A Nation of Racist Drunks?
- Thread starter android88
- Start date
Not surprising - and we need to stop being thin-skinned. Indian people, like White people, can be racist! I've lived in 4 different nations, and I've lived amongst Caucasians, Chinese, Indian, and Malay people, and I have to say this: Every race has a fair share of racists. It's not just a white-people thing. Half of my ancestors and relatives are Chinese, and half of my relatives are white and I've heard enough racist nonsense spoken by one side about the other. My White relatives will occasionally chime in about how all Asians are "good at math, but can't drive and are all sneaky", while my Chinese relatives will "delightfully" call white people "fat, violent red-apes" (despite being Chinese they use an old Malay insult against White people used because when the English first came to Malaysia, their skin would turn red due to sun-burn).
At least my mother and my father aren't racist. But I've dealt with enough racist crap my whole life to realize that it's EVERYWHERE. I've heard so many racist comments made by Indians against the Chinese and Vice Versa. I've heard so many Chinese being so horribly racist against black people. I've heard so many African people being racist, not just at other races, but even amongst themselves (Just ask a Somalian what they think of Ethiopians or vice versa, and you'll quickly understand what I'm talking about).
So is the fact that Indians can be racist shocking? No! I've heard even more racist smack-talk against Indians from Australians. When I was still in highschool, you won't believe the racist crap some of the white people said about Indians.
Indians are fully human - that means, like all humans, they are just as flawed as anyone else, just as susceptible to racism as any other group. I'm not surprised, or really offended that some Indians are racist - because EVERY nation has racists. Why are any of you surprised? It's human nature to try to talk up your ethnicity as being "the best" ethnicity. As a mixed-race person, such talk is ridiculous in my eyes. No ethnicity is "the best". All ethnicities are equally good and equally bad, and any study of history will show this. Sure, white people might have enslaved more people than any other group, but slavery isn't a "white" thing. All nations and all ethnicities have practised slavery throughout the ages. That doesn't excuse what the white people did, of course.
So some Indians are racist. Big deal. I'd be surprised if they weren't. Again, I've lived in many countries and I've met a loooooooot of different people throughout the course of my life. You think racism is bad in Western nations? Book a trip to Mainland China and ask them what they think of Black people. I have. I've asked my own relatives what they think of Black people, and their attitude would have shocked even a typical 17th century Englishman. The attitude of my white relatives towards my Chinese mother is scarcely better - at least they don't OPENLY insult her (they just casually throw out the odd racist quip which they think she can't understand).
EDIT: Also, I am an Australia - came over here on my Father's British Passport. I've lived here for almost my entire life, broken up by stays overseas. The amount of racism in Australia is NO WORSE than the amount of racism in any other nation. Racism does exist in Australia, to be sure, and it is bad, but it's no more prevalent than in any other nation. Malaysia is notoriously racist against anyone Non-Malay. Singapore, despite putting on a faux friendly multicultural face, is dominated by the Chinese and they are determined to make sure it stays that way. Australia has its fair share of racist nutters - and it goes both ways. I've had unpleasant encounters with White Supremacists, Asian Supremacists, Lebanese Supremacists (that particular encounter did NOT go well, no siree) and Indigenous Supremacists (they exist). The White Supremacists are the most threatening of the bunch by far, but the other groups definitely exist.
As an Australian, people, please - CHILL OUT. So an Indian firm made racist remarks about Australians. So what? Ignore em. Sticks and stones and the like, you know the rhyme. This is not an excuse to slag off on Indians. I went to the Courier Mail's website today and I read the comment section and you wouldn't believe the hissy fit some white people were throwing over this insult. Well, now that they know how it feels to be racially insulted, maybe they will be less racist in the future! If you turn around and start shouting racist insults to Indians (as some people were doing in the comments section of the Courier mail story), you're a hypocrite.
At least my mother and my father aren't racist. But I've dealt with enough racist crap my whole life to realize that it's EVERYWHERE. I've heard so many racist comments made by Indians against the Chinese and Vice Versa. I've heard so many Chinese being so horribly racist against black people. I've heard so many African people being racist, not just at other races, but even amongst themselves (Just ask a Somalian what they think of Ethiopians or vice versa, and you'll quickly understand what I'm talking about).
