Australians Aren't Racist

Following a string of attacks on Indian students in Australia, SuperKris defends the country

Australians are warm and welcoming and cannot be generalized in any category

It’s 9.30am on a bright and sunny Sunday morning in Sydney. While it’s tempting to be lazy and stay in bed for as long as possible, it’s probably the worst thing you can do in a city like Sydney.

I’m on my weekly run across beautiful Coogee Beach, just three kilometers from AGSM. As I run across the beach-walk I can’t help but notice a group of Australian folks doing something that was invented in India.

“Inhale, upward facing dog. Exhale, downward facing dog. Take three breaths here and then walk or jump your feet forward”. Yoga by the beach, now that’s a temptation I can’t resist.

Just 90 minutes later, I’m in an Aussie café having an early lunch with new friends who share my passion for yoga. They come from across the world: Germany, Argentina and of course Australia.

After lunch I take the leave of my friends and tell them that I’m walking back home, only to be coerced into taking a lift back with one of my Australian mates.

Now, if you ask me whether Australians are racist or unfriendly you can expect to hear an emphatic “no”.

Contrary to what most people think, Australia happens to be a very diverse country given its size and small population.

Australians also happen to be one of the most well-traveled people in the world and in all my interactions so far, they’ve always been intrigued by the fact that I come from India. I’m often quizzed about which city I come from and more often than not the Aussies I meet have been to India at some point in their lives.

So what do I make of reports like these and how do I react when my friends, family and relatives call me from India and ask me if I’m safe?

Well, I feel surprised, perturbed and sorry. Perturbed when I hear people say stuff like: “We should start beating Australians in India”. What basis do people have to make such statements? Just a few reports by Indian news channels that want to make a quick buck by broadcasting outrageous statements.

If you spent some time here you’d realize that educated, well-traveled Aussies couldn’t be racist even if they wanted to. Not all Aussies are white-skinned and blonde: I’ve met Aussies who are darker than me as well as the blonde ones and they have been the friendliest and most helpful people I have ever known.

There are definitely groups of people in Australia who maybe racist, rude and unfriendly but that’s true for any country in the world. If a thug wants to rob someone I’m quite sure that checking the race of the person would be the last thing on his mind.

Blaming the whole country and its citizens for random incidents that happen in a particular city is certainly an over-reaction.

I could go on and on about my positive experiences at AGSM and Sydney, but I would rather refer you my previous article where you can see a picture of me and my “Indian” friends here in Sydney.

(The Author is an MBA from AGSM,UNSW,Sydney and Kellogg School Of Management, USA. He is also the Founder and Editor of DelhiPlanet Media You can follow him on Twitter @kirtidhingra)

Comments

Post a comment You must sign-in or register to post a comment

Thursday 1st October 2009, 08.11 (UTC)

hear hear

Wednesday 7th October 2009, 06.19 (UTC)

It's good to hear the chimes of tolerance. It's true that Aussies are well traveled and accepting. Unfortunately their sense of humor is often misunderstood across cultural differences.

Monday 9th November 2009, 14.05 (UTC)

I couldn't disagree more. Its true if you went to University in Australia and stayed within the UNI bubble and never went anywhere else you might be able to get away with not experiencing racism but if you ever go to the country for business or for pleasure or even walk out onto Pitt Street for five seconds that will absolutely not be the case. Worst racism I've ever experienced in my life and the most racially driven violence I've ever seen. I wouldn't step back into that country for all the money in the world. I was living in Melbourne at the time of the Indian bashings and that is certainly not an isolated event by any means. My Australian roomates warned me every night not to take the public transport past nine as those kids would wait every evening to prey on Asians and as someone who was there for the Indian protest you cannot honestly claim that thousands of Asians who came together to protest this was some sort of magically contrived belief from there wild imaginations that Australians are racist. You just got lucky.

Monday 18th January 2010, 23.03 (UTC)

I dont know about racism but, I do know they are the most unfriendliest nation I have come across.
I spent 3 months in Australia in 2008, Melbourne and Sydney. and could not believe how far they are up there own BUM. I have spent time in America and Canada the later being the friendliest place, my favouite place.

Sunday 16th January 2011, 10.16 (UTC)

Nauman Zafar

Are we sure that this article is written by someone working in Australian public relations using an Indian 'pen' name!!!

I don't agree with any of the above! I have an example of my Aussie friends from Lebanese background moving to UK as they had enough with the racism ever since their first generation stepped in Australia. I also had an Aussie classmate with Italian background and he was subject to racism at various points in his life.
We are not talking about some happy singing dancing students who move in a nice university environment for few years of fun; The people I quoted were born and bred Aussies.

I have never come across such prejudice and inability of accept someone else with different background and colour skin.

Sunday 16th January 2011, 15.10 (UTC)

Nauman Zafar

Also I forgot to add;

Watch out for 'Stockholm Syndrome'.

Author:: Kirti Dhingra
Published:: Tuesday 29th September 2009 23:00:00 GMT

AGSM MBA Programs

Why you should join BUSINESSBECAUSE...

Connecting people before, during and after b-school

Build a network of useful connections
Gather information & get weekly newsletter
Get job and b-school application tips
Read real life stories published daily

Join us

MBA Australia