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?

[Guest_1584]

Or should l say any country anyway, trying to "force" multiculturalism instead of new people just coming and going in the natural pace and scheme of things.

[Carla09]

As a child of migrants I personally see Australia as my own country, but I think as a fairly new arrival I also have very strong connections to the birthplace of my parents as all my extended family are there ( they both come from different countries). I am now married to an Australian and as I get older I do see why those who are from foreign countries and their children face special challenges. The most challenging of course is ageing in a country far from your birth and far from siblings, extended family. For me this has been very challenging and is probably the greatest stressor as my parents get older I often feel like an island dealing with all the stress of their hospitalisations etc on my own, with calls from family members to check up on my parents being the only comfort. I often feel that if I had more family here the burden wouldn’t be so much.

For my husband he has generations of family here even if he chooses to not keep in contact they are present and always in the background. He has attended weddings, funerals etc and has been able to collectively participate in these events with family.

in my own case I have not been able to properly morn the death of many family members and participate with my family in both the happy and sad occasions.

i do think the sense of disonnection s very deep for those migrants like myself who do not have anyone but their parents and one other sibling here. I also think that Anglo Australians like any group of people have their own challenges and sometimes being the host culture is hard as they are the culture that is being transformed while the migrant culture being ‘preseved’ with all its potential problems.

[blondguy]

Hi Donte

Thankyou for taking the time to reply to everyone 🙂 You are making a solid effort to reach out to the multicultural community and good on you too

The forums have many multicultural posters in my short time as a poster. The members on the forums have always treated welcomed anyone with a multicultural background with open arms (and will always do so)

I think that RX summed everything up really well in his posts above. We are one!

Anyhow....Some fresh air for a change......I have provided a link below to let you a track that charted well in the Top40 in 1976 when I was 16 about racism in Australia by Ross Wilson

The track is called 'Living in the Land of Oz' and it was on high rotation on all radio stations in 1976 & 1977

Of course the lyrics are available too!

www.youtube.com/watch?v=DAcL8jfmENo

Great to have you on the forums Donte

My kind thoughts

Paul

[Donte]

Hello Carla09,

Thank you for sharing your experience in this forum. I know that many people indeed, from various backgrounds would identify with what you’ve described.

Aging has its own challenges and as many revert to their native tongue due to the aging process, communication may diminish.

Also, often the realization that those family connections will only remain distant memories of a childhood or life past, and you’ll never reunite with the ones left behind may be torturing the individual who is cut-off from their family and origins. As the years go by often that feeling of disconnection and the permanency of migration settles in and can impact on the perception of loneliness and isolation.

There is a tendency of course amongst many migrants to romanticize and idealize relationships and connections simply due to the fact that we are away and live very far from our families and relatives and friends.

Many families often could actually be better off without these connections. Back in our country of origin many are cut off from the rest of their relatives and live very similar lives like the one your husband here experiences - seldom seeing the rest of the family.

The fact remains that supports are important for all. Especially as we age and/or faced with illnesses and issues that affect our lives and impact on our wellbeing. Family and relatives can be a great source of support for many but also a great distress and conflict for others.

I believe we are fortunate enough here in Australia to have systems and services in place which compensate for the lack of family, neighborhood, and sense of community that many experience.

This website and the concept of peer support is something many haven’t heard of as it doesn’t exist in their culture or group and it’s not a part of their reality. And yet, how powerful it can be in ones life and provides us with a sense of belonging and support from people who also struggle and strive, like us, to improve their mental health.

I feel thankful we have this avenue to be able to explore otherwise buried emotions and experiences. Thank you kindly for expressing yours. X

[Adylia]

Hello Donte,

I have a query about your question - Are you multicultural or are you Australian?

The definition of multicultural is summarised by the term 'ethnically plural', meaning you identify with more than one culture, or a grey area of two or more backgrounds.

I personally believe that multicultural and Australian are not mutually exclusive. You can be both. The fact is, Australia has the largest percentage of people that are ethnically plural, and I am proud of that. It is something we can identify with.

I think, honestly, if you were born here, you can claim to be Australian no matter what. I know many people that have parents who are 100% strictly keep within their home of origin language and culture, and although they can do what they like within the comfort of their home, I suspect this unknown is what other people in the community may be unsure of. But their children know both, and therefore are Australian. Many come here for a new life, and adapt what they like about our culture and don't change what they don't like. That's the freedom here.

I do not think it is fair to tell someone to go back to where they came from. No matter how long they have been here. The fact is they choose to be here. And they choose to live by the laws of this land (which has no cultural preference besides clothing that covers all of the face for identification purposes).

I have never told anyone to go back to where they came from. And being a 'white' Australian, I also don't think it is right for someone to tell me to go back either. I have so many roots it would be hard to tell... and if, in the hypothetical, I did go back to some European country, I would be so culturally Aussie, THEY WOULD TELL ME TO GO BACK HOME!

So honestly, if you believe you are Australian, have documentation to prove it, then don't allow anyone to tell you otherwise. This is your home. This is my home. Who bloody cares!

