The trouble with diversity

Or was the Cronulla violence merely a symptom of economic inequality? Poor western suburbs Australians of Middle-Eastern descent competing with equally poor 5th generation Anglo-Saxon Australians from low socio-economic areas like Maroubra, to grasp hold of the short end of the economic stick in relation to opportunity and education. Competing for the same low-paying, low-skilled labour opportunities these groups are typically afforded.

By way of analogy, consider the situation in the United Kingdom. In 2004, Poland became a full member of the European Union, providing the right for Polish citizens to work anywhere within the EU. Attracted by the strength of the British Pound, a massive influx of Polish migrants to the UK ensued, causing outrage among British citizens at the loss of many low-skilled, low-paying jobs to these migrants.

Fast forward three years and Bulgaria enters the EU, causing an outcry among Polish immigrants in the UK that the Bulgarians were going to come to England and “steal all their jobs”. Is it beyond reason that similar thought processes occur in Australia when immigrants compete with “Australians” for low-skilled work?

Surely the problem isn’t economically driven. Migrants just struggle to assimilate, preferring to promote their own particular culture at the expense of the Australian way of life. We must find a way to consider any differences on cultural rather than economic grounds. Professor Michaels has the answer:

The trick is to think of inequality as a consequence of our prejudices rather than as a consequence of our social system and thus turn the project of getting people (ourselves and especially, others) to stop being racist, classist homophobes.

If we can manage this we will put an end to race riots, once and for all. We must appreciate the diversity we have built into our multi-cultural society. After all, your hair colour matters not when you vote or work, so why should your skin colour? Let’s embrace our diversity of ancestry.

Michaels is, of course, merely outlining the very trick he rails against, and our society should do the same. To answer the earlier question - this is not a situation confined to foreign shores.

And for those who disagree with the analysis of the Cronulla situation, another example is to hand. The same, sadly, can be said for the Aboriginal peoples of this country. They may have opened the latest Parliament, had a prominent ambassador in Jamie Drury’s Gold-medal-winning garden at the Chelsea Flower Show, and been the lead up act for the football at the MCG after Michael Long’s recent (and wonderful) Long Walk. We’ve even said “sorry” for past injustices. Yet they continue to wallow at the wrong end of the economic spectrum suffering endemic poverty, poor education, high infant mortality rates and systemic health failures not generally witnessed in the First World.

But that’s OK, because we celebrate their cultural magnificence and tell ourselves how far we’ve brought them into the mainstream of our society.