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]

l'm half French/ Irish but born here.

Just from the record , Australia's immi rate is actually quite small compared, most countries take double what we do percentage wise, saw the numbers.

rx

[bluenight]

Hi Tony,

I see plenty of Muslims integrating/assimilating, there are some that aren't but the majority are hard working and contribute to society.

There are radical or unsavoury elements of every group, not just Muslims, you just have to have to have an unbiased look around society.

If you fear Islam, then maybe you should seek to understand it and learn about it if you haven't already

I'm not sure what's happening where you live, I'm not in Vic, maybe there is a lot of crime or problems in some areas, but that doesn't mean that Islam or certain ethnicities are to blame. It's a human problem related to many things such as drugs, unemployment, trauma, mental illness, crime, broken families etc.

Just like some areas that are mainly anglo, with a lot of drugs and crime, people don't say/think it's a Christian or white issue

[james1]

Hello bluenight,

Thanks for your post. I agree - most of the issues we come across in life, that we attribute to things like race, are actually just human problems and crop up in every group, as you say.

It's one of the fantastic opportunities we have here in Australia. Putting aside whether Australia is truly multicultural or not, because there's a very valuable debate that I don't really want to get into here, I think we can at least agree that there are lots of cultures here and we have a great opportunity to find the human qualities that bind us all - on these forums, it's the shared experience of mental illness and the compassion we have for each other.

James

[Guest_1584]

Something l often think about with this thread. You know , you could go to any country in the world and it'd be 20 or 30yrs before you were considered whatever the nationality , more often probably never . That wouldn't only be Australia no way known.

l even have an Asian mate living in the states last 5yrs and he said it wasn't bad at first being Asian there but the last two yrs there's been a real anti Asian sentiment through the states , not sure why . So he's been having a lot of troubles of late and he's moving back home to Aus soon.

Also my ex was Italian and first lived in London and the states 20yrs, but she was always called Italian , never once English or American. My brothers spent 25 yrs in China and Asia , and he's still shut out , all the time.

So you know , it is a huge thing changing countries , really is. Although there's so many things lately l hate about what Australia is becoming about this last decade or two , the Australian earth itself , the Australian soil , it's country, love it or hate it is my soil , and l really don't think l could live on another soil now. lt must take amazing courage and leaps of faith to change countries, l really take my hat of to people that do and wish them every happiness in their choice and l admire the hell out of them.

rx

[james1]

So true rx. It's not a problem to do with any particular country, and I think people just need to learn how to be more accepting of others.

I was born in Aus, grew up in Aus, and never lived anywhere else. English is the only language I'm fluent in, and I have an obvious Aussie accent. But because my parents were born in China, I still get treated differently like an outsider sometimes.

Yet I also know that if I was to move to China, where I look the same as everyone there but don't know the language or customs well, I'd still be treated differently like an outsider.

In other words, growing up in a country different to where my parents/grandparents grew up means I don't really fit in anywhere. Neither my home country, or my parents' home country.

It's an interesting problem, and one that faces a lot of people I imagine.

[Summer Rose]

Hi James

It made me really sad to read that you feel you "don't really fit in anywhere", as I took it to mean you might feel quite isolated and disconnected from your fellow Australians and perhaps still be seeking acceptance in your own country. Is this the case?

I was born overseas, raised overseas and have lived in Australia for some 30 years beginning in my late twenties. I really feel that I belong here and in my country of origin.

It's interesting how our experiences are so different and I'm wondering why. I can only assume it's the outcome of our lived experiences and mindset. I would be interested to know what you think?

Kind thoughts to you

[james1]

Hello Summer Rose,

Thanks for your reply to me.

I do feel like Australia is my home and I belong here. What I mean by not fitting in anywhere is that my immediate acceptance of my Australian identity is not shared by others in Australia, and I cannot communicate effectively if I go back to China.

To explain this better, the reason why that matters to me is that I do not actually spend a lot of time with friends (who would obviously know I'm from here), and I get most of my social interaction with strangers. Then when it comes to interactions with strangers, my experience is that most people tend to gravitate towards people who look like them. So despite living in a country with many different cultures, the people I tend to interact with just end up looking like me. Which is not an issue, except it just hammers home the idea that to others, I am Chinese, before I am Australian. Yet, to my forever shame, I can barely speak any Chinese.

So, Australia is my home because I call it so. But my experience so far is that many people assume I'm from elsewhere, other a few others would just outright disagree with me.

It doesn't bother me too much, but it does affect my life.

[quirkywords]

James

I read your post with sadness and interest as my baby grandchild has an Asian parent and I wonder what his future will be.
I was optimistic till I read how you navigate your life. I understand what you are saying and wonder when my grandchild is an adult whether he will feel like you.

I notice how people look surprised when I proudly show off my baby photos.

I am so glad. I live in a multicultural society that has enriched our lives.

[Guest_1584]

Sorry to hear that james .

My ex didn't like the US at all , or Americans and just never fitted in either. She did like the UK and felt far more at home there . lt must all be such a difficult thing. l grew up in Melbourne and had mates of many different parent Nationalities . My mum was French dad Irish l was born here mum came over early 20s , dad even younger. Mum always got mad in French but spoke English right through my childhood but with an accent , dads was almost Australian really and we all grew up with Australia accents.

I wouldn't have thought twice about Asian Australian mates with mates with parents from all over. l use to love goin to their houses and trying out there mums cooking haha.

rx

[Summer Rose]

Hi James

It was helpful to me to better understand your experience, so thank you very much for sharing. Like others, I feel quite sad for you.

Makes me wonder how my adult children feel and will explore with them. They are both well accepted and always have been amongst their friends, etc. But I do know they are often asked by strangers where they are from.

So am I, but it doesn’t bother me at all. The question just opens the door to a conversation.

Kind thoughts to you