Australia racist, what about you?

Australia racist, what about you?

I am referring to the article by Farish A. Noor published in
The Jakarta Post on Dec. 16 titled Disturbances in Australia:
Introspection now required.

It is always amusing to read how intellectuals of, for
instance Malaysia, like to accuse western countries like
Australia of being racist, xenophobic, white supremacist, anti-
immigration, colonial minded -- you name it.

While unfortunately too many individuals exist in every
country -- I repeat every country -- that can indeed be labeled
as racist etc., this generalization seems unfair.

Does Noor, a Malaysian, apply the same criticizing scrutiny to
his country? With its enduring Bumiputra Laws (special benefits
for the Malay race) for instance, Malaysia has institutionalized
racism. His country also recently expelled thousands of
Indonesian workers -- who have helped build up the country -- in
a fascist-like way. Neither does Indonesia itself have a perfect
record when it comes to immigration, friendliness or racial
tolerance. Shouldn't we compare these elements with those of
Australia?

In the same article, Noor blames the Australians for their
historical crimes against aborigines. At least Australians have
admitted their crimes. We should not forget the fate of numerous
other ethnic groups like the orang asli (Indigenous Malay) in
Malaysia for instance.

The process of encroachment, ethnic warfare, dispossession of
sovereignty and territory and genocide, has been going on for a
long time and continues today throughout the region and beyond.
Some people in Malaysia seem to want to suggest that this
is purely a "white" phenomenon. Isn't that suggestion in itself
racist too?

After all, looking at history with different subjective time
frames and distances, we are all immigrants as well as
indigenous, colonialists as well as colonized; victims as well as
victimizers.

If the "poor" Australians can travel to Bali, while many
Indonesians don't have that privilege, should we blame
Australia for that?

If Indonesia would make good use of its enormous potential
wealth and distribute it more equally, I am sure Australians
would be doing everything to attract Indonesian tourists or
investors too. On the other hand, at this time, Indonesia is not
really at risk of being flooded by poor under-skilled immigrants
looking for welfare benefits, and yet, it keeps its gates firmly
shut for any type of immigrant.

FRANK SWEENEY, Newcastle, Australia