Hyperbole, hypothesis and hysteria

There have also been recent claims that Australia is a racist country. That is a difficult question to interpret, let alone answer. There is a big difference between the statements “Australia is a racist country” and “most Australians are racist”. The latter is almost certainly false. There are undoubtedly some racists living in this country, but most people do not judge others on such grounds. Australians are friendly, compassionate, easy going, helpful and non-judgmental people - well, most of them.

But think about the two statements. Re-word them. The first one asks us, “are there racial undertones in Australian culture, society and politics?” The second, “do the majority of Australians express views or behaviours that a reasonable person would label racist?” If 40 per cent of the population expressed outwardly racist views, the second question would still be answered in the negative. But the first wouldn’t.

Sadly, Australia does have a history of widespread and often institutionalised racism. The list is long, but think about: Chinese miners in the gold rushes; the White Australia Policy; the Yellow Peril; the decades long refusal to accept immigrants who weren’t white Europeans; the Stolen Generation; Vietnamese boat refugees; Tampa; Cronulla; the Intervention into remote Indigenous communities; Oceanic Viking.

In most of these periods and events, racially prejudicial attitudes were prevalent in the media and public debate, and all too often in popular culture and government policy too.

Yet most of these setbacks have been (or are being) gradually overcome. Australia has become one of the most multicultural societies on the planet. Immigration has made Australia strong and successful - and a lot more interesting too. Sure, there are still racists in Australia, but not a large number.

We (not to mention the Indian media) need to restrain from hysteria and panic when we next hear about a violent attack on an Indian in Australia. All such attacks are despicable and wrong. But think before you label them “racist” without knowing all the details. After all, thinking about everything through the prism of race makes the problems worse, not better.