On a side note, I think it so cruel that we do not acknowledge the beautiful history that our country has as much as we should. Watching the Comm Games and hearing our horrible national anthem exclude our Aboriginal heritage... Seeing our flag with the Union Jack on it... makes me cringe...

[Carla09]

Hi Donte,

yes some people have pointed out to me that the reason they hate their relatives is because they are too close and there tends to be more gossiping...I myself have always had distance so they are always exciting to me.

The peer thing I didn’t realise was more of an Australian thing..I guess in countries were families are closer, peers are not as important. is that what you mean?

[Donte]

Hello Adylia,

Thank you for your input in this discussion.

I understand that ‘The definition of multicultural is summarised by the term 'ethnically plural', meaning you identify with more than one culture, or a grey area of two or more backgrounds.’

I believe that even the people who don’t identify with more than one culture are in fact also part of the multiculturalism. For example, the white Anglo-Australians who have been here for many generations are still on aboriginal land like all of us and also eat ‘foreign’ food, drive imported cars, use 57,000 Greek words in the English vocabulary, (We don’t speak Australian), have a flag based on another country etc

White Anglo-Australians are ‘ethnically plural’ as they identify with the white English culture and are descendants of this ethnic group. They are just another culture, like the Asians, Indians, the rest of Europeans etc

I agree with you that multicultural and Australian are not mutually exclusive. Of course you can be both. In fact, everyone is both.

Your statement: ‘The fact is, Australia has the largest percentage of people that are ethnically plural, and I am proud of that. It is something we can identify with.’, summarizes the Australian experience.

In the context of mental health particularly, the sense of belonging and identity can be deeply impacted if one is treated as an outsider, as different to the rest. Alienation is linked with withdrawal and social isolation which results in multitudes of personal and social issues.

Yes, I’ve been called an ‘Aussie’ by all my relatives overseas and my parents. My ways are different to theirs. I’ve left my country of birth when I was 17 and now I’m middle aged. My roots are Australian. I have had more years in this continent than the European one. I don’t wanna go back. This is home. My home. Yet, here they call me Greek.

At the end of the day, we are all ‘foreign’ to the original inhabitants of the land.

Yes, it is a great shame that we portray more of the English heritage in our national and international image rather than the true image of this land - the Aboriginal culture, traditions, art and heritage.

Would love to have Aboriginal languages taught as part of our national curriculum and incorporated into art, literature, religious studies etc.

Would be beautiful to also honor this continent’s original culture with a national public holiday.

It may help a lot with the misplacement and loss of identity that this nation is plagued with.

[Donte]

Hello Randomx,

Thank you for sharing your personal experience of growing up in the western suburbs.

And thank you for reminding us that change and acceptance may not work if it’s ‘forced’ from above.

Governmental policies are great on paper but the application of these on our day-to-day life and changing attitudes and behaviors down the street is another thing.

I guess nowadays, the whole world is becoming ‘multicultural’ as people move constantly for work and other reasons. Globalization is unavoidable.

I’d be curious to find out what happens in other multicultural countries and if the issues are indeed similar.

[Adylia]

Hey Donte,

I suppose you get called Greek because of the culture that makes you unique in comparison? I am just guessing. Of course it doesn't actually mean you are Greek, you are just more Greek than other Australians?

I hope people could see being culturally plural as an advantage - keep the parts you like and adapt the ones you don't.

But that could mean that white anglo Aussies like myself cannot claim it - you say we are culturally plural but honestly I don't feel it. I don't follow western sports, I don't have a religion or celebrate christian holidays, I suppose food wise you could call me American but my hobbies are more South Korean... where is the line?

If I cannot call myself Australian (because as you say only the indigenous can)... then what am I? What I am getting at here is that if the point is that we all identify with one other culture outside of this country... then some of us don't belong anywhere.

There is a risk talking about anglo Australians this way because it could be seen as non-inclusive (ironic as it feels).

I know my family started at the first fleet but through the generations there is some Italian, Russian, Fijian and Vietnamese... probably more. For some of us the fluidity has changed so much we don't have anything else than simply Australian.

So saying that white anglo Australians can't really claim to be Aussie means that we don't have anything.

Be privileged you have strong roots - I wish I did.

Are you multicultural or are you Australian? Hopefully we are all both. But the reason I may be called Aussie whilst you may be called Greek is because of how strong your Greek heritage is in comparison to my Nothing. And that should never be a bad thing.

As to what you said about Aboriginal Art and Language - there are laws in place that means that non-indigenous Australians actually cannot publish Aboriginal Art. I learned this in school when my art piece couldn't be displayed in the school magazine (I remember being upset!). The language isn't taught because there are over 600 indigenous dialects and no 'true' Aboriginal Language. Just a piece of info for ya 🙂

[Donte]

Thank you Adylia,

Very valid points indeed. Which makes me wonder how this has affected your wellbeing and mental health. You see, I was born in Greece and grew up there until my adulthood, however I don't follow traditions, I'm not Greek orthodox, do not celebrate xmas and easter etc. All the points of reference to 'Greekness' that usually people bring up are totally alien to me. So yeah, were do we draw the line? Perhaps we should stop drawing lines altogether...