is this a racist t-shirt?

Lesley F · Veteran Member

is this a racist t-shirt?

KFT · Guru

I didn't think it was racist in any way

simple message to me-love Australia or leave.

frank

2weis · Senior Member

it may not be racist but it is inflammatory
brian

rockylizard · Guru

Gday...

I am willing to acknowledge that the statement on the T-shirt could be viewed by some as "inflammatory" or "confronting". However, is it any more so than the current push for "Team Australia"?

I cannot accept it is racist as it is not directed to any particular race, religion, culture or colour. There are many multiple-generation "born here" Strayans I think it applies to. Perhaps, to paraphrase, stop whinging, get over it or find somewhere you would prefer to live.

Let's perhaps look at it in a slightly different way confuse

Would it be the same if there was a T-shirt printed that said - "Greens Lake - love it or leave" ... or even "Bedford Weir - love it or leave" etc etc??

I think the message that is 'confronting' to some on the T-shirt is simply suggesting that if you are dissatisfied with living somewhere, then you should exercise your prerogative of choice and move on. Works for me

Cheers - John

Grandad5 · Senior Member

I'd say inflammatory as well .

The trouble is, (As I see it), is anytime someone not born in Australia complains about anything at all to do with living in Australia, some peoples reaction is as per this T-Shirt.
But, many of the people who are born and bred Aussies will willingly complain about any multitude of things including but not restricted to the weather, our education system, whoever is PM at the time etc etc.

This is seen as perfectly acceptable.

So, maybe we shouldn't encourage this type of T-Shirt unless everyone agrees to apply the thought to ALL residents of our great land.
Complain about something in Australia? Then regardless of whether you were born here or arrived on a boat you should leave.

I can't see that happening nor would I want to.

Cheers
'Jim

Bryan · Guru

I predict that sometime in the future all forms of communications will be banned because more and more of what we say or write will be deemed politically incorrect, racist, confronting etc.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

And I love every inch of it!!!!

Big Gorilla · Guru

Woolworths weren't actually ordered to withdraw the shirt from sale, they did so of their own volition after a social media backlash:

http://www.smh.com.au/lifestyle/fashion/woolworths-pulls-offensive-singlets-20141013-115dlp.html

It is rather subtle but so what ! It's not racist or political.

One thing about Australians I have noticed over the past couple of years is that we are becoming more patriotic. Prior to that you only ever saw "I Love Australia" on Tee Shirts. I guess having lived in the States and lived amongst Americans residing in the Philippines, I've come to realize what a great Country we have. Americans worship their Country, their flag, their military people, history amongst other things and I'm happy to see that we Australians are now following that line.

Travel Bug · Guru

rockylizard wrote:
Gday...
I am willing to acknowledge that the statement on the T-shirt could be viewed by some as "inflammatory" or "confronting". However, is it any more so than the current push for "Team Australia"?
I cannot accept it is racist as it is not directed to any particular race, religion, culture or colour. There are many multiple-generation "born here" Strayans I think it applies to. Perhaps, to paraphrase, stop whinging, get over it or find somewhere you would prefer to live.
Let's perhaps look at it in a slightly different way
Would it be the same if there was a T-shirt printed that said - "Greens Lake - love it or leave" ... or even "Bedford Weir - love it or leave" etc etc??
I think the message that is 'confronting' to some on the T-shirt is simply suggesting that if you are dissatisfied with living somewhere, then you should exercise your prerogative of choice and move on. Works for me
Cheers - John

Well said John!!!

Travel Bug · Guru

jules47 wrote:
And I love every inch of it!!!!

Me too Jules!!! smile

p.s. Pleased that you are having such a great time out there. smile

dazren · Guru

Strange is it not ?? That shirt can be worn by Many, Many, Australians with overseas backgrounds. and they could be of any Colour or Religion. AND the message portrayed on the tee shirt would be accepted as a sign of Pride and acceptance of their adopted country

However !!! If Worn by a White Australian Anglo Saxon --- Then it is Racist !! hmm hmm

Legendts · Senior Member

dazren wrote:
Strange is it not ?? That shirt can be worn by Many, Many, Australians with overseas backgrounds. and they could be of any Colour or Religion. AND the message portrayed on the tee shirt would be accepted as a sign of Pride and acceptance of their adopted country
However !!! If Worn by a White Australian Anglo Saxon --- Then it is Racist !!

