Australia Day

[lishesquex]

I almost feel bad writing it, because I'm sure not all Queenslanders are this way, but since coming to The Sunshine Coast, I've met more casual racism than in the last twenty years. I haven't felt this unwelcome, self conscious and different since the early 90s growing up as the only Asian kid in Mornington at the height of Pauline Hanson's political career.

On the second day of being here, a man leaned out of a passing car and said "You're not welcome here" before driving off. And I actually haven't felt welcome. I feel stressed when mum talks loudly in Chinese to her friend in public. When picking a spot to park our beach towels, I deliberately try to avoid large bogan groups. During our Australia Day barbecue today, a passing woman gave us a dirty look and shook her head disgustedly. The adults didn't notice; me and mum's friend's son did. I guess the children of immigrants have more finely attuned racism metres.

The other thing that makes me uncomfortable is the overabundance of Australian flags that decorate everything here. From little flags on cars, to beach towels, to shirts, to swimming gear. It never bothered me too much before, but coupled with everything else, it feels like a giant "fuck off".

Sorry, but I don't feel very Australian today at all.

Comments

[reiexnihilo.livejournal.com]

Shit. Maybe Melbourne *IS* awesome. :(

Telling you you ARE welcome here would be like one letting a host know that one wouldn't mind if they used their own bathroom. (Is that analogy clear?)

Still, I hope it doesn't bother you for too long. The whole thing makes me feel not so much Australian either.

On the plus side, it's been pretty good at work - a few colleagues have come over to Aus fairly recently, from Iran in particular, looking for a place to settle in and (apart from one terrible incident where my friend saw his wife punched in the face by a racist bogan) before too long have been comfortable enough to start popping out babies :-/. #2/3 for this summer just arrived. (The wife mentioned above is expecting in February.)

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

Or, maybe your Mom did notice and just doesn't give a fuck-- which is what you'll start having to do, yourself. Don't let cats run you off, especially bogans (those are Aussie rednecks, right?). You've lived there most of your life and you can be where you want to be, when you want to be-- given you have the proper security clearance, anyway...

I hope your holiday/vaca wasn't completely ruined by idiots.

[spengalaluce.livejournal.com]

agree

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Not entirely, no. Its demise was sped along by peeling sunburn and a painful fall on sharp rocks which has put my right knee out of commission. :D

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

Shiiiiit. So, you're a zombie, now? Peeling skin and an inability to walk properly?

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

BRAINSSSSSSSSSSNOMNOMNOMNOMNOMNOM

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

Please refer to icon...

[reiexnihilo.livejournal.com]

If I were to put in a cheeky joke, it would be:
Gee, lucky they didn't know you were a nerd too.

pebblin:
Aussie redneck is a good enough approximation, even if it doesn't cover the full breadth and depth of boganitude. Mind you, I couldn't say my appreciation of the full volume of the rednecked is top notch, so maybe it does.

The thick skin thing - having generally been part of ethnic majorities I haven't really needed it myself in later years, but it was kind of useful for those years when knowing things (or actually paying attention in class) was enough to be "different".

And besides, if you're like most people (bad choice of words? :p ) you only need a few people to think you're awesome. Right, lish?

[reiexnihilo.livejournal.com]

Meandering a bit more. Australian nationalism is at a bit of a funny stage...

Was talking to my friend at the cricket - she had been packing to move interstate a couple of days following - and she mentioned that she'd come across two Australian flags in her room.

The remark that was bounced around was along the lines of "For someone who's never knifed a member of a minority, it seems a little bit excessive." I guess a kind of shared affirmation that we're pretty keen on the australian cricket team (even if not all the members), pretty friendly to all comers, but a little bemused about what the flag may convey to others. What else it all means, I dunno.

Thinking now about the debate regarding the potential for a new flag. Maybe it would give people the ability to distinguish proud, friendly Australians from the xenophobic variety. I wouldn't be surprised if the old flag was the one that accompanied any Cronulla-esque activity.

