Most of us are racists, say Australians

In the backdrop of increasing attacks on Indian students in Australia, a new survey has said that 85% Australians feel that racial discrimination is rampant in the country with one in five of them being a victim of verbal abuse.

An 11-year study by a collaboration of Australian universities has found that a considerable number of the 16,000 Australians surveyed feel that although cultural diversity is good for the country, the differences may stop everyone from getting along.
Over 40% of those surveyed feel that cultural differences threaten societal harmony, Kevin Dunn from the University of Western Sydney’s said.

“The Cronulla riots and the recent attacks on people of Indian descent are an example of this. The figures show that 85 percent of Australia acknowledges there is racial prejudice in the country,” he said.

“So if you take that alongside the 87% that are pro-multiculturalism, clearly you’ve got a third of the nation that tolerate cultural diversity but are concerned at the impact it will have on society,” Dunn said. The study also said that 6.5% Australians are against multiculturalism.

Referring to racism within different communities in Australia, the survey also found that at least one in five Australians experience verbal abuse such as offensive slang names for different cultural groups or swearing and offensive gestures, while 11% feel they don’t belong or are inferior, according to the survey as quoted by the Herald Sun report on Wednesday.