australiaWe learn about racism from an early age. We all think we know what it means.
But do we?
Racism, according to the Collins Australian English Dictionary, is a 'hostile attitude or behaviour to members of other races, based on a belief in the innate superiority of one's own race.' Naturally, definitions of the word might differ depending on who you ask, but I think we all accept that racism is basically an attitude in which you dislike, persecute, or treat as inferior those who belong to a different racial background to yourself.
The classic example, of course, is Nazi Germany. That was an example of institutionalised racism, where any member of the Jewish race was firstly deprived of rights and discriminated against, and subsequently gassed in the concentration camps. This kind of thing still happens from time to time in the world, mostly in less extreme ways.
So, then, here is the relevant question: is Australia a racist country?
Many say yes, pointing to the government's treatment of illegal immigrants, history of oppression against the Aboriginal peoples and the popularity in the late 90s of Pauline Hanson's One Nation.
I want to talk about the latter of these, first: specifically, the feelings that gave One Nation so much popularity, and made the political party so popular for a brief period of time. Such feelings are still very prevalent among many Australians today, which is why discussion of this subject is still relevant.
One Nation had many party platforms, but the most publicised one was its seemingly radical anti-immigration stance. Hanson saw the relatively large numbers of Asian immigrants as bringing about the dilution of Australian culture. She was also opposed to multiculturalism - a theory in which a country is improved by an influx of different cultures, bringing about a greater degree of diversity and acceptance of differences.
You may have noticed something in the above paragraph. Without questioning the controversial nature of Hanson's ideas, 'race', as such, is curiously absent. The emphasis here seems to be, squarely, on 'culture'.
What is the difference between race and culture? Well, rather a lot. Race, today, is, or should be, largely irrelevant. We've all heard about how we should respect people no matter what their skin colour is, and theories such as racial superiority have been relegated to the fringes of society.
Culture, however, is a different matter altogether. Culture is one of the major factors in the way we are shaped as people - it can determine our political beliefs, our religious beliefs, and what we consider right or wrong. A society's 'culture' is really what creates that society.
This, I believe, is what drives fear of immigration, and the opposition of multiculturalism. It's not that such people 'don't like black people', it's that they are frightened of the possible results of other cultures' encroachment upon their own country.
Some might point out that there isn't as much complaint about the impact American culture has on Australia. However, even though there is some amount of anti-Americanism within this country, this particular intrusion is not viewed with as much fear because of the similarities between American and Australian culture. After all, both countries are basically derivatives of British society, whereas other societies have developed seperately over several thousands of years, and as such have far less in common with Australia.
No matter our political beliefs or intelligence, I don't think it can be denied that the majority of Australians would feel more comfortable in England than in Indonesia. Does that make us inherently 'racist'? Not really. Regardless of their skin colour or racial heritage, British people pretty much share our laws, customs, language, religious beliefs (or lack of) and societal expectations. It's simply natural that we would identify more with that.
After all, let's be honest - we all notice differences. Whether it's different skin colour, different facial structure, different accents or language, different behaviour or simply different ways of dressing, it is a human trait to be aware of such disparities. It starts from an early age, when the red-headed kid or the fat kid gets picked on at school - and it seems it's how much we mature with age that decides to what degree we continue to observe differences, rather than accepting and respecting people for who they are.
So, we've established that 'race' is only one factor in fear or distrust of other nationalities. Indeed, I would argue it is a comparatively small one: I contest that a person of Asian background with an Australian accent will be accepted as an "Australian" before a person of European background with, say, a French accent. And, above and beyond such superficial differences, cultural disparity is the biggest single factor in what most people call 'racism'.
Now, the question might be asked: am I playing with words? Isn't xenophobia (fear of foreigners) just as bad as racism, anyway?
I think there is an important difference. Racism cannot really be justified in any way; xenophobia, at least in the way it applies to many Australians, may actually have some rational basis.
What I believe such Australians really have a problem with, whether they are aware of it or not, is multiculturalism.
There is one major problem with multiculturalism - it doesn't really get openly questioned. This seems rather strange, as after all, multiculturalism is only a theory. Not only that, but it is a theory that has no actual prior evidence of having been successful.
Indeed, I am of the belief that multiculturalism is fundamentally flawed. Of course, I don't doubt that it has had positive results - diversity in food, for example. However, diversity brings something else: conflict.
It happens everywhere: Israel. America. The former Yugoslav republics (before they separated). Different cultures bring different ideas, different religious beliefs, different rules, different expectations.
Australia is no exception. Indigenous culture and white Australian culture is still in as much conflict as it has ever been. The Cronulla riots are another example. Cultural 'enclaves' (Redfern, Cabramatta) have a long history of problems.
While many praise multiculturalism because of the 'diversity' it brings, couldn't it be argued that 'unity' is a greater ideal?
It makes sense when you think about it. We could still welcome immigrants from other countries, but rather than encouraging them to hold onto their own cultural traditions and giving regard to their own heritages, they would be encouraged to become 'Australian'.
It's not all that radical, really. When you come to a country, you have to assimilate to some degree, by accepting that country's law. An American who comes to live in Australia isn't allowed to bring his rifle collection. But, this should be the reason why you emigrate - because you prefer that country's laws, and its way of life, and by extension, its culture.
And here lies the problem, in the view of many Australians. While there is still a clear majority of Australians who subscribe to 'Australian' culture, growing immigration from other countries, combined with an encouragement of multiculturalism, could eventually lead to us having no culture. Australia, simply, would not be Australia any more. This, I think, is the real issue.
Feel free to disagree with any, or all, of this, but I hope I have provided a clearer insight to what drives fears over immigration and opposition of multiculturalism within Australia. What concerns me is that these feelings aren't treated with any respect, and are too often simplistically and inaccurately dismissed as 'racism'. No debate gains anything from one side being belittled, and I believe we can all learn something by trying to understand any ideas and beliefs, whether they be naziism or anarchism. Once we have understood them, we can truly assess them, and see if there is any merit to their argument.
