Have told you before Ray, stop trying to be offensive, it's just embarrassing. And when you ascribe your values onto others, unsurprisingly, you tend to misunderstand them.
Australia is a responsible, adult nation. We have no trouble with the concept of China being, simultaneously, both our biggest trading partner and biggest military threat. We have some issues with lack of separation between American, and our own, foreign policy. But, as we are very similar countries, with very similar concerns, it's not much of a problem.
For an example of US- Australian foreign policy "problems", unlike the US we have recently sent extra ground forces to Iraq to combat IS. Abbott hasn't gotten on the phone demanding Obama sends in more troops, because we understand why they are not and the Australian pressure wouldn't make any difference. Likewise, Obama hasn't complained to Abbott that the extra Australian commitment is making him look bad/ weak , as he understands what we are doing. In reality, there isn't actually a problem and, even hypothetically, the concept of either of us doing something that the other would object to is pretty ridiculous.
If anyone imagines that Indo- Australia relationship would involve Australia doing (/or not doing) something the US would find objectionable, say for example us selling you weapons grade Plutonium, Australia isn't interested in doing that in the first place so any potential US objections are moot. As an aside, I don't think we actually do Plutonium...
As to race and class in Australia, you're always on about that aren't you, Ray? Those are issues, but not in the way you describe them. The lady doth protest too much, methinks...
As I've been telling you, Ray, to an Australian your insults are laughable. Insulting someone descendants, isn't offensive to Australians. Unless you're trying to be "amusing" or friendly, which in your case your not Ray, calling an Australian a bastard, or whatever, just reflects badly on the person who said it.
Your entirely wrong about the position of Australians descended from convicts or refugees. They are not what you describe as "low-lifes" in Australian society and they don't need to look down others. If anything, Australians who are descended from convicts or refugees enjoy a high status in Australian society, particularly amongst Australian nationalists. Your "lowlifes" have been particularly successful and whether they were descendants from convicts or refugees from Europe fleeing Nazi or Soviet persecution or the boat people from Vietnam these groups in particular are "very Australian" and I would argue less racist than other Australian groups. For this mail I'll be ignoring Lebanese and later "refugees".
As to how you all got to racism, I presume you misunderstood my comments about the term "Indian Australian". I understand what you mean and know many Americans choose to describe themselves that way i.e. African American, Italian American, etc... We don't do that in Australia. Over 25% of Australian citizens are born overseas, integrating immigrants is what we do. People go from being a New Australian to being an Australian, and that's it. To say "Indian Australian" is to imply that person isn't an Australian or that people from India can't be Australians, at least from our perspective.
Am sure the Indian Diplomatic Corps understand this and that PM Modi never used that term.
Actually what you tell or not tell is not material to the forum or the discussion. If it is embarrassing to you, well you are the best judge as to why you are embarrassed.
No, it is not that I am ascribing any of my values on anyone. Racism just does not pop out of a magician's hat. There are psychological reasons to all types of racism and racism, in some form or the other is there all over the world without exception.
There are many reasons for racism. One of the reason is Self Esteem. Prejudicial attitudes and discriminatory behaviour is undertaken to boost their own self-esteem. When people's self-esteem is threatened, prejudicial actions such as racism appear to restore esteem. Add to it, Positive Distinctiveness. People like to be a part of a group with near identical values and likes and dislikes and being a part of a group and look at themselves in a positive light (self-esteem) and thus perceive themselves as a group that is more important or significant to the rest.
Therefore, it would be wrong to downrightly condemn racism in Australia. There is a good reason for that. The Aborigines were not similar to the initial convict sent to Australia. Obviously, the convicts, who were rejects in British society had a low esteem. And when they found weaker people like the Aborigines, they lorded over them and banished them just to improve their self esteem and get rid of their low self esteem and identify themselves as a group that perceived themselves to be important and significant. That is what one would surmise from Psychology.
That psychology got passed on and became concretised. However, in this modern age, such discrimination or call it racism has become a no no. Hence, the change. However, can you honestly state that every Australian is free from prejudice and discriminatory behaviour? Had Australia been free from prejudice and discriminatory behaviour, then we would not have the lumpen element of the Australian society, who have no value for modern day political correctness, thrashing non white people to include Indians. These are the people who are in great numbers who are still ingrained with the mentality of the convicts' legacy of low esteem and attempt to rejuvenate their self esteem by bullying and thrashing those who are not equal in many ways.
Now, if you have some other reason, I sure would be delighted to learn.
We have no trouble with the concept of China being, simultaneously, both our biggest trading partner
Exactly what I have said.
The economic reason makes Australia beholden to China.
In 2011, the trade and investment with China brings benefits that isestimated to be A$10,500 per household per year.
(Sino-australian relations. (2011). Engineering and Mining Journal, (00958948), 59–62,64).
That is an immense amount of benefits.
f China......... biggest military threat. We have some issues with lack of separation between American, and our own, foreign policy. But, as we are very similar countries, with very similar concerns, it's not much of a problem.
How is China a military threat? China has in no way adopted any aggressive or inimical stance towards Australia.
However, when ANZUS is taken into consideration, Australia become a key player of US strategic concerns in the Pacific and Australia perforce has to play ball.
ANZUS treaty in no way restricts either the US or Australia to act independently of each other. Hence, Australia sending troops against ISIS is a unilateral activity and none can complain.
I would surely love to know otherwise as to how Australia has a problem militarily or strategically with China or if China has made any moves that directly threatens Australia.
Australia selling nuclear fuel to India is because the US has signed a treaty and so it is now
kosher. If Australia was independent of the US, it would have sold earlier before the US India nuclear deal was signed. Therefore, the attitude of the US is very much in the reckoning.
If my so called 'insults' are laughable to Australian, then please laugh it off. If that was so, then why are you getting so hot under the collar? Obviously, the truth seems to affect your laughing spree.
The so called Indian Australian are not only Australians but are also 'Australians of Indian origin'. That is if you did not know.