That figure is more accurate that some of the other ones you've posted, but still incorrect nonetheless. 39% of the juvenile prison population are Indigenous, not 70%.

On an average day in 2010–11, there were about 7,265 young people under juvenile justice supervision in Australia. Of these, about 2,820 (39%) were Indigenous young people, which compares to their representation among the broader youth population of around 5%.

http://www.aihw.gov.au/media-release-detail/?id=10737422593

To make things clear, I'm not disagreeing with the notion that Aboriginal people are significantly disadvantaged in may areas of life. Just interested to know where you got some of these statistics/figures from.

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

I

Please point out the law stating Aboriginal people were to be classified as flora and fauna, in addition to the law regarding refusal of entry to certain places that supposedly existed until the 1980's (I'm fairly sure this was abolished back in the 60's).



The most recent, accurate figures suggest Aboriginal men have a life expectancy of 10 years less than other Australians, not 17.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Life_expectancy



A man in an Indian slum can expect to live for 47 years, as opposed to an Aboriginal man who can expect to live for 20 years longer. Google "Indian slum life expectancy" and the 47 years figure is the first thing that pops up.

The figure for Indigenous life expectancy also varies significantly by state- it's as low as 61 years in the NT and as high as 75 years in NSW.



Multiply that figure by 10 and you have a more accurate answer.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Indigenous_Australians#Education



That figure is more accurate that some of the other ones you've posted, but still incorrect nonetheless. 39% of the juvenile prison population are Indigenous, not 70%.



http://www.aihw.gov.au/media-release-detail/?id=10737422593

To make things clear, I'm not disagreeing with the notion that Aboriginal people are significantly disadvantaged in may areas of life. Just interested to know where you got some of these statistics/figures from.

I work inthis industry and the figures are current from the Australian Bureau of statistic. I wouldnt be taking everything Wiki says as gospel. as for the jail stats. i am in juvenile prisons often and can assure you. 70% is a conservative stat.

I love when you have these conversations, the people that feel that they have to nit pick stats and statements that are commonly accepted by most people. They wont come out an say it, but you know most are silently thinking "my parents had it hard too. toughen up" or something similar. But they will never actually truly attempt to empathise or even really care. If youre serious about this topic, go have a look at some communities and see whats REALLY happening in your own backyard. I suspect most wont though. They will just sit back and whinge, using wikipedia stats to back up their angry opinions and then pass those sentiments on to their kids. Then they'll say things like "im not a racist, i have a friend who is aboriginal" But we know who they are and what they are like...

 

[Catsmaninamerica]

https://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/indigenous-australia/close-the-gap/

 

[Caesar]

Just because indigenous people are disadvantaged doesn't mean you can pull statistics out of your arse and then accuse anyone who questions them of racism.

Some of the stuff you're saying might be correct but several statements you've made are just plain wrongheaded. It's not unreasonable to ask you to back things up.

 

[HappyChappy35]

I
I work inthis industry and the figures are current from the Australian Bureau of statistic. I wouldnt be taking everything Wiki says as gospel. as for the jail stats. i am in juvenile prisons often and can assure you. 70% is a conservative stat.

I love when you have these conversations, the people that feel that they have to nit pick stats and statements that are commonly accepted by most people. They wont come out an say it, but you know most are silently thinking "my parents had it hard too. toughen up" or something similar. But they will never actually truly attempt to empathise or even really care. If youre serious about this topic, go have a look at some communities and see whats REALLY happening in your own backyard. I suspect most wont though. They will just sit back and whinge, using wikipedia stats to back up their angry opinions and then pass those sentiments on to their kids. Then they'll say things like "im not a racist, i have a friend who is aboriginal" But we know who they are and what they are like...

If you want to verify those Wikipedia stats you can check out the references listed at the bottom of the article.

Again, I haven't suggested Aboriginals aren't significantly disadvantaged in many areas of life. I've been to Aboriginal communities before and have experienced firsthand their lifestyle and some of the conditions they live in, and can tell you for a fact they're far from ideal.

Just saying that I'm very, very skeptical about of some of those "stats". After doing some digging I think it's fair to say you've artificially inflated them to varying degrees, especially the one suggesting only 4% of the Indigenous population have completed year 12 when in actual fact about 12 times that number have (have a look at this article if you like- http://www.theaustralian.com.au/new...mpleting-year-12/story-fn3dxiwe-1226601938169).

