A
COMMENTARY ON PETER McLAREN’S
“ASIA
AS AN OTHER IN THE AUSTRALIAN IMAGERY”
I
think multiculturalism is
not truly accepted in Australia today.
People
say “I am not a racist”, yet if there is a crime done by
an Asian they say, “well what can you expect they are like that
in their own country” then they add “but I am not a racist”.
I
think it is easier for non-Europeans to become naturalised than it
is for the thousands of Brits who because when they emigrated Australia
it was under England then and no coloured people were allowed. In
fact they used to say come to a ‘White Australia’. Well
I did, mainly because London where I lived was being so overcrowded
by Asians that I felt I was indeed in another country. Not because
of the colour of their skins but because they were living too many
in one house, taking it in turns to use the bedrooms, as they had
obtained shift work and were doing all the jobs the Brits did not
want to do. Also the smell of the different foods that emanated continually
from these houses made me feel sick. When I arrived here I was appalled
at the way I was treated. I was called a Pommie and if I disagreed
with anything Australian I was told “you Poms are all whingers”
as I found out the true dinky die Aussies would put up with anything.
I tried to become naturalised the other day and it was so difficult
and I had to tell them things which they have known about me for 40
years, and have new photos taken and proof that someone knew me, that
after now being paid a pension, and of course they know everything
about you anyway. So I gave it away. I shall stay English now until
I die. They want the thousands of migrants like myself, we were called
the 10 pound migrants, because that’s all it cost adults then
to come and children were free. I have populated this country with
4 children 12 grandchildren and many great grandchildren, that if
this government want me to be naturalised they can darn well come
to my home, or accept me from what they know about me. I am not going
chasing around as if I have just arrived. Am I a racist, NO! I take
people as I find them. If their religion is important to them, who
am I to go against them. There are good and bad in all races, and
if someone treats me, as I treat them, I really don’t care what
the colour of their skin is or their religion, as long as they don’t
try and make me change what I am. I do think though we have to be
careful, as some religions do have fanatics, and this country should
always be on the look out for terrorists.
Marj
Busby. South Australia. Aged 79
24 September 2003