Yes Maruco, the reality is we all tend to judge people initially by their appearance. Of course, this is unfair and unjust and all of that, but it’s always going to be the way. That’s partly why people tend to congregate in groups defined by their nationality.
Thankfully, first impressions often change.
Your son can call himself whatever he wants to call himself. Some people will accept it, others won’t. I’d like to say that this will change, but I can’t see it happening.
Like I said, if he has sufficient self esteem it won’t matter to him what people say. And you are the person best able to build up his self esteem.
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http://www.depreciator.com.auNothing on the news in the US that we saw. I wonder if they have even heard of us sometimes.
I have been reading the online newspapers from Holland, but apparently they are very much informed and aware of what is going on in Australia. I figure in many European countries this issue has been discussed.
On one of the Dutch forums, there was a thread like this one and it had 274 replies.It’s interesting to read the headlines the left and right winged newspapers use (from “Australia is shocked by white violence”…and “Govt responsible for racist violence”…and “White, drunk Australians hunt everyone who looks middle eastern”… to “Lebanese are taking over beaches.”)One paper said the violence was “not so bad” because no shots were fired!
The Cronulla incidents were also compared to the racial violence that happended in France not so long ago.
Howard gets a real bashing with his own flag in some of the articles, while the opposition is being called weak and suggestions that Australia is in big need for a new, stronger opposition.
Perhaps the US news does not spend a lot of time informing its residents about the violence in Australia, but I do think that people in some parts of Europe are being made very aware.
Some European countries are having to cope with problems regarding the “Lonsdale Youth” themselves (especially Germany and France, but spreading to other countries as well)-
I am beginning to worry that this is catching on in Australia now too.
Celivia
Hi Celivia
Wow thats dissapointing that the media has put us in such a bad light over this issue overseas.
The media here certainly has alot to answer for too.
As for violence on a world stage? We don’t even deserve a mention. There where maybe 6 victims who where hurt on the day and cars damaged in retalliation.
Followed by a couple of more bashings and stabbings.Internationally nothing really extrodinary there!
Happens every weekend any way people stabbed ,mugged , bashings, rape, burgulary etc. The only difference being the media spotlight.
Ill even bet that the cronulla debacle does little to the average weekly crime rate of bashings and car damage.More importantly this type of bad press has caused that miniscule portion of the minority groups to come out of hiding and represent there rascist beliefs. Like the idiots caught carrying petrol on the bus!!! Further fuelling the media hype!
So the rest of OZ ends up being represented internationally by a mere speck of the population.-Thomas
“More Time To Snowboard”
the cronulla crowd and aussies in general regardless of where they come from are generally not racist,the public in general have put up with the minority smart arse young muslim lebanese and other arabic backgrounds for more than 10 years, they have know been shown that we wont put up with their crap any longer ,isnt it amazing how quiet they are know,gutless fanatical religous creeps eg look at their attitudes to our women and what some of there cowardly scum have done to some of our young women?i am astounded at how the cops willingly wailed into their fellow countrymen and have so quickly brought them to justice and with glee thrown the book at them,yet have we seen the same to the lebs and other arabs no way ,because as we see often on tv ,the lebs standing up to cops and openly threatening them and abusing them and they do nothing ,they are either scared of them or are under instructions from our gutless labour pollies and mealy mouthed commissioner and his useless junior commissioners ,anyway if they dont like our way of life go back to their blood soaked streets and bombed cities of their parents former country and let the countless other nationalities get on with their happy lives here with us lucky aussies regards Sydneysmart[angry2]
gjedwards
Not that I like the inflamatory language of sydneysmart, I recall receiving this great little snippet in an email.
Just a note, I was NOT born in Australia, I choose to call it my home! Perhpas the below has some home truths for some:
Australia- The Right to LeaveOur Country – YOU have the right – the right to leave!
After Sydney not wanting to offend other cultures by putting up Christmas lights.
After hearing that the State of South Australia changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver’s license with her face covered.
This prompted this editorial written by an Australian citizen.
Published in an Australian newspaper.Quote:
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It
I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some
individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the “politically correct” crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia.
However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.
This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity.
As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle.This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese,
Russian, or any other language.
Therefore, if you wish to become part
of our society, learn the language!“In God We Trust” is our National Motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented.
It is certainly appropriate to display it on
the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture.If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don’t like “A Fair Go”, then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.
We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don’t care how you did things where you came from.
This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you
every opportunity to enjoy all this.But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag,
Our Pledge, Our National Motto, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom,“THE RIGHT TO LEAVE”.
If you aren’t happy here then leave.
We didn’t force you to come here.
You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.
Pretty easy really, when you think about it.Nice and succinct, really. Perhaps it is the message that needs to be shown to those that choose to create incidents like the Cronulla Debarcle.
My thoughts….
Cheers
C@34Our greatest weakness lies in giving up. The most certain way to succeed is to always try something one more time.
– Thomas EdisonDon’t let reality be the benchmark for your Dreams
Yes, what we need to do is round up the 5,000 cowardly Australians who met up on that Sunday, got drunk, and then went hunting in packs, beating up anybody who didn’t look like them. Surely we don’t want people who behave like that living here?
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