Well put Dazren and also Bryan.

aussietraveller · Guru

Could not agree more with Dazren and Bryan lets not be afraid to be Australian irrespective of where we were born and be proud of our country and heritage I would be happy to wear one of these tee shirts.

D and D · Guru

Don't think it's racist but it is non-nonsensical. What does it mean?

Dave

Lesley F · Veteran Member

I just had a thought - wasn't it the Greens political party that patrolled Wicked Van slogans? Have they become the new slogan police? lol lol

Cloak · Guru

I find people who wear traditional garments from another countries offensive and racist, but because I'm only an Aussie my opinions don't count.

Am I right?

Beware the backlash is coming..

Big Gorilla · Guru

Cloak wrote:
I find people who wear traditional garments from another countries offensive and racist, but because I'm only an Aussie my opinions don't count.

Am I right?

Beware the backlash is coming..

This is not meant to be a backlash but I don't TOTALLY agree. If people who migrate to Australia want to hold a function with their own, what's wrong with that. Wear traditional dress, prepare and eat their own food, speak their own language, dance their national dances, but limit it to these special functions.

When they go out in public, that is a different story. They should dress the way Aussies do, they should learn and speak English, and generally act as our loved/hated (you choose) Prime Minister says and join Team Australia.

Take the opposite situation. Most of you know I lived in the Philippines for a long time. I held a Permanent Resident's Visa, I learnt the language, I paid tax, I paid into Social Security System (SSS) which is like our Centerlink but you have to pay into SSS to get benefits. I did and acted just like the locals, and as much as I could I integrated with the local people, smiled at people, and in return you earn respect and friendship.

Perhaps the migrants don't integrate as well here because they are not given proper instruction by our Govt. about what to expect and how to behave socially in Australia. Just a thought.

Glenelg · Guru

Good post BG , I came here 40 ode years ago. my thoughts then were to live like the locals do, i didn't mix with my own kind because it was back home this a that, someone would ask where are you from i would say west beach but i new what they meant thats where i live and i've got on well with all , have spent more time in this lovely country than any where .

i chose to be an aussie.

Bryan · Guru

Glenelg wrote:

i chose to be an aussie.

Me too

Vic41 · Guru

Bryan wrote:
Glenelg wrote:

i chose to be an aussie.
Me too

I didn't.......my parents chose for me.....but I'm grateful for the fact.

Just my guess but I think the logo on the Tshirt/Singlet is saying "We love our country and support it, if for some reason you don't then you have options"......it could apply to anyone, born here or elsewhere, can't see how it's racist or offensive to anyone, if some take offence then I say too bad. I suppose next we won't be able to display the Ozzie flag on things or fly it on our RV's ?????

03_troopy · Guru

Big Gorilla wrote:
Cloak wrote:
I find people who wear traditional garments from another countries offensive and racist, but because I'm only an Aussie my opinions don't count.

Am I right?

Beware the backlash is coming..
This is not meant to be a backlash but I don't TOTALLY agree. If people who migrate to Australia want to hold a function with their own, what's wrong with that. Wear traditional dress, prepare and eat their own food, speak their own language, dance their national dances, but limit it to these special functions.
When they go out in public, that is a different story. They should dress the way Aussies do, they should learn and speak English, and generally act as our loved/hated (you choose) Prime Minister says and join Team Australia.
Take the opposite situation. Most of you know I lived in the Philippines for a long time. I held a Permanent Resident's Visa, I learnt the language, I paid tax, I paid into Social Security System (SSS) which is like our Centerlink but you have to pay into SSS to get benefits. I did and acted just like the locals, and as much as I could I integrated with the local people, smiled at people, and in return you earn respect and friendship.
Perhaps the migrants don't integrate as well here because they are not given proper instruction by our Govt. about what to expect and how to behave socially in Australia. Just a thought.

