If Australians are Racists, why shouldn't Indians be?
I know Racism is a bad thing. I know we shouldn't be propagating racist remarks. I know it is not within Indian Culture to be racist. I don't know if this was discussed in Indiblogger earlier. But I am writing this because it pains me.
If Australian's are racist why shouldn't Indians be? This thought occurred to me after reading Tehelka's Interview with Australian High Commissioner John McCarthy. He says that Australian Cities are safer than those in US and UK. But Australia's Channel 9 Reports that there were 2,500 attacks on Indian nationals over the past two years in that country. Now, racist or not, it is like almost three to four attacks a day!
Now, tell me am I wrong in thinking what I thought! But I don't want to react the way Australians are reacting. I am Indian and I want to react the way Mahathma Gandhi has taught me to react. While I don't want to be a Racist, I will here after not use anything that is Australian. There are almost 100 Australian companies in India, doing various things. I think we should all join hands together and boycott Australian Products sold in India.
I hope fellow bloggers will join hands to urge Indians to 'BOYCOTT ANYTHING AUSTRALIAN!"
Reason: spelling mistake
Hi there Sojo, you have raised a very essential and debatable topic (It's sad to see that not many have commented).
First, I agree with Cloud, our own country has the essence of racism running in it's blood veins, segregation on the basis of caste, region even economical status, sad part is the politicians do nothing to help the situation!!! I (myself a maharashtrian) get sick when I hear "Maharashtra Majha" means My Maharashtra (it is a slogan used as a sense of pride of being maharashtrian among the 'die-hard patriotic' maharashtrians) but I never hear "Bharat Majha" (My India or My Country).
Secondly, racism is prevalent against not only Indians but against all Asians outside their own countries. And not only does this exist in Australia but also in UK and in US...the Asians there like Indians, Pakistanis and people from Middle Eastern countries are looked down upon, many are beaten/killed by gangs (Skinheads, Afro-British, Afro-American). Only that these countries (UK, US...) cleverly avoid such situations from entering the mainstream media.
I appreciate your effort to show your non-cooperation against injustice. But this situation is prevalent in so many western countries, then can we boycott the products and services provided by all these countries?
Though I must say, in support of your effort, that the least we can do in the Aussie matter is to deny any academic collaboration between the two countries and advise students against going to Australia for further education.
@ Arjuna
I understand that this is prevalent in many western countries and usually never comes to light. What I would say is, if it comes to light and if we know about it, why not boycott their products too? Impractical? May be! But we shouldn't forget that India is one hell of a market place for Western Capitalists and that is our power! We should show them that if they don't control their racist beasts they might as well forget selling things in India.
I liked your suggestion and am doing it already. I discourage any one who is planning to go to Australia for education!
[I know our house is a big mess! Castism, Regionalism and Religious Fundamentalism - sure we need to do something about it. But these shouldn't make us shy away from the fact that Indians need to do something for Indians suffering in Australia!]
Sojo Varughese : Err.. I guess we neednt be "anything" just because someone else is being "something". You are never ever going to be treated the same in any other country other than your own .. so really .. I think your topic is flawed "If Australians are Racists, why shouldn't Indians be?" .. We neednt be anything really .. there are other countries in the world besides Australia ..
@ Anoop: Sure, there are other countries in the world other than Australia. But , I think when you say 'we needn't do anything really' it sounds to me like 'inaction'.
Sure, "You are never ever going to be treated the same in any other country other than your own" But I think we are talking about basic human rights here! Do you mean to say it is 'okie' even if some Indians are killed in some godforsaken country like Australia because they are Indians?
Sure, "we neednt be "anything" just because someone else is being "something"." But I don't think the topic is flawed - because, I was just trying to say, why don't we show Australians that Indians too can behave in a similar way, if we make up our mind. [From your reactions, and the reaction of three of you who responded to this and the 'reaction-less-ness' of hundreds of people who visit IndiBlogger every day, I understand that we Indians are still sensible people. That is the greatness of India. Either Australians should understand that, or we may have to make them understand that the hard way! That's all I'm saying:) ]
I said neednt "be" anything not "do" anything .. Of course perpertrators should be punished .. but that does not give us the right to go for an "eye for an eye" .. I mean who are we going to be a racist to? the nice people who own a bakery down the street? or the prime minister?
