%$#@$!@# RASIST, What the%$#@#! IS IT.?

People should really learn the difference between racism and curiosity about foreigners. I live in the US and come from a racially diverse area, so I am used to seeing clothes, food, and accents from different parts of the world.

Like you, I realize that if I traveled to some of these places, I would stick out like a sore thumb. I am tall and VERY pale, so unless I traveled to Europe, I will probably get pointed at or whispered about. Luckily, this kind of thing does not bother me, so I would like to think I would be open about my traditions and be willing to learn about theirs as well.

Hello my friend hiccup Ji,
I feel, let others have opinions about one's and not the person oneself. If you are not so, why explanation at all needed. Remeber truth always remains truth. It also never depends upon others. Off course, I have never visited your country and I wish to know, how many ties you have visited all tehse countries and faced such situation taht people have hidden after seeing whites. Here in India, tehre are many whites. So pleas fathoom the depth of iccean to know about different cultures. may god bless You and have a great time.

Don't know why I didn't see this discussion earlier. I have seen other discussions on this topic claiming that (we) Australians are racist and have been attacking Indian students. As you quite rightly pointed out, the attacks have not been by Australian-born people but rather, between Indians and Lebanese who have migrated here. Too often, people migrate here and bring their problems and hatred with them. As you would know, there are entire suburbs almost full of one race or another, because they choose to surround themselves with others from their home country rather than integrating with us. In several suburbs of Sydney, all the shop signs are in a foreign language with no English translation attached to it. I wouldn't dare walk around alone in these suburbs because we are simply not welcome and I would be concerned at the prospect of being attacked. I have noticed an increase in violent demonstrations here in recent months. As you may know, one race in particular has been demonstrating outside Parliament House - requiring many riot police to try to restore calm - because the demonstrators want our government to intervene in domestic problems in their home country. It is not our place to do so. The people who live in THAT country should be protesting to THEIR government rather than trying to drag Australia into it. As far as I am concerned, we have no business telling another country how to run itself. Why don't these people demonstrate in their own country? Simple. They know they would be shot by police if they tried. Sorry for the rant.