The West Australian December 21, 2001 A coloured view of racism
By Suresh Rajan DON JACKSON takes the opportunity (Soapbox, 19/12) to make some sweeping generalisations regarding the issue of racism and in particular the report from Bill Jonas and the Human Rights and Equal Opportunity Commission on racism in Australia. For a retired schoolteacher and educator, he displays a remarkable lack of understanding of an issue that is very important in our multicultural society. He begins with a statement that suggests that racism as a crime is only a recent manifestation. He suggests that it is only in the last few years that racism has been seen as a heinous crime. Mr Jackson, the United Nations issued its convention on racism and the elimination of racism in 1966. In part, that convention says: "Considering that the United Nations Declaration on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination of 20 November 1963 (General Assembly resolution 1904 (XVIII)) solemnly affirms the necessity of speedily eliminating racial discrimination throughout the world in all its forms and manifestations and of securing understanding of and respect for the dignity of the human person, Convinced that any doctrine of superiority based on racial differentiation is scientifically false, morally condemnable, socially unjust and dangerous and that there is no justification for racial discrimination, in theory or in practice, anywhere." Of course, there were other far more momentous manifestations of the use of race as a means of discrimination between races. World War II was clearly a time when discrimination towards the Jews was well documented. We can keep going back to the race riots of the 1960s and all the way to the slave trade as it was practised in the United States. Ethnic cleansing of the nature that Mr Jackson prescribes is what has led to the vast majority of race problems around the world. And it is not purely Western societies that practised that type of cleansing. So, Mr Jackson, racism has been a heinous crime a lot longer than you acknowledge in your column. Mr Jackson goes on to assert that the Judeo-Christian culture is the appropriate culture for this society. It is to be wondered whether the Aboriginal community felt that when the invading British first confronted them. The imposition by a foreign force of its culture on the local population was clearly evident in that instance. THE issue that seems to be lost on Mr Jackson is why is it not possible for two cultures to co-exist in harmony in one country? There is nothing to suggest that any one culture needs to be dominant over the other. Why is it not possible for the Asian races and the African races to co-exist with the white Anglo-Saxon Australian population. "Why alone are we called racist?" asks Mr Jackson. No, Mr Jackson, we are not the only ones called racist. Anyone who practices discrimination on the basis of race is called a racist. Whether the perpetrator of the racist discrimination is white, black or brindle, they are racist. Zimbabwean leader Robert Mugabe has long been seen to be practising racist policies against the white farmers. Are we going to "endanger our own culture with a big influx of other religions? Why alone are we called racist?" asks Mr Jackson. How are we endangering our own culture? Why is it not possible for Mr Jackson to practise his religion while I practise mine and for us to live in the same country? Why should everyone in this culture practise Christianity? Some of the religions being practised by the visitors to this country pre-date those of the residents in this country. Why does this need to be left aside at the airport when we arrive here, legally or illegally? Would we be prepared to give up our Judeo- Christian beliefs when we go to other countries to reside and work for the betterment of our families? Mr Jackson says: "For most of us this means applying the values of our Christian culture which include patriotism, kindness, courtesy, hard work and respect for each person's independence. The loss of racial awareness involves losing these virtues and sliding into a hybrid culture." Mr Jackson, you might not be aware of this but patriotism, kindness, courtesy, hard work and respect of each person's independence are not solely the domain of the Christian faith. Mr Jackson says: "We are stigmatised as xenophobic, yet what Asian country opens its doors to Europeans? None. They believe in retaining their own culture, be it Buddhist, Hindu, Muslim, Confucian or Shinto." I am not aware of any Asian country that does not allow Europeans to reside in their country. When they are resident there they are allowed to practise their religion and culture. THEY are required to respect the traditions of the local faith but there is no restriction on them practising their own religion and culture. Visitors from all of those countries to this one are asking for the same benefits to be to accorded to them here. Mr Jackson, your arguments presented in the column are indeed weak. I suggest that as a former educator you use your retirement wisely and understand the position of some of the other cultures and religions and that perhaps that exercise will be of benefit to you at some date in the future. Understanding is something that we all crave. Maybe some day that will dawn upon you. Suresh Rajan is the president of the Ethnic Communities Council of WA. 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