how much ethnic blood do you need to be a minority

[Eric]

Originally Posted by Terry

I don't know what your'e all worried about. If you go back enough you will find that all britons are all mongrels anyway. Including yanks, kiwis, canadians, aussies, europeans etc. If you go back a lot further we are all descended from black people. So what's the beef? I get a bit annoyed with the dark Americans calling themselves African American. I suppose the white people are European American. Or some will be Spanish American and even more Asian American. The bottom line is that they are all supposed to be Americans. Regardless.

I agree ... Perhaps the American blacks are so intent on their black indentity because of the history of slavery in the States and their struggle for basic rights even after emancipation. In Canada immigrant minorites seem happy to call themselves Canadian. Our First Nations people are different. But after all, they were here first. Part of our National Anthem is "Our home and native land." Many First Nations people read that as "Our home on native land."

But things are changing for the blacks .... they are in positions of immense power in the US. Even 20 yrs ago, if someone had predicted a black American woman would be Secretary of State and that a black man would be running for President, that person's predictions would have been greeted with gales of laughter. I hope that before too long the illogic of racism will become so obvious that racism will go gently into that good night.

[Terry]

Australia is full of different races and cultures but we all sing a particular song.
We are one but we are many
and from all the lands we come
we share a dream
and sing with one voice
I am, you are, we are Australian.
When ever I hear that song, usually on telly,with many people from many countries, it brings tears to my eyes because it says so much. And I am not generally a mushy person
Just as an aside. When indians and pakistanis started to come into England in the late fifties and early sixties(west Indians and Africans as well) there was alot of disgruntled people. (jobs and stuff) but I had quite few friends who were Pakistani and Indian whom I invited to tea on several occasions. I even took one fishing on the Calder. I had caught about seven roach which I had in a keep net and was about to tip them back in the river. But my friend wanted to take them home for tea so I gave them to him. He probably found they were not good eating There was never any predudice in my house when I was a kid. The nearest thing to it was when my parents who were going out for the night and I used to complain that I wasn't going with them. My granny (who had to babysit)used to say to me." If you don't shut your gob your mum will run off with a blackman. That upset me. Not about the black man but the fact she would run off.
I can guarantee that you people of Accy don't even give the time of day to your ethnics. Not much good you saying There OK. Invite them into your homes for christ sakes. I might then start to believe you when you start spouting off about you non-predudiced assertions

[Less]

Originally Posted by Terry

I can guarantee that you people of Accy don't even give the time of day to your ethnics. Not much good you saying There OK. Invite them into your homes for christ sakes. I might then start to believe you when you start spouting off about you non-predudiced assertions

You can guarantee nothing, you don't live here, you don't know who is invited where or when, in fact it's none of your business. The people you refer to are not 'our ethnics', they are fellow human beings with both a difference in race and culture. Just as there are some white 'indigenous' folk that like to keep themselves to themselves there are some immigrants and children of immigrants that want to keep themselves to themselves.

The rest of us get on reasonably well, but if ever I do invite someone to my home it is because they are a friend, regardless of the colour of their skin so please don't you tell me what to do. You are jumping to conclusions which just might be letting your own prejudices show.

[Terry]

Ah yes you again Less. Your usual self. Mis-interpretation as is generally your wont. When it suits you of course. The only concession I would give you is that you are right when you say 'I can't guarantee' anything.' As for the rest of your comments, total rubbish. Don't forget Iv'e lived there amongst you and visited several times and hear the same bloody predudice every time I visited. Mind you I never met you so I can't speak for everybody. Only the people I came across. Quite frankly. I don't really give a damn for you or your opinion.

[Less]

Originally Posted by Terry

Ah yes you again Less. Your usual self. Mis-interpretation as is generally your wont. When it suits you of course. The only concession I would give you is that you are right when you say 'I can't guarantee' anything.' As for the rest of your comments, total rubbish. Don't forget Iv'e lived there amongst you and visited several times and hear the same bloody predudice every time I visited. Mind you I never met you so I can't speak for everybody. Only the people I came across. Quite frankly. I don't really give a damn for you or your opinion.

