Tuesday, December 27, 2005

An incident

I'm back from China!!!
I spent 3 weeks in Shanghai studying, then to Beijing for 4 days. I met some great new friends (photos coming up soon), learnt a lot about Chinese, China and Chinese culture and climbed the Great Wall (yay!).
But anyway, this is about what happened the day before Christmas Eve, just after I got back from China.

My family and I went to have dinner in an average Thai Restaurant in a very multi-cultural suburb with people who have lower than average socio-economic backgrounds. In other words, lots of migrants and refugees. My sister, brother-in-law, 5 year-old nephew were walking in front of Jason and myself carrying christmas presents. Some young punk (caucasian) must've felt threatened by the sight of blacks and asians getting along that he kept staring at us as he walked past. Jason stared back and he said, "whatcha lookin' at?" to which Jason replied, "Just keep walking, mate". After we crossed the road he started calling us names and taunting us. At first we ignored him, but then he called Jason the "n" word and both Jason and my bro-in-law (who is asian, by the way) turned around. The guy said that he would take both of them on. They chased him and the coward ran to a pub.

I can't believe this is still happening in Australia, I mean, the racial riots in Sydney was a big shock, but since I got back I felt that everyone was on alert even here in Melbourne. When Jase and my bro-in-law chased that guy others were looking on and getting ready to join the "punch-on". I couldn't believe my eyes.

But just to prove that not all white men are racists, there was a white guy who saw the whole thing and as Jason was walking back he patted him on the shoulder and said that it wasn't right what that guy said etc... so I still feel there's a bit of hope.

Unfortunately, though, I am questioning the Aussie values of a "fair go" and "tolerance". I mean, Jason and I are as Aussie as you get. If people consider us not Australian because of the colour of our skin then I don't know where else to go. China? It might be a communist government with a history of human rights abuses, but at least the people I met there were accepting of Jason and our relationship.