Comments on: Intolerant Fear: Students of Color Face Attacks in Traditionally White Countries

By: HyderabadChick

HyderabadChick — Tue, 01 Sep 2009 22:48:32 +0000

By: Marc Latham

Marc Latham — Mon, 31 Aug 2009 09:49:38 +0000

This may be a bit off topic, but Melbourne seems to have had a problem with gangs and violence for decades; like most cities in the world I guess.

A band from my youth, Rose Tattoo, whose lead singer, Angry Anderson, appeared in Mad Max 3 and became a bit of a celebrity used to sing all about it back in the ’80s.

If you like slow bluesy rock with amazing slide guitar look up the band and a song called ‘The Butcher and Fast Eddy’ for a story about a Melbourne gang fight.

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By: Carlo

Carlo — Thu, 27 Aug 2009 03:16:49 +0000

Since Buster’s piece I’ve thought quite a bit about this. The last thing I wanted to do was insinuate that racism isn’t a problem in this world or to downplay it. And I certainly don’t mean to be insensitive to anyone who’s lived with it as a big part of their lives. As a person of colour I suppose I’ve been lucky in that I haven’t experienced much of it in my life and my travels.

Not to say I don’t notice it. I do. Snide, under the cuff remarks made my friends, colleagues, people within earshot. I often feel as if I’m undercover…maybe it’s the fact that I act “white” (whatever that may mean) many people forget or ignore the fact that I’m not and feel free to say whatever.

In the last comment in Buster’s article, this reader said this: “The main problem is with those who are subtle in their racism.The overt ones you can ignore but it is the subtle treatment that cuts to the bone.” This is exactly right. This is the culture that needs to change. This is what is dangerous. It might seem innocent enough when everything is going well and it’s not an issue, but given the right conditions, this can transform into something more dangerous.

To get more to the point, yes, be wary of your surroundings when traveling or studying abroad and educate yourself. Always. But also try to understand the entire context before you assess the potential danger to yourself, rather than making a knee-jerk reaction.

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By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:06:58 +0000

Nevermind. Weird computer glitch?

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By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:06:06 +0000

I left a thoughtful comment here that was erased. I know it went through because I’m receiving the follow up comments as requested. Interesting.

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By: Nora

Nora — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 17:43:48 +0000

No. Not at all. Im living in London at the moment and several people, from the person to the deli to people i meet, have brought it up in conversations. And coming from a Malaysian background living in Australia for 25 years of my life, I have a very soft spot. Nothing intended towards you.

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By: Christine Garvin

Christine Garvin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:38:10 +0000

Nora, I’m not sure if you were referring to me being from London, but I can assure you, I’m not. I grew up in the sometimes extremely separate and racist southern US. I would never deem to say another place has more of a racism problem than where I grew up.

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By: Christine Garvin

Christine Garvin — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 16:33:30 +0000

Thanks for all of your comments. I can’t speak directly of the racism found in Australia, since I’ve only visited, and well, I’m white. I definitely noticed an undercurrent of a racist mentality from SOME of the white people I met there towards the Aboriginal people, but that is hardly a blanket statement.

I’m not sure how much I agree with the idea that the media is trying to run with the racist attacks and blow them way out of proportion, though. I don’t dispute that there is a lot of violence in general (I honestly don’t know, and several of you live there, so I take your word for it), but considering there are protests happening from Indian students to stop the violence (the pic in the story is from one of them), I can’t help but believe it feels very real to THEM. And isn’t that the point in a way?

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By: Kate

Kate — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 12:33:04 +0000

I’m liking your rhetoric a bit better in this post, Carlo. I think when you say, “Yes, some Indians have been attacked. At least a couple were blatant racism,” that that is a point in a discussion about racist violence where the comment could end.

While I understand that you have concerns about Melbourne’s problem with violence in general, it’s important not to minimize the danger to people of color or to downplay at the fears that they may have. The fear is wholly legitimate and it is not for us to quantify it.

I think that Christine has a point that blogging and talking about the problem can help, but it seems to me that the attackers are very likely not those reading blogs like this. We must make a point when we see racism in person to speak out, too.

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By: Nora

Nora — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 10:48:02 +0000

i totally agree with you. Its been blown out of proportion. Ive lived in Perth, Australia all my life and have NEVER feared for my safety because of racism. And it really stirs me up when people in london think Australia has a racism issue.

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