What your topic is asking people to think about is becoming a racist to combat a racist.. I find that flawed..
Anoop: I think you jumped to conclusions about the flaw of the topic with out reading the text that followed! I said "boycott Australian Products" and NOT 'let us kill and attack Australians who come to India like they do to our kids there"
dude .. seriously .. its the same thing .. some good old cheery aussies in a downtown suburb makes quality shoes/clothes or whatever .. are we saying we will boycott everything.. thats what I meant by the bakery example ..
Trust me .. forget this topic .. just close it .. It aint worth it. We gotta realize we cannot ever suggest racism as an advantage for anything ..
We are bloggers not the echo of the voices of journalists! the journalists made this a big issue .. the way I see it, the bigger picture remains. There is absolutely no difference in the racial attacks in Africa , the middle east etc etc .. We have to fight racism .. not feed it ..
Do everyone a favor .. close this topic .. word the topic differently so it resolves into a peaceful one and lets not hurt anybody .. aint worth it ..
Dude .. I have reported this topic as inappropriate .. it actually makes me want to quit blogging and take up farming .. This topic hurts so much .. and it makes me wonder if we are even capable of making a difference as bloggers ...
Anoop, You have sure the freedom to consider this topic inappropriate and report it if you want to. But i'm not sure why it should hurt! May be at a personal level you think and feel differently than I do! But that does not give you the right to ask me to change the way I think and feel. Hope you understand!
If only you could tell me the 'BIG DIFFERENCE' bloggers are out here to make!
Not breeding hate is a big difference my friend ! Its easy for anyone to react badly to something like this..and its not really just a pesonal belief alone man.. I know 15 year old kids who talk only of peace under any circumstance ..believe me .. they have a better vision of what the world should be than the lot of us ..
There are a lot of young readers on IndiBlogger and we should never be even hinting at something like this "boycotting" something for the sake of a race/color/caste/creed.. .. would you want your daughter or son grow up with all this bull?
really man .. put your ego aside .. I am actually asking you to close this post.. on your own .. I belive you will have made a very very big difference by just doing that ..
There is no ego Anoop. But I don't think I'll close this discussion on my own because I firmly believe that I was not spreading hate but calling for action!
I know 15 years olds who have turned hard core criminals and I know 15 year olds who think in terms of peace. Equal number of them. And I am equally concerned as you are about the generations to come. Not only because they'll all grow up hating each other based on race/cast/colour/creed but also because if Mahathma Gandhi lived today, he would have no followers! When he was there, thousands came up and sacrificed their lives for the freedom we are enjoying today. And when he asked Indians to boycott British Goods, every Indian stood together. But I don't think if he did that in 20th C India, he will meet with any success. We'll all say 'Look Mr. Gandhi, British Goods and Accessories are better than the Indian ones. Why should we boycott them?"
I look at what I see in Australia as a reflection of the way British considered Indians when they were here. Therefore, to me this topic is relevant.
No one is considering anything less of Indians anywhere my friend .. why do you think that ? .. close this one ok ..I will get you and beer and knock some sense into you later!
Lols. Anoop. I don't think any drums of beer can knock 'your sense' into my head on this issues. May be if we meet, I'll buy you a beer and we'll talk about birds and bees. But no Frosters, because that is Australian.
No one is considering anything less of Indians anywhere my friend - great to see that you have a great sense of security and self-worth about your Indian Identity. But I've posted this forum after having had a chance to interact with people who have come back from Australia. I haven't come across anyone who talks great about their life there. :)
I will not close this one - because you are over insisting :)
Sorry dude!! It's the manarism of India and Our culture made us to live like that. I can also explain you with a best example. Pakistan has cheated us many time but we still maintaining the some relationships with them. If US or UK were in place of India they might have definatly smashed pakistan 50 years ago.
We are Indians. We respect. I admire. We Think. We Follow the principle of our country, So we don't do it.
