Grr. There must be an election coming up or something, as the Howard Government is using the race card to strike terror into the hearts of voters... again
( Read more... )
I was wondering which card they would pull close to the election to get everyone scarmongering like they did the last two elections. This time it's the Sudanese. Timing's a little late though. Not sure if they have enough time to build momentum for this one before the election.
As for Christine Nixon, that is a very astute comment of hers. I know a lot of people have issues with her, but seeing her around the VicPol HQ when I worked there last year, she always gave off a very positive vibe that other high ranking gov officials don't necessarily give off.
I come originally from Noble Park and we have always had a rep for gang violence that has usually been exaggerated. Yes there are incidents and yes there may be more than there were but still it is a suburb like any other and I will still walk there. I appreciated what one local shopkeeper interviewed in the Herald-Sun told reporters - his shop has experienced problems but he attributes it to youth issues rather than race issues and says that none of the migrants over 25 are ever any problem.
Technically the government made the decision on the precise mix of refugee intake for the coming period several months back and is only now using racist dog whistling to retrospectively justify a decision which was much more mundane than that. It is as if we now have a government that actively wants to look worse than it is (reversal of the usual behaviour) for a given value of 'worse
( ... )
That's happened to me too, when I've seen horrible people screaming horrible things at Asians on the tram, and I've spoken up. Gosh one guy was horrified when I told them that this was not appropriate behaviour, and quickly got off. As I got off the tram, a couple of asian girls poked their heads out and thanked me. I can appreciate it's difficult for them to speak out, so it must be nice when Anglos do it.
"to reassure Africans in Australia that a sense of welcome, generosity and openness is what lies at the heart of being Australian."
I had a read of the "how to become an Australian Citizen" study booklet for the "are you anglo enough for us" citizenship test, just out of curiousity. I don't recall welcome, generosity and openness appearing in it. Lots of sport though.
(oh, and "peacefulness", which is apparently an Australian value. Just like our peaceful interventions in Iraq. and Afghanistan. and Iraq. and Kuwait. and Vietnam. and ... sorry, forget i spoke.)
I nearly failed the sample Citizenship Test questions they had in the newspaper.
Test yourself here: http://www.aussietest.com/ I got 80% on this test first time, but 20-30% was me guessing and being lucky. Second time was 75% but a couple of qu's came up from the first time. Use my login if you want to, save yourself the registration. UN: JayJay pw: jayjay
Thanks for the link. I just took the test now. Previously I had no opinion of it. Now, well after seeing the type of questions they ask, I think they are extremely condescending. Someone who has been resident of the country is bound to know what the capital of Tasmania is, and when Christmas day is. 'Men have more rights than women - true or false', is an obviously targeted question at cultures where this is not so, and if they haven't already figured that out in 7 years, a test isn't going to change their mind on that one. 'When was decimal currency introduced' and related history questions are interesting to know, but not essential per se to being a good citizen, after all I only got those questions right by making an educated guess. Most citizens would be the same I imagine.
thanks for the link, I'll have a go. I can't help noticing the title of the page is "Online practice questions for the British citizenship and settlement tests" ...
When I read this in the news the other day, I didn't understand either. I thought coming from a wartorn country, having lived in refugee camps and the like, is pretty much what MAKES someone a refugee? And because of this, we won't help them?
Maybe you're right, and theres an election in the air. This bullshit makes me angry though, and sad. All the african people I've met have been nice. Mostly quiet, seem to keep to themselves. If the government is truly concerned with integration then maybe they should deport that asian drug gang I've seen in Parkville/Brunswick alleyways plently of times.
If they are truly concerned with integration they would drop the bollocks about certain ethnicities being more likely to be criminals and treat the problem for what it is: dumb young males with too much testosterone and not enough future prospects. Happens in every 'race' of humans. The only logical conclusion is: they're not concerned with integration at all. I know it's standard for pollies to lie, but when it results in innocent people getting beaten up? Not in my name, scumbag Andrews...
Comments 10
As for Christine Nixon, that is a very astute comment of hers. I know a lot of people have issues with her, but seeing her around the VicPol HQ when I worked there last year, she always gave off a very positive vibe that other high ranking gov officials don't necessarily give off.
Reply
Technically the government made the decision on the precise mix of refugee intake for the coming period several months back and is only now using racist dog whistling to retrospectively justify a decision which was much more mundane than that. It is as if we now have a government that actively wants to look worse than it is (reversal of the usual behaviour) for a given value of 'worse ( ... )
Reply
That's happened to me too, when I've seen horrible people screaming horrible things at Asians on the tram, and I've spoken up. Gosh one guy was horrified when I told them that this was not appropriate behaviour, and quickly got off. As I got off the tram, a couple of asian girls poked their heads out and thanked me. I can appreciate it's difficult for them to speak out, so it must be nice when Anglos do it.
Reply
I had a read of the "how to become an Australian Citizen" study booklet for the "are you anglo enough for us" citizenship test, just out of curiousity. I don't recall welcome, generosity and openness appearing in it. Lots of sport though.
(oh, and "peacefulness", which is apparently an Australian value. Just like our peaceful interventions in Iraq. and Afghanistan. and Iraq. and Kuwait. and Vietnam. and ... sorry, forget i spoke.)
Reply
Test yourself here: http://www.aussietest.com/ I got 80% on this test first time, but 20-30% was me guessing and being lucky. Second time was 75% but a couple of qu's came up from the first time.
Use my login if you want to, save yourself the registration. UN: JayJay pw: jayjay
Reply
Reply
Reply
Maybe you're right, and theres an election in the air. This bullshit makes me angry though, and sad. All the african people I've met have been nice. Mostly quiet, seem to keep to themselves. If the government is truly concerned with integration then maybe they should deport that asian drug gang I've seen in Parkville/Brunswick alleyways plently of times.
Reply
Reply
Leave a comment