PS
"When picking a spot to park our beach towels, I deliberately try to avoid large bogan groups."
...Everyone does that.

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

It's really too bad the flag has been hijacked by idiots. Encountered an apt tweet the other day: "They ought to reschedule Australia Day so that it doesn't clash with Fuckwits Draped In Flags Day."

[delurker.livejournal.com]

PS
"When picking a spot to park our beach towels, I deliberately try to avoid large bogan groups."
...Everyone does that.
haha, trufax!

[http://users.livejournal.com/thrace_/]

Dude, I understand. When there's not overt racism, there's the stuff that flies just under the radar that makes you feel wrong anyway because it's so pervasive and constant. White people patronizingly asking you if you know what something is, asking if you're Chinese or Japanese (that one particularly annoys me, like those are the only two options), assuming I don't speak English, blah blah blah. Fuck those people.

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Well you're obvs Chinese since you're my cousin. Lulz.

[http://users.livejournal.com/selina_/]

Oh :( Not such a happy Australia day after all. Never heard the word bogan before!

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Bogans are basically Australian rednecks. See above for more detailed explanation.

[tara]

Ugh, I'm so sorry that your holiday is being spoilt by this complete and utter fuckery on the behalf of the people around you. Queensland is lovely in many ways, but they really can be a large step behind Victoria when it comes to basic humanity - AKA: not being racist, homophobic, sexist idiots.

I can't understand, I know, but I really feel for you anyway. And you are wanted here. It's those losers who need to piss off overseas.

<3

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

Overseas, where?! HERE?! No, no. YOU keep them, kthxbai. *g*

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Surely the USA can take a few more? They can all move to Alaska.

[pebblin.livejournal.com]

We don't need anymore. Check out our news, sometimes. We need to import, hot, nubile-- I mean, cool cats. Yeah. Cool, cool cats.

[jailbaitjello.livejournal.com]

Racist fucks are racist fucks. Ugh.

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Trufax.

[delurker.livejournal.com]

:( :( :( wtf, bogans? Let's have the bogans fuck off instead, seriously. Hearing this makes me so sad.

[http://users.livejournal.com/junet_/]

Oh man, don't get me started on bogans. What I don't get is how they can have no education, sit on the dole or get preggers with no job, and us aussie asians have a brain to get degrees and good jobs AND THEN pay for their ignorance. Then Gillard wants to tax "the wealthy" further for QLD levy and the bogans make comments on how we won't miss a few dollars. Why don't they try getting off their lazy asses and do something instead of whine and complain all day (whilst sponging off the government). Drives me nuts.

[http://users.livejournal.com/selina_/]

Ahh now I get what bogans are. We have those.

[hunter-san.livejournal.com]

:( The more I hear about Sydney, the less I like it. :( I was really impressed with Melbourne's parade, all the different cultures coming together was great - although predominantly Eastern and European (Where were the african ones?)

It's sad they made you feel so unwelcome, and in such a blatantly rude manner. They can't keep their racism to themselves?

[tangledtale.livejournal.com]

I seriously hate Australia Day. Yours sounded particularly awful though. *hugs*

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

It is a failday. Also, happy belated birthday! Also also, are you going to Juliana's pride march thing on Saturday?

[deutschebahn.livejournal.com]

I've been considering where to apply 2nd/3rd place that isn't NSW or VIC for next year (I have to live there for 5 years)

QLD is definitely out. Sorry dudes, but there are too many fuckwits there.

If I can't deal with Melbourne racism on the Frankston line I'm not going to be able to deal with QLD.

Bloody hate the misappropriation of the Aus flag.

[lishesque.livejournal.com]

Yeah, QLD is not on my list of places to live either. Why not NSW or VIC for you?

[deutschebahn.livejournal.com]

NSW is first
VIC/TAS i'm putting 3rd because the competition is high and i'm not that keen to go back to Melbourne because I was pretty unhappy there
So the question is... what for 2nd and what for 4th?