Embracing diversity

Jawaharlal Nehru (1889-1964), a pivotal figure in the Indian independence movement and the first Prime Minister of the Republic of India, once said: “Culture is the widening of the mind and of the spirit.”

Multiculturalism is a term generally associated with the era of the 1970s and ’80s when social policies were backed by political leaders who supported an inclusive approach for Australia’s future. This ideological shift in government thinking, of considering the aspirations of “others”, was also promoted through literary endeavours of authors eager to correct the misrepresentation of historians who had for over a century adversely influenced school curriculum.

Impressionable young Australian’s world views were shaped by conservative educators whose social studies teachings were entirely slanted towards courageous British colonisers conquering and civilising hostile natives under their newly acquired sovereignty.

It was unproblematic back then for educators to snare students in their web of historical deceit as alternative views sought from books weren’t readily available in school libraries or public libraries for that matter. Asking a parent for a diverse stance on their inquiry was a position that was fraught with danger as their view of the world had already been shaped by similar biased teachings during their formative years i.e. Aborigines were murderers, thieves, rapists, idle minds and could not be trusted.

Text books available in school classrooms were authored predominantly by Caucasian males with unfettered control over their prejudiced perspectives of the past. In this regard I also include women, black and white, as being victims of this historical “recollection” by literary dinosaurs whose views were reinforced by like-minded politicians eager to maintain the White Australia Policy aura.

Australia was founded on the White Australia Policy that created a racial characteristic preference for its desired settlers from the Immigration Restriction Act of 1901. This federal policy played to the quintessential 20th century rugged Aussie who had an innately racist outlook that viewed “white as right” and applied, in later years, Arthur Calwell’s (Leader of the ALP ’60 -’67) mantra of “two Wongs don’t make a white” to the letter of the law.

For the government at the turn of the 20th century the preferred immigrant was British in origin and in their absence the alternative northern European Nordic race with their blue eyes and blond hair sufficed. After World War II when the economies of Europe dictated a need for all able hands to be made available to rebuild their countries, Australia lost control of the one characteristic most coveted in their new arrivals: a white mirror image of themselves.

By 1958 the notorious dictation test for new arrivals was officially abolished and in 1966 Hubert Opperman, Menzies Immigration Minister, opened the door for skilled migration from non-European countries. Finally in 1973 Gough Whitlam removed all racial qualifications to immigration and a multi-cultural Australia assumed prominence on a dyed landscape against the wishes of a nervous and suspicious white population.

The Australian Bureau of Statistics (ABS), as of June 27, 2007, revealed that overseas-born population increased in number between 1996 and 2006 by 13 per cent, from around 3.9 million to 4.4 million. The two largest overseas-born groups have continued to be those born in England (19 per cent of all overseas-born) and New Zealand (9 per cent). China overtook Italy as the third largest birthplace group (each country accounting for around 5 per cent of all overseas-born).

The ABS also found that a number of Australia's recent arrivals had been born in countries recently affected by war and political unrest. Over 73 per cent (or around 14,000) of Australian residents born in Sudan arrived in 2001 or later. Similarly, a high proportion of the population born in Zimbabwe (48 per cent or 10,000 people), Afghanistan (45 per cent or 7,000), and Iraq (34 per cent or 11,000) had arrived in 2001 or later.

So it was great satisfaction that I worked with Jackie Huggins and others in assisting Lorella Piazzetta from the Multicultural Development Association (MDA) of Queensland to develop their Reconciliation Strategy. This strategy was launched recently by Tom Calma, HREOC Race Commissioner, who spoke of his excitement of seeing Australia by the day, becoming more diverse.

Tom said that he was excited at the prospects of this diversity and proud to be working on ensuring that members of all cultures are proudly calling Australia home. A home that is inclusive - a home in which cultural, ethnic and racial backgrounds are mutually respected.

Tom addressed the large multicultural group in attendance by viewing the intersection between Indigenous issues and multiculturalism in the contexts of both universal values and concrete everyday work practices; and in reference to social inclusion: “practicing human rights in our day-to-day activities are a way of living, and working, that opens people to a more socially inclusive life.”

Tom acknowledged the MDA Reconciliation strategy as an excellent example of a community development approach that focuses on ways to work with different communities to increase their capacity and ability to find their own authentic and creative solutions to the challenges of being together. “More significantly, the Reconciliation Strategy acknowledges,” Tom said, “the primary status of the first people of this land and their inalienable collective rights”.

Aunty Ruth Link in giving her “Welcome to Country” addressed was warm but direct in her articulation of the need to embrace diversity even when unsavory incidents involving our new arrivals taking on an ugly demeanor. In a succinct manner Aunty Ruth recalled an incident, at a Railway Station in the western suburbs of Brisbane, when she was walking alone and was set upon by a group of Africans who knocked her to the ground and stole her bag.

“But we must continue to smile and be friendly to one another” Aunty Ruth said compassionately, as her way of saying the incident was isolated and we should continue to work together to overcome our perceived differences.

In my hometown of Toowoomba I have recently seen an influx of more than 1,000 Sudanese refugees. It is hard not to notice them walking around the street when public transport is not readily available. Their presence delights me immensely as it adds to the cultural mix of a very conservative, white, rural community. Yet many Indigenous people view them as competition for limited welfare resources.

The Catholic Church works tirelessly to ensure the Sudanese fit contentedly into their new surroundings, although the knowledge of the extra assistance offered by the church (accommodation, transportation, employment etc) to them has given cause for concern among a section of our mob who believe the Sudanese are gaining preferential treatment at Indigenous Australians’ expense.

I know of an incident last month where half a dozen Sudanese men entered the home of an Aboriginal man and violently assaulted him in front of his family. This incident was brought to my attention at a local footy game when I observed a lot of strange Murri faces in town - who I was told were relatives of the man assaulted - to provide extra muscle for protection or to exact revenge.

This incident or many others of a similar outcome around the country involving our new arrivals may well be a result of teenage boys who are bored and filled with testosterone and bravado find themselves in trouble when they attempt to flex their muscle at social events to the dissatisfaction of others - I don’t know. Nor do I know of a reason to validate the home invasion referred to above.

I don’t condone violence of any type and would urge leaders from communities where tension is running high to find common ground where differences can be resolved in ways other than by physical force.

One of the ladies from East Africa who spoke during the Reconciliation Strategy launch said she was delighted to come to Australia although “… on the map it looked like a long way to swim home if I didn’t like it”. She said she knew nothing of the Indigenous population of Australia before she arrived and just assumed it was a white country. It was only on viewing a television program in Victoria when she observed the words “Warning - some images may offend Indigenous viewers”, that she inquired about this group of people living in Australia.

It was only then that this young lady was told repeatedly by ignorant white members of her new community that “… the government gave money to Aborigines to buy alcohol” and it wasn’t until much later that she was told the truth when she had the courage to ask an Aboriginal man at a Brisbane suburban railway station whether this statement had any merit.

Just imagine if we didn’t have cultural diversity: no decent coffee, Indian Thai, Vietnamese, Greek or Lebanese take-away. Our most famous heart transplant surgeons, financiers, clothing designers, inventors, and educators are from non-European countries and have brought great joy to the lives of many.

Australians, including Indigenous Australians, ought to lighten up a bit and be more accepting of cultural diversity within our communities. It is what we expect from mainstream society in regards to our Indigenous culture (respect and valuing of our uniqueness) - and as such - so should we be reciprocal in accepting the aspirations of our new arrivals.