Essay: Racism? Er… what about it?
All Germans are Nazis.
Is this a fact, or am I being racist? At what point can you define someone as a racist or can
you accuse a person of making a racist comment?
The definition of a racist is the belief that race accounts for differences in human character or
ability and that a particular race is superior to others. By making certain remarks, are you
being racially prejudice or just stating an opinion? But by stating that view, are you are being
racist?
We live in a politically correct society and as Australia’s population is growing, so is the range
of different nationalities within the country, thus the tolerance of diverse races in Australia is
questioned more and more frequently.
Every day on the news we hear about illegal immigrants, legal immigrants, detention centres,
unfair trials due to race and above all the views on the different races in Australian society
today.
I have been stuck in many situations where people have openly and frankly been racist in
front of my face, I do not tend to tolerate this, yet I have also experienced conversations
where it takes me a while to really know whether they are being racist or just making a
generalisation and not meaning to put down the race at all. At what point can you say a
comment is racist?
The act of racism is not a current issue, it has been going on since history began, there have
been many wars based on difficulties between races and because of these disputes, the act
of racism sometimes becomes a taboo subject and is not spoken with confidence and publicly
very often.
Teenagers these days are most hit with the issue as they are surrounded with xenophobic
past generations, media stories, history classes containing the matter and mixed races within
friendship groups. Racism these days is usually looked upon as disrespectful and wrong and
there are teens in society that are against any type of this discrimination. Many do not bring
up the subject as even being targeted with the accusation of being racist is a very bad insult
and is looked upon as being a bad person. This awkwardness in society means that the
subject is either ignored or buried. This is a problem because the act of racism is not dealt
with, as it is still a problem. There is much debate over the racism issue in Australia and how
many people are and are not racist, but to be honest I think there is many more who are than
we think. The subject must be talked about so that somehow it is stopped and overruled.
We are the same species and at the core, the same people. We have the same structures,
we live on the same earth and function alike, why would any race of humans being superior to
any other? Regardless of opinion, land, culture and religion, we are all equal and should not
treat another race otherwise. This should be said, with confidence and assurance. As I am
more aware of the problem arising, it scares me that the care about the issue is decreasing
through generations.
This is an issue we should be able to talk about, as it is a very important subject in the minds
of every nationality, not just in Australia, but in the world and if it is dealt with and eventually
defeated, the world will be a much safer and peaceful place.
Alexandra
Age: 16
St Michael’s Grammar School
St Kilda, Victoria