We can't hurt others easily as they hurt us. Since we don't hurt others they are taking it as an advantage and are hurting us. But One thing there is a limit for everything, if Indians start Racism, not only Australians no one on this earth can bear it. Mind it.
Good Form dude!! I loved it lot while replying u. Keep posting.
I'm not asking people to physically hurt Australians. All that I'm saying is don't buy what they are trying to sell us. We are customers - so we are the kings! Don't you think 2500 attack in 2 years is crossing the limit!
Yea ofcourse!! It really hurts. not the number, even if 1 person is effected it really hurts.
I accept it. fine
Not funny at all :(
Difference in Perception :)
An eye for an eye makes the whole world blind... you can't do things which you yourself describe as wrong and inhuman...
Right said Navneet!!!
But we are asking : What is more threatening to Indians ??: India's own racism, or the world's racism towards India????
Pour in your views :-)
@ Cloud.. Any racism is threatening..not to a race or country, but to humans.. The ones whoare at the recieving end, they suffer physically, and those who inflict such atrocities on their fellow people, they are responsible for damaging their own minds.
Then what should be one's priority????
We sitting at India should protest against australian??
Or should we tackle our own issues first????
Which of the two is more serious??
Obviously protesting is good as far as it is non violent... But when the protestss fall on deaf ears, its time to take some stern steps. Government should use diplomacy rather than watching like a dumb and helpless spectator... It should back its people living there, thousands of miles away from home for studying/earning.
Also, The govt. should stop taking the idiotic and dumb stand on internal racism. Rather than being mute and vote bank centric, it should atleast save its citizens' funddamental rights and allow them to live a free and proud life of an Indian.
Ah,,
It always boils down to the govt as far as the australian racism is concerned. And thats one part which makes us helpless most of the times.
I dont however agree to blame it to the govt completely in the indian context ! I think we need to admit that we are Racist ourselves. No govt can help us much racism is in the heads of the citizens themselves.
According to Australian Government, it does A$9,329 million worth export to India. India exports only A$1,606 million worth of things to Australia. What happens if Indian Government decides to stop all the Australian Goods exported to India? I'm sure Australians would have done that if a similar situation occurred for their citizens in India. All that I'm saying is, if our Government is not willing to do that we should do it, by boycotting Australian Goods.
Usually, in international bilateral relationships economics talks better than political diplomacy!
@cloud .. I somewhat agree with you and disagree at the same time... Do you really think if the government takes proper steps to curb elements who give motivation to regional politics, it would haave been possible for them to take such pity isssues as regional politics to sucha great extent that it becomes a national security threat...a whole state against another state...do you think it would have been possible if government forgets its own party's inteerests for a while and takes some steps for the public which elected and trusted it with its life and security.
There are two things that won't go away from India so soon: Petty Regional Politics and Casts clinging on to Reservation.
The question is that why do people vote for parties which play only regional games in politics?
If we as creaters of our country's destiny choose all rotten tomatoes amongst ourselves and expect a good soup, is it possible??
Why is Modi the hero in Gujarat?? Why had Shiv Sena ruled for years in Maharashtra??
Why do we get Provoked on petty Issues like marathis/non marathis/Gujjars/OBC/SC and get ourselves misused ????
The answer is :We are racists ourselves and people use us!! Thats why i think that we are the only ones to blame..:-(
One answer to all questions Cloud: Usually Indian Mass thinks with their heart than with their head!
I still dont agree!!!!!
We dont think from our hearts... We get caught in traps of racism because we have seeds of racism in our hearts!!!!! How can someone's heart prompt to kill families and beatup people for their castes and region???
@ cloud.
You are talking about people who instigate such crimes against humanity and I'm talking about the Indian Mass. Indian Mass thinks with its heart - otherwise none of our politicians, including Modi, would have survived!
Navneeth, I agree with you - cast politics is because there are people willing to take advantage of it and turn it into money. Reservation is there because no one is willing to give up the advantages it brings - I'm hoping for a day when India will be a class based society than a caste based society.
http://shindeneeraj.blogspot.com/2009/08/racism-is-self-induced-disease.html
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