Are you multicultural or are you Australian?

[Donte]

I’ve been pondering for a while about the whole ‘multicultural’ notion.


We often hear ‘multicultural people’ or ‘multicultural experiences’ etc but what exactly does that mean?


I am from a culturally and linguistically diverse background, (was born and raised in a non-English speaking country), like the 46% of our population. However, I never think of my self as ‘diverse’ or ‘multicultural’. This is a term other people have created to describe me and my experiences. I am me. A human being like everyone else.


The term ‘multicultural’ often implies ‘different’ or ‘diverse’, but different from what or whom? Well, clearly, from the white-Anglo Australians.


So, my experience has been that in Australia today we have the dominant or mainstream White-Anglo culture and the ‘multicultural’ culture - anything and anyone who doesn’t fit in the white-Anglo category.


The reality of course is that the white-Anglo segment of the population is also part of the whole ‘multicultural’ society, even if it’s the dominant one.


This is never viewed in my opinion, its proper light, perhaps for political reasons and the hidden racism that still lurks in the background of today’s mainstream culture.


Interestingly enough, even non white-Anglo Australians have come to accept this white propaganda and every time I hear them refer to ‘Australians’ they connote ‘anglo’. They usually say I’m Greek or Turkish or Maltese etc. - and any reference to ‘Australians’ seems to indicate ‘the others’, ‘the whites’.


This of course has created an ‘us’ and ‘them’ mentality which stems from the remnants of the ‘white australia’ policy and the ‘melting pot’ days.


So, who is really an Australian? What makes you true blue Aussie? Is the woman covered in burqa from head to toe who’s been naturalized three decades ago an Australian? And if so, equal like the fifth or sixth generation white-Anglo neighbors of hers?


Often, you’ll find that this is not the case. I propose that it’s time to scrap the labels, erase the terms and start treating all people of Australia with equity despite their looks, skin color, gender, age, sexual orientation, religion etc


How does that sound?

[Quercus]

Hello everyone,

Donte' I couldn't help but wonder... When someone calls you a W... (I don't like that word) does it feel as horrible as being called a "Non Indigenous Australian"?

I only started encountering that phrase in the last 5 years or so and it makes me feel really rubbish.

Australia is my home. I was born here. I don't have citizenship anywhere else. And this is the country am connected to spiritually and emotionally. So being called a term which implies I don't belong here hurts just as I'm sure being called a W hurts you.

I wonder if the expectations and needs of all Australians are just so wildly different that it makes it impossible to agree on this topic. For example as I understand it there are many different languages/dialects within the Aboriginal culture. So English makes sense to me as our national language regardless of the Aboriginal People being recognised as the First Australians.

Could you maybe explain how you want this thread to progress? I can see the topic here becoming very distressing given all the valid but different points of view. Do you want us to relate our responses to a mental illness point of view?

Thanks 😊

Nat

[geoff]

Hi Nat, a great point you make and well said.

Best Wishes.

Geoff.

[Donte]

Hello Nat,

Thank you for bringing our attention back to mental illness and wellbeing.

This is a very big topic and open to various interpretations. It’s great to hear all the different points of view.

We all learn from what we share. Ultimately, if something stimulates our thinking process and help us analyze a point of view, it is beneficial for all, as we learn to see something with different lenses. The main aim of course is to explore how all this - identity, labels, ethnicity, nationalism, religion, politics, media, education, attitudes, propaganda, history, upbringing etc impacts on individuals and groups, affecting mental health and/or perpetuate negative notions that are not helpful to our recovery.

I think if we all keep in mind this core aim of the thread it will help us to explore within those parameters and navigate our thinking processes accordingly as appropriate.

Looking forward to more views. This is great input.

Thank you all

[Summer Rose]

Hello all

Interesting thread. My view, simply put: from a mental health perspective we all need a sense of belonging in our country to be healthy.

You can't get up everyday to live your life feeling like you don't belong in Australia. To feel as though the deck is stacked against you every time you apply for a job, housing or attempt to make a social connection, is no way to live. To feel judged and rejected in the wider community is soul-destroying.

If people feel this way, regardless of where they originate from, we shouldn't be surprised when this causes mental health conditions or worse, crime and social issues within our communities. Nobody wins.

The horse has already bolted. Our wonderful country is multi-cultural and we have to make it work or we will all pay a heavy price.

[Hayfa]

Hello everyone,

Wow! what a discussion to be having.
Donte' thank you, so eloquently and correctly explained in all of your posts.
At the end of the day it is as Donte' so rightly expressed 'the human race' and this means that we are all of the same fabric and consciousness.

I used to get called a Wog too, but that's ok because it is like everything else, things depend on your personal perception and how you view it from your eyes.
The term to me distinguishes me as different in a good way because I choose how it should be viewed by creating my own experiences.
I choose not to view 'Multiculturalism' or 'Australian' as separate and distinct thus creating antagonistic relations, I view them as being a rich part of history and culture to which one may identify with.

I am Australian Lebanese, I love my country Australia and have lived, worked, educated and been raised and I raised a family in Australia however, I do have a background that I identify with and don't want to forget that I did come from somewhere else too.
I also love the country of my origin, it is rich in art, culture and historical significance and I am proud that I have more than one language and am well versed in Australian and ethnic elements.

It is important to start looking at everything as 'one' and not separate.
Why are we so good at looking at the wholistic perspective of the individual and all other systems that can connect and move seamlessly so that our individual and complex systems operate in tandem and offer us health and wellbeing but somehow we don't think it applies when it comes to situations of background, race and identity.