So is the fact that Indians can be racist shocking? No! I've heard even more racist smack-talk against Indians from Australians. When I was still in highschool, you won't believe the racist crap some of the white people said about Indians.
Indians are fully human - that means, like all humans, they are just as flawed as anyone else, just as susceptible to racism as any other group. I'm not surprised, or really offended that some Indians are racist - because EVERY nation has racists. Why are any of you surprised? It's human nature to try to talk up your ethnicity as being "the best" ethnicity. As a mixed-race person, such talk is ridiculous in my eyes. No ethnicity is "the best". All ethnicities are equally good and equally bad, and any study of history will show this. Sure, white people might have enslaved more people than any other group, but slavery isn't a "white" thing. All nations and all ethnicities have practised slavery throughout the ages. That doesn't excuse what the white people did, of course.
So some Indians are racist. Big deal. I'd be surprised if they weren't. Again, I've lived in many countries and I've met a loooooooot of different people throughout the course of my life. You think racism is bad in Western nations? Book a trip to Mainland China and ask them what they think of Black people. I have. I've asked my own relatives what they think of Black people, and their attitude would have shocked even a typical 17th century Englishman. The attitude of my white relatives towards my Chinese mother is scarcely better - at least they don't OPENLY insult her (they just casually throw out the odd racist quip which they think she can't understand).
EDIT: Also, I am an Australia - came over here on my Father's British Passport. I've lived here for almost my entire life, broken up by stays overseas. The amount of racism in Australia is NO WORSE than the amount of racism in any other nation. Racism does exist in Australia, to be sure, and it is bad, but it's no more prevalent than in any other nation. Malaysia is notoriously racist against anyone Non-Malay. Singapore, despite putting on a faux friendly multicultural face, is dominated by the Chinese and they are determined to make sure it stays that way. Australia has its fair share of racist nutters - and it goes both ways. I've had unpleasant encounters with White Supremacists, Asian Supremacists, Lebanese Supremacists (that particular encounter did NOT go well, no siree) and Indigenous Supremacists (they exist). The White Supremacists are the most threatening of the bunch by far, but the other groups definitely exist.
As an Australian, people, please - CHILL OUT. So an Indian firm made racist remarks about Australians. So what? Ignore em. Sticks and stones and the like, you know the rhyme. This is not an excuse to slag off on Indians. I went to the Courier Mail's website today and I read the comment section and you wouldn't believe the hissy fit some white people were throwing over this insult. Well, now that they know how it feels to be racially insulted, maybe they will be less racist in the future! If you turn around and start shouting racist insults to Indians (as some people were doing in the comments section of the Courier mail story), you're a hypocrite.
I understand what you're saying. It happens here in America too. Many here say the same thing about our citizens who receive government aid. The thing is though, I think we all blame the group instead of the individual. For as many stoned, drunk and undernourished Aboriginals that you see there's just as many living productive and honest lives. Those people you see stoned and drunk would likely be stoned and drunk even if they weren't Aboriginals and poor; it's easier to cover it up when you've got money. Same here in America. What we call Welfare Cheats would likely cheat at something else if they didn't need Welfare. It's hard not to lump people together but I think we should try. It is just semantics but words are powerful (just check out the 50 Hated Americanisms thread). If we stop grouping people together when we've got something bad to say about an individual I think it would help to alleviate some of the tensions and hatred we all suffer from.Craorach said:
I may be over-sensitive here too. The killings in Norway, colloquialisms causing anger in threads on this site, one source calling an entire continent drunk and racist, I just want people to stop this craziness. I'm not saying you're crazy or anything like that. It's just that your statement sparked something for me.
Trust me, of all the people you could speak to, I understand that no group is the same as those we see. I also do not think badly of people on welfare, I was on welfare for years, many of my friends were, it is just part of life and welfare is something I wholeheartedly support.3AM said:
The problem with Aboriginals in Australia is that the government, and the people, are afraid of doing what needs to be done to bring it under control. While many people are racist towards them, few demand that something is done by the government.