That's being prejudiced isn't it? I might be a wondrous shade of green and just the sort of minority you would stick up for if you gave me a chance.

You lived here and left for a better life, (which I hope you have), tell me though where you live, are you totally integrated? or do you seem to be surrounded by a few extra ex-pats just so you can feel comfy? Well someone has moved in and taken your place they too moved for a better life in this country and they are slowly being welcomed, (prejudices are difficult for all of us to surmount), A few more generations down the line and we might just get integration. I just hope they don't get a bit lonely go on the internet and tell their folks back 'home' how to behave before they sort their own lives out.

[Terry]

I think you're quite an interesting fellow at times Less. The place I live is totally integrated thank you. Childers to be exact. I don't know any other poms here. From other towns maybe but not here. In fact we have a multi-cultural event every year to celebrate that wonderful concept of full integration. Do you?

[lancsdave]

There are multi cultural events in Accrington 300 days a year at least

[Terry]

touchÉ. What about the other 65?

[Less]

Originally Posted by Terry

touchÉ. What about the other 65?

Probably Fridays, early closing around here on Fridays these days.

[lancsdave]

Actually I should have said 196 days because I forgot schools aren't open at weekends and the 65 days are holidays

Must be great to live in a country without racialism like Australia;

http://www.guardian.co.uk/australia/...927541,00.html

[Terry]

Yes you are right . Reminded me of the brixton riots. Fortunately for me I don't live in any big city area. Just a nice peaceful small country town. The reason I live here is because I wanted to live elsewhere other than the rat race of a big city. After having spent my life as a cop, in a big city, I wanted to get right away from it when I retired and find some peace of mind. And here in Childers I have found it.

[Eric]

I would not consider commenting on the "ethnics" of Accy, and how Accringonians handle their presence. When I was growing up in Clayton the nearest thing we had to an ethnic minority was the French onion seller. Oh, and an Italian barber, I forget his name. But whenever I see the area on TV, and we had some footage of Muslims in Blackburn recently, I see that the presence has changed. I don't live in Clayton any more, even tho sometimes I am sorry that I left ... guess that's my roots tugging at me. All I feel able to add are a few comments from a foreign country. And even tho' Canada is a lot like England, a lot more than it is like America, it is still a foreign land, in all senses of the word. What I do see is that there is a lot less racism in Accrington than one would expect, given the size of the minority groups in the area.

[West Ender]

Originally Posted by garinda

It's a wonder you haven't got one big eye, and eleven fingers and toes...or have you?

Oh, you have met me then?

[WillowTheWhisp]

Originally Posted by Terry

I can guarantee that you people of Accy don't even give the time of day to your ethnics. Not much good you saying There OK. Invite them into your homes for christ sakes.

Good grief what a racist statement! I'm quite shocked 'give time of day to your ethnics' My neighbours are my neighbours, my friends are my friends. They come in all colours shapes and sizes. I don't have 'my ethnics'. The very idea of inviting someone into my home because of their ethnicity is rather patronising and abhorrent to me. I greet all my neighbours with the same friendly smile and people who are invited into my home are invited in because they are welcome as their individual selves, not because they represent any particular ethnic group.

We were in Manchester this afternoon and walking down the shopping street and in the Arndale centre we passed many people of many different races and nationalities. I didn't hear any racial abuse being directed towards anyone. There was one guy shouting abuse at something invisible which he was kicking in the middle of the road but apart from him everyone else was happily going about their business.

[garinda]

Originally Posted by Terry

I think you're quite an interesting fellow at times Less. The place I live is totally integrated thank you. Childers to be exact. I don't know any other poms here. From other towns maybe but not here. In fact we have a multi-cultural event every year to celebrate that wonderful concept of full integration. Do you?

Fifteen people killed in racist attack...in Childers, Queensland.


http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/uk/1831507.stm