And yes, statistics are entirely relevant to this. They're facts and can therefore be used to back up a certain viewpoint.

 

[HappyChappy35]

https://www.oxfam.org.au/explore/indigenous-australia/close-the-gap/

They're a human rights organisation, not a statistical agency/bureau. As such their "facts" are likely to be exaggerated and skewed towards a certain viewpoint, so I'd take them with a grain of salt.

 

[Ted38]

I
I work inthis industry and the figures are current from the Australian Bureau of statistic. I wouldnt be taking everything Wiki says as gospel. as for the jail stats. i am in juvenile prisons often and can assure you. 70% is a conservative stat.

I love when you have these conversations, the people that feel that they have to nit pick stats and statements that are commonly accepted by most people. They wont come out an say it, but you know most are silently thinking "my parents had it hard too. toughen up" or something similar. But they will never actually truly attempt to empathise or even really care. If youre serious about this topic, go have a look at some communities and see whats REALLY happening in your own backyard. I suspect most wont though. They will just sit back and whinge, using wikipedia stats to back up their angry opinions and then pass those sentiments on to their kids. Then they'll say things like "im not a racist, i have a friend who is aboriginal" But we know who they are and what they are like...

That chip on your shoulder is very obvious.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I love when you have these conversations, the people that feel that they have to nit pick stats and statements that are commonly accepted by most people.

"Commonly accepted by most people" doesn't make something true. It was commonly accepted that the sun revolved around the earth once. It was widely accepted that 10% of the population was homosexual until the organisation that made that up eventually admitted it.

The real stats still tell the story, so don't damage the argument by using made up ones.

 

[The_Reaper]

As someone who isn't white I must admit that I've encountered neglible racism- and that asians (and probably other immigrant groups) are just as 'racist' against whites as whites are to them.

 

[MrCharisma]

As someone who isn't white I must admit that I've encountered neglible racism- and that asians (and probably other immigrant groups) are just as 'racist' against whites as whites are to them.

A common and poor argument .

logically there's going to be racists within all races, assuming you can't just lump billions of different people with different values/personalities/beliefs into one barrel. So what's your point?

 

[TheFreshBanana]

A common and poor argument .

logically there's going to be racists within all races, assuming you can't just lump billions of different people with different values/personalities/beliefs into one barrel. So what's your point?

That essentially no race is more racist than the other?

 

[The_Reaper]

A common and poor argument .

logically there's going to be racists within all races, assuming you can't just lump billions of different people with different values/personalities/beliefs into one barrel. So what's your point?

That I've experienced bugger all racism

 

[Ted38]

That I've experienced bugger all racism

I thought that was patently obvious, even Stevie Wonder would've been able to see that.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I thought that was patently obvious, even Stevie Wonder would've been able to see that.

So you think it's OK to make fun of the disabled?

 

[Scotland]

IS AUSTRALIA Racist?

Yep. Absolutely. but 50years ago, the same hate filled diatribe aimed today at Africans and Asians was spewed forth at Italians and Greeks.

I really wish people wouldn't say this as though it is some kind of catch-all that renders any argument invalid.

 

[Ted38]

So you think it's OK to make fun of the disabled?

What a weird Nazi imagination you possess!

 

[Ted38]

IS AUSTRALIA Racist?

Yep. Absolutely. but 50years ago, the same hate filled diatribe aimed today at Africans and Asians was spewed forth at Italians and Greeks.

Different time different situation different reasons.

 

[cats81]

God I love uni students.

Don't lump them all in with this douche bag, hes either socially inept or completely ignorant of how much of a tosser he sounds like every time he posts.

 

[aussiefooty]

I'd say yes Australia is a racist country. Everywhere you go you always hear some disgusting racist comment that comes from the mouths of people who are a disgrace to society. People who discriminate against others over their appearance, race, and cultural background need to learn about respect. They absolutely disgust me.
I remember when I was at my local primary school up in Mildura. About half the school students were indigenous. About a quarter of the students were greek/italian and the rest were Aussies. You would think the quarter of the students that were aussies would be respectful. But no they weren't. Every single recess we had there were fights between indigenous students and aussie students over appearance and cultural differences. It was absolutely disgusting behaviour.