Amnesty for racists

[malumbu]

Would any kiwis like to come on line and apologise for their racism? I was there 25 years ago and heard abuse of Asian kids at the Basin Reserve Cricket Ground in a one day match in Wellington. We'd stay at B&Bs to be told by the owners that New Zealand had a 'black problem' as well as the UK - at the time there was a programme of tribunals to determine reparation for the colonials treatment of indigenous people. Aussies are welcome too and for my part I apologise for any offence innocent comments may have led to in my less enlightened past. I'm also sorry for enjoying the sledging that the NZers were giving a young Shane Warne.

A facetious title but a serious matter as it was disappointing to hear of the abuse Jofra Archer got today. Of course the UK isn't innocent.

[TheCat]

A very serious issue Malumbu. And any of these idiots in New Zealand or anywhere else should be named and shamed.

But aren't you falling into similar trap by suggesting 'any kiwis' apologise for a few dickheads? (Yes - I know 'new Zealander' is not a race...but you get the picture I'm sure)

[malumbu]

I was quite surprised at the amount of racism in New Zealand, at the time thinking it was a more progressive country. But a colleague on my return reckoned that outside of the metropolitan bubbles it was the same in the UK. This was the 1990s and the world has changed since then. I was hoping to provoke some views from the New World and elsewhere. Whilst I am sounding a little pompous I do like to hear counter arguments, and objective views as a whole.

I could also add 'homo and trans phobia' - back to the amnesty I shudder at some of the jokes that I may have made once, even though I considered them harmless at the time.

[JohnL]

There probably is a de facto amnesty - would any police force prosecute historic crimes of verbal abuse going back to the 1980s ?

Historic views have been used to build up a portrait of someone though (Boris for instance).

[TheCat]

So...I'll add some perspectives then from the 'new world'....:)

I grew up in Brisbane, and never really thought racism was a feature of my life.....

But looking back with the more balanced eyes of an adult.... some of the bullying and teasing of kids in early years of high school was pretty deplorable to be honest. Not so much a black versus white thing, but white versus south east Asian (and I lament whatever role I played as an idiot early teen)

Not long after uni, I moved to outback Queensland for work. To a town that according to locals had a 'black problem'. I also vividly recall some friends from Brisbane coming to town for a few days to visit and saying 'I never really disliked aborigines until I came to a country town'.....

Despite all this evidence as a young Cat I would have sworn black and blue that Australia is not a racist country. Now, having living on these grey and drizzly shores for nearly 15 years, (and with the benefit of maturity) I see that the tyranny of distance for Australia makes it something of a bubble, where things are judged not by broad international standards, but by relative standards within the bubble, which can be problematic.

All this said, I hope that my recollections are of an Australia that used to exist, and things have moved on considerably in my time away.....

[uncleglen]

I grew up in East London. In 1982 my youngest brother could not attend school as he was relentlessly bullied by the asian kids in his class ( he was the only white boy)even though 2 asian boys were his 'friends' and were regularly in our house.

He missed a whole year of school- his GCSE year- and the teachers did absolutely nothing in the previous months to him not going at all- except they let him leave school 5 minutes early to run home before he was attacked.

Mum and dad were taken to court and it dragged on until he was legally allowed to leave.

[Captain Marvel]

How dare you call it grey and drizzly... oh

[cella]

uncleglen Wrote:

-------------------------------------------------------

> I grew up in East London. In 1982 my youngest

> brother could not attend school as he was

> relentlessly bullied by the asian kids in his

> class ( he was the only white boy)even though 2

> asian boys were his 'friends' and were regularly

> in our house.

> He missed a whole year of school- his GCSE year-

> and the teachers did absolutely nothing in the

> previous months to him not going at all- except

> they let him leave school 5 minutes early to run

> home before he was attacked.

> Mum and dad were taken to court and it dragged on

> until he was legally allowed to leave.

Are you using this to somehow explain your unpleasant views ever since?