Racism in Australia

As Australia Day looms, Neurosurgeon Dr Charles Teo, the son of Chinese immigrants, says that racism is still alive and well in Australia. As if we didn’t know. We are all guilty of it and unfortunately, our children feel the same way. You can be a good example to your children and show tolerance for different races, but it makes no difference, when they start school they will still avoid children who are “different”.


Dr Teo gets mad when he hears politicians rambling on about how we are a multicultural community and reassuring the Indians that there’s no racism in Australia. “That’s bullshit” he said and of course, it is.



"My daughter was just saying to me the other day, very sadly, she doesn't like Australia Day because she has in the past dressed up, got into the spirit of things, put a sticker on her face, worn the green and gold and been told by drunk Australians to go home because she looks Chinese," he said. But Dr Teo also said something that makes total sense - migrants also have a responsibility to integrate into Australian society. Easier said than done, look how the Aussies congregate together in London.


There is a theory being put forward that an uneducated person is more likely to be xenophobic than an educated one, in other words, the smarter you are, the more accepting you are of foreigners. I don’t agree because the behaviour of some migrants is unforgiveable.


Mansour Almaribe is a Shiite Muslim who fled Iraq in 1990s and became an Australian citizen. Last year he decided to go to Saudi Arabia to attend the Haj pilgrimage. In November he was arrested in the city of Medina and sentenced to 500 lashes and one year in jail. Australian officials reduced the 500 lashed to 75 and arranged for him to wear a leather jacket so he wouldn’t be hurt, then they organized a pardon for him and the Saudis sent him home. Mr Almaribe said he was furious with Canberra for not acting quickly enough and intends to sue the government. And the fact that he had to speak through an interpreter didn't help.


Racism is something you can’t legislate against and every race is guilty of it. I feel sorry for migrants on Australia Day because they are not included, it happens and have no idea how to change it.