Hayfa

[Just Sara]

I just want to clarify something; the term 'Aborigine' is no longer used and can be perceived as derogatory. 'Aboriginal' describes a person with an 'Indigenous' background pertaining to the original peoples of that land. In my area it's called Wiradjuri country.

There's a difference between being 'invaded' and legal immigration. Let's be frank ok. England's attempts to 'migrate' into Tasmania was an absolute holocaust!

Please, please respect and acknowledge the original owners of this country and their descendants as being separate from your points. Indigenous culture doesn't compare to migrant assimilation or multiculturalism; it isn't even remotely similar.

As for mental health, indigenous Australians have the highest rate of MH disorders/illnesses in the country and a mortality rate we 'all' should be ashamed of.

I've found this argumentative discussion really offensive. If my views seem shocking, it's because they are! Until we can effectively deal with what's happening on our own turf, immigration/migration needs to be thought about far better than what it is.

In all these posts, not one person has identified what 'multiculturalism' is or their own interpretation.

Indigenous sacred sites depict 'sacred stories' passed down thru generations to teach and keep alliance with the land; their Mother, and is in no way reflective of religion. It's their cultural heritage of successful survival in a harsh land, not a statement to white's and others.

In line with this argument, if you come onto my property and disrespect me, my religion or my culture, I'll do my best to throw you out or call the authorities to help me. If you try to assert your views or culture onto me while there, you'll be told in no uncertain terms to leave. Isn't this what happened in the past and what's happening now?

I don't speak for the whole country ok, and neither can you. So let's just keep on topic and discuss mental health as a priority.

Respectfully;

Sez

[Summer Rose]

Hi Sez

I like these types of threads because I enjoy the variety of views that are shared and the spirited debate--I don't always agree with others' views but I respect their right to say it and it's always interesting to learn more about why people think the way they do.

I do not, however, enjoy upsetting people--far from it. I am sorry that you have taken offense to our discussion and I apologise for anything I said that caused you hurt.

I really need to re-read the thread, whilst trying to put myself in your shoes, before making further comment. I have to go and cook dinner now but I will think about your question--my interpretation of multiculturalism--and your views and come back later.

[Donte]

Hello Sez,

Thank you for the clarification and distinction made between migrants and aboriginals.

This is the first time that I hear that the term aboriginal is offensive. I remember reading somewhere a while ago that we should not use the term ‘indigenous’ as this is a made up term from the government to describe aboriginals but mostly it is a universal term which doesn’t distinctively apply to Australian aboriginals.

Apologies if I have offended or upset aboriginal people or anyone else. It wasn’t my intention. I love and respect the aboriginal cultures and have particular interest in the dream time.

When it comes to ‘multiculturalism’, I view it as a mixture of the various of cultures including white Anglo-Australians (currently the dominant culture and the largest group numerically speaking), the rest of 200+ ethnicities living in Australia and the First Nation people who I wouldn’t wanna exclude from the rest.

We all live here. We all call Australia home. We all migrated here at some point in history (including the aboriginal migration thousands of years ago according to many anthropologists). I see it as a timeline, where various groups have migrated to this continent and have made it their place.

In regards to mental health, we all respond and react very differently to the issues depending on our viewpoint, our spirituality, ethnic background, age group, sexual orientation, social status, finances, employment, education, environment - the suburb we live in etc.

Misplacement, migration, isolation, the feeling of being different and not belonging are universal experiences that impact on all, whether you are a stolen generation or a migrant or a refugee.

This is of course only my view and as I’m aloud to hold it so is everyone else who may see things in a different light.

We all learn and grow and evolve as we share.

The aboriginal people are under the nine special needs groups and a government priority like the LGBTI people, the culturally and linguistically diverse people, the homeless, the veterans, the remote and isolated people, the disable etc

We all have certain needs and are vulnerable and/or disadvantaged in some way and one size doesn’t fit all.

So in terms of equity, and in terms of accessing services and supports that are relevant to our needs in regards to mental health everyone in this multicultural society needs to be able to seek help and find appropriate supports that are relevant linguistically, culturally, spiritually etc

[Summer Rose]

Hi Sez

For me, multi-cultural Australia is a place where no citizen or group of citizens is other than Australian and all should be treated fairly.

Multi-culturalism is about an Australia where you respect other people and they respect you. Where we all cherish Australia and make it our very own place, home. It’s about a country where people can bring their skills, energy, hard work, laughter and dreams—and leave behind their scars. It’s about understanding that no matter how long we have lived here, if we originated elsewhere, we are all newcomers. It’s about reading our history and understanding the sadness of Indigenous people.

In short: multi-culturalism is the freedom to be ourselves.

To my mind, it includes everyone in our great land. Critically, it goes hand in hand with human rights. The effect on our mental health when our human rights are violated may vary but we all suffer. I think this is why Donte started the thread and I applaud her courage to initiate the discussion.

These are just my views and I'm no expert, so I'm happy to keep the discussion going and to learn from others.

[Just Sara]

Hi Summer;

I meant no disrespect to you or your views. Your post (to me) seemed in a different light to those above which felt as though a'them and us' flavour was developing.

Yes, healthy debate can be insightful. The problem is, that people on this site are combating disorders that can be triggered thru conflicting views; my own included.

I should've addressed my concerns to specific individuals. I apologise...

Sez