Equality and Inconsistency of Laws

This week, I read an article on inconsistency of South Australia's discrimination laws. Based on the article, no wonder that discrimination and racism toward the Muslim and the Middle Easterns are still going on, even in such pluralist and democratic country like Australia.
Often, the government works in tandem with most Australians in creating a society of inequality and injustice.

The issue above might be related to Cronulla riots and the stereotype towards the Middle Eastern. The attack was actually a result of a clash between the culture of the Lebanese and the surfers. Yet, the media tended to portray the event as an ethnic violence, objected and generalized all the Middle Easterns as hostile or even "ethnic decent" without considering that not all of them involved in the attack. Just because such basic stereotype as skin colors and religions, all Middle Easterns suffer from the worsening discrimination and prejudice even more.

The story behind the attack from the Lebanese was that it was actually a following attack as a revenge toward the first attack the night before from the locals toward the Middle Easterns. Both attacks have resulted in deaths, pains, and injuries. To what extend are they become worthwhile? Never. Racism has not only led to injustice and inequality in the society but worse, violation and hostility with human beings as the victims. The case also shows that the attack from the Lebanese is caused by the first attack from the locals. The riots happen because a particular group was being stereotyped and discriminated, invited conflict and contradiction, and shows that Australia has failed to tackle pluralism in ethnicity and culture.

Posted by : Stella Chandra

Racism and plan for interviewees

The oxford dictionary defines racism as discrimination or prejudice based on a race. Racism is the inability or refusal to recognize the rights, needs, dignity or values of  particular races or geographical origins. Its expressions are dependent on the socio-economic, cultural and religious situation of any given society. Racism is commonly seen with the Middle Easterns in Australia because most people hold the Middle Easterns responsible for terrorism in the world. 

Middle Easterns become a victim of racism commonly in the fields of education and employment,therefore, these are going to be our focus for the podcasts.

Plan for podcast interviewees: Divided into 6 episodes as follows:

1. Introduction- Stella, Kathy, Shreshta, Karina

2. Interview with a Middle Eastern employee/employer to know what kind of racism they have experienced in their career, whether or not they have lost a job or got low pays because of their ethnicity.

3. Interview with a teacher about Middle Easterns in terms of education, how Middle Eastern students get discriminated and what can be done in the school/university environment to change this racist behaviour

4. Interview with women/girls who wear the hijab and  get stereotyped/discriminated in relation to attending Catholic schools and being different from the locals. 

5. Interview with Non Muslim Middle Easterns: Sonia and/or Mary sharing their experience of being a victim of racism because of their ethnicity in university through teachers and other students

6. Interview with Australians: Ellen-against Middle Easterns because most of the Australians fear of terrorism and blame Middle Easterns for spreading terror and Tim-in favor because not all the Australians are against them therefore Tim's going to talk positive things about them. 

posted by: Shreshta Belani

Racism Toward The Middle Easterns, A Background Issue

Australia is one of the countries with pluralism and cultural diversities. One of the ethnic population with a growing number is the Middle Eastern. With a mix up of Asian and Islamic culture, the Middle Easterns have built a community with unique characteristics and yet, related to the issue of racism, prejudice, and violation in the society.

In view of the fact that most of the Middle Easterns are Muslims, it seems like they are the target of war on racism in Australia. Racism might not related directly to the issue of cultural and religion differences, but more as the effect of war in Iraq and war on terrorism. As generally known that war on terrorism is often, and mostly, related to Muslims.

Particularly after September 11, there is a growing concern on terrorism issues and Muslims. Muslims in Australia as well as the Middle Easterns, have experienced a significant rise of Islamophobia and racism. The practice of discrimantion reaches the region of education, immigration, and employment. Middle Eastern women who wear hijabs (to cover their heads) in accordance with their religious beliefs were also objected in several debates.

The issue of racism and discrimination toward Middle Eastern people are complicated. There are a huge range of events, news stories, and topics that can be explored. The upcoming posts will deal with more indepth analysis and detailed discussion of the issue.

posted by : Stella Chandra

Starting Point

Hi everyone, this is Stella, Kathy, Shreshta, and Karina.

Here we come with the racism issue in Australia, particularly with the Middle Easterns.

Nowadays racism has turned into a hot issue, and it's an interesting fact that our societies values and cultures are often based on prejudice and stereotype.

 

Racism is a huge topic to explore,therefore, we have limited the coverage in the regions of education, employment, and immigration. High school students and teachers, workers, and social activists are the names that will come up as our blog's guests.

Please feel free to share your ideas and thoughts.

Cheers