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?

[Donte]

Yes Blueskye,

There is only one race - the human.

There are numerous cultures within that one race. And ethnicities. And the 200+ cultural backgrounds of the various ethnicities that comprise the Australian culture today are all multicultural, including the white-anglo Australians and the indigenous people.

We are all Australian and we are all part of what we call multicultural.

Unfortunately, many white-Anglo Australians are also misplaced and feel they have no culture or home to go to.

Yet, in reality, everyone has a culture, and the Australian culture is such a wide and varied that allocates everyone and everything in it. That's what I enjoy mostly about living in this country of mine - Australia: we can be anything and everything, speak whatever language, believe whatever we want, and still are Australians.

This is the beauty of a very young country that has been made up by a variety of people migrating from all corners of the globe at various times to call it and make it home.

Proud to be an Australian; even if I speak three languages and have dual citizenship and very dark hair that has lately turned grey as I am aging in my beautiful country - Australia. (But yes, I do have the option to go back at anytime and lots of properties and land awaiting me if I choose to...) X

[Donte]

Very true Doolhof,

Many have experienced rejection and racism within their own group of people.

Thinking of the meat-eater amongst a Seventh-Day Adventist congregation; the bisexual who feels discriminated by both LGBTI people who push them to make up their mind and choose one or another, and stop 'sitting on the fence', and the heterosexual community who treats them as not fully straight; the Muslim woman who decides to not wear a burqa or have an abortion; the Jewish guy who decides to trade on Saturday etc etc...

I guess it's a primal thing, to not accept differences and anyone who chooses to break off the pack...

[Donte]

Great idea Pepper. X

Caring and insightful as always. 🙂

[Donte]

Thank you Hayfa,

Great recommendations. X

[Donte]

Hi Quercus.

Yes. It makes all the difference when it becomes personal. X

[Doolhof]

Hi Donte and All,

We certainly are a nation of many different cultures and beliefs.

Just walk down some of the main streets in the cities of Australia for example and have a look at all the different types of food you can enjoy in restaurants these days!

I enjoy going into supermarkets that stock food from overseas, I just wish I had someone with me to explain what some of the products are and how to cook them.

Adelaide is a little limited in this respect but is getting a greater variety of stores and markets catering for everyone's tastes and needs.

Growing up in rural Australia in the 60s and 70s, I used to think the fried dim-sims were very exotic! Ha. Ha.

We are who we are, we all have a chance to be more open about others around us!

Cheers all from Dools

[Donte]

You reminded me a funny thing Quercus,

Being gay and having raised my daughter (full custody), I remember so many times during her teenage years she'd say 'That's so gay dad!' or 'Dad, you're so gay!', and I'd respond: 'Of course it's gay! I AM gay! hahhaaa', and then she'd say 'Not that gay, the other gay!"...To which I'd respond: 'I'm gay gay then!" hahhaaa

Luckily, now in her 20's she's stopped using that dreadful phrase. and I'm still gay! 🙂

[Donte]

Fear is a big thing and plays a huge role. Often, the fear is based on a perception of something unknown and on the propaganda we've been fed through the media etc.

I have found that often, the anticipation is worse than the actual reality. X

[Donte]

Hello blondguy,

Thank you for breaking down the points that you'd like clarified, particularly in relation to mental health. This has made me think deeper about the arguments presented.

When I say that 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, I mean that often multiculturalism implies 'the other' or 'the rest', 'the non-white Anglo'. This can create a sense of separateness and superiority/inferiority that can impact immensely on the mental health of individuals who are not in the white-Anglo group. I know it has impacted me greatly.

"The hidden racism that still lurks in the background of today’s mainstream culture" that I talk about is the messages we give (intentionally or unintentionally) when we portray the dominant white-Anglo culture as the one that is more Australian than others/or the only 'legitimate'. For example, when we think of Christmas and Easter as more 'Australian' celebrations than Ramadan or Hanukkah, despite that they all are introduced here by migrants. Again, that highlights our differences and can impact on the 'outsiders' who inevitably cannot partake in our celebrations. The sense of differences impacts mental health differently for various individuals.

When I say "even non white-Anglo Australians have come to accept this white propaganda" ....I mean that when Greeks, Italians, Maltese, etc etc refer to 'Aussies', they usually refer to 'white-Anglo Australians'. this reinforces the 'us' and 'them' and perpetuates the perceived rejection.

I'm glad that you consider the woman covered in burqa from head to toe who’s been naturalized three decades ago an Australian, however, I know this is not the norm. And this inevitably will affect the way this woman sees herself in the Australian context.

Let's keep talking about all these as they are not only linked, but inseparable to our sense of well being, belonging, and mental health.

[Guest_1584]

Well , we're only a very young country whites wise so that's about as White Australian as anyone can manage and pretty well a no brainer in my mind.

l grew up in Western Suburbs Melbourne too and most of my gf's or mates were anything and everything. Never thought much about it back then but there was always a fair difference between Australian friends or gf's than whatever nationality everyone else was , tis what it is , everyone had their goods and bads and deference's how could that not be expected.

The other things is , now l'm not saying good bad or indifferent here ok , just how it is. But don't forget , it's the government that insists on a so called multi cultural thing and pretends to understand the complexities and tells the people it's all natural and it all should run as smooth as silk.

But eh , we all know governments are about as far from reality as it gets.

At teh end of the day , any multi cultural country has all the same issues .