Outside intervention also does not help.. recent attempts to prevent the insane alcoholism rates in rural towns, primarily amongst Aboriginals, were met with cries of Racism from outsiders because they involved preventing whole towns from being allowed to buy alcohol. Similar attempts to give problem families stamps instead of money for welfare were met with the same reaction.
The Elders of their communities rarely do anything productive to prevent or improve the situation.. instead concentrating on racist situations outside of their influence. Ultimately, the Australian people and government can do nothing for these people if they do not wish to improve themselves and the culture within their families and communities.
As a people, the Aboriginal community needs to concentrate it's efforts more strongly on attacking the rot within their culture and families, if it ever wants to be viewed as anything other than a bunch of drunken bludgers.
Nah, I've got cousins and relations in Australia. The horse's mouth disagrees with this article.
Well, I think that for many people, being called at dinner by telemarketers is probably strike 1, and having the interruption be done by someone with an accent you have trouble understanding is strike 2. And since baseball isn't a very popular sport in Austrailia, maybe nobody's according them a strike 3. Hence you get the hostile reaction. Let's face it- nobody likes telemarketers. Responding to this sort of situation with the broad-brush assumptions shown in the article is not going to help the situation any.
I've spoken to people who were obviously Indian during the few times I've had to call a help desk of some sort (usually about my cable Internet), but as I've spent a lot of my life around people with accents- my best friend in high school was from South Africa- I barely even notice unless the accent is REALLY thick. I also tend to have respect for people who are bi/multilingual, since their English is typically far better than my any-language-besides-English.
I've spoken to people who were obviously Indian during the few times I've had to call a help desk of some sort (usually about my cable Internet), but as I've spent a lot of my life around people with accents- my best friend in high school was from South Africa- I barely even notice unless the accent is REALLY thick. I also tend to have respect for people who are bi/multilingual, since their English is typically far better than my any-language-besides-English.
Dammit! Where's my Twinkies?! I will regain this honor for the glory of my country! USA! USA!DarkestStar said:
I am an American. In real life, and by most who actually get to know me, I am told i'm a very nice guy.android88 said:
I am insulted, belittled, made fun of and generally treated like an arrogant blowhard online by pretty much everybody, pretty much everywhere, often for believing things i don't actually believe, and have all kinds of stereotypes applied to me all the time that hurt me more than racial slurs ever did.
I feel your pain =(
Must admit I saw the thread title and thought 'well that could be anywhere' so I wouldn't take it personally. Every country has its heavy drinkers and I find the majority of any population is made up of obnoxious dicks, some with a xenophobic disposition. Though as for the heavy drinking I don't see that as so much of a problem.
Yeah, and all the French are rude smelly gits, and all Americans are obese morons too. Every country is stereotyped by other people, get used to it.
Personally, I think Australians are pretty badass. I couldn't live in a place where all of nature is actively trying to murder me.
Personally, I think Australians are pretty badass. I couldn't live in a place where all of nature is actively trying to murder me.
Isn't it racist to call a large group of people racist?android88 said:
I think this call centre has just had some unpleasant experiences with Australians, and is unfairly labeling all Ozzies under the same banner. That's my guess, anyway.
Best thing to do is to have a sense of humour about it.
I've only ever met two Australian people, and neither was drunk and only one was racist, so I guess thats only 25% true.
Everyone knows that Americans are the drunken racist jerks of the planet. Austria is ripping us off!
but seriously, it just sounds like some guys in India being douches (because douche is universal).
but seriously, it just sounds like some guys in India being douches (because douche is universal).
This sounds like how American Indians were treated here. Many felt no part of American society and turned to alcohol and got bad reputations. Then they turned many of their Reservations into gambling resorts since technically this land isn't part of the state or county they're in but are federally protected. So now all the suburban white people spend their weekend's gambling their money away at Indian casinos. Wait, did I just generalize? Oops. Maybe the Aboriginal population can set up gaming centers where M-rated games are available for play. Poverty sucks doesn't it?Craorach said:
I'm sorry, but I don't buy that.3AM said:
Here they do live in the same areas as everyone else, unless they chose to live out in the sticks. They are given government housing and benefits, they receive the same education as everyone else in the same schools. If anything they are often given more help due to their "disadvantage".
They chose to do drugs, they chose to drink, and they chose to actively discourage their children from breaking the cycle.