I lived in Malaysia for two and a half years, and while I was there, I saw that the bulk of the Aussies living there, mostly stayed in their little enclaves and really had bugger all to do with the locals, apart from from dealing with the local vendors and shops etc. I must admit we were guilty of the same a lot of the time too, although we did befriend a couple of the locals and had social experiences with them. We were invited to, and attended, weddings, birthdays, naming ceremonies, Deepavali and even got to spend the day with a relative of our housekeepers, while he went through the ritual of Thaipusam (about a 6 hour ordeal from going into a trance to when they took the hooks and spear out of him and carried him off home). I think the reason people living in a land other than their birth country tend to stick together and keep a lot of their old traditions is mostly out of a feeling of security in something familiar to them. Also they probably feel more comfortable asking for help and advice about a lot of the confusing crap which is a part of everyday life here, from someone who is familiar to them, who has gone through the same process already.

As far as wearing traditional dress, why shouldn't they, except for security and identification reasons of course, like in banks, airports, driving etc, where their faces are covered. Why should we feel compelled to force others to conform to what we see as normal attire just to make us feel more comfortable? Why do we even care what other people wear?

This is not a backlash either, just an observation....

D and D · Guru

Cloak wrote:
I find people who wear traditional garments from another countries offensive and racist, but because I'm only an Aussie my opinions don't count.

Am I right?

Beware the backlash is coming..

I am curious about why you would find the way a person dresses offensive and racist?

Dave

tonyd · Guru

The Phantom wrote:
I reckon that if you want to wear one, do it.
It allows the real Aussies to identify the dickheads

the Phantom

Or it allows the real Aussies to identify the real patriotic Aussies.

Tony

sandsmere · Guru

I'll say it here again.

Australia, Love it or Leave.

Racist?? . . . . . Definitely Not.

jules47 · The Happy Helper

Agree, sands mere - used to say that to poms who we're whinging about not having a pub on every corner, and cold beer etc, was no such thing as "political correctness" back then!

Phillipn · Guru

What a true statement, If they don`t like it here ,why are they here? I won`t go to their countries as I don`t like their laws and customs.

When in Rome do as the Romans do.

GaryKelly · Guru

It's all very well to talk about integration but I for one am thankful that the Italians, Greeks and various Asian immigrants didn't settle for meat and three veg. The diversity of cultures in Oz is a good thing in my book.

Meanwhile, John, I like a man who knows how to spell prerogative, and Dazren you make a very good and logical point.

Big Gorilla · Guru

03_troopy wrote:
Big Gorilla wrote:
Cloak wrote:
I find people who wear traditional garments from another countries offensive and racist, but because I'm only an Aussie my opinions don't count.

Am I right?

Beware the backlash is coming..
This is not meant to be a backlash but I don't TOTALLY agree. If people who migrate to Australia want to hold a function with their own, what's wrong with that. Wear traditional dress, prepare and eat their own food, speak their own language, dance their national dances, but limit it to these special functions.
When they go out in public, that is a different story. They should dress the way Aussies do, they should learn and speak English, and generally act as our loved/hated (you choose) Prime Minister says and join Team Australia.
Take the opposite situation. Most of you know I lived in the Philippines for a long time. I held a Permanent Resident's Visa, I learnt the language, I paid tax, I paid into Social Security System (SSS) which is like our Centerlink but you have to pay into SSS to get benefits. I did and acted just like the locals, and as much as I could I integrated with the local people, smiled at people, and in return you earn respect and friendship.
Perhaps the migrants don't integrate as well here because they are not given proper instruction by our Govt. about what to expect and how to behave socially in Australia. Just a thought.
I lived in Malaysia for two and a half years, and while I was there, I saw that the bulk of the Aussies living there, mostly stayed in their little enclaves and really had bugger all to do with the locals, apart from from dealing with the local vendors and shops etc. I must admit we were guilty of the same a lot of the time too, although we did befriend a couple of the locals and had social experiences with them. We were invited to, and attended, weddings, birthdays, naming ceremonies, Deepavali and even got to spend the day with a relative of our housekeepers, while he went through the ritual of Thaipusam (about a 6 hour ordeal from going into a trance to when they took the hooks and spear out of him and carried him off home). I think the reason people living in a land other than their birth country tend to stick together and keep a lot of their old traditions is mostly out of a feeling of security in something familiar to them. Also they probably feel more comfortable asking for help and advice about a lot of the confusing crap which is a part of everyday life here, from someone who is familiar to them, who has gone through the same process already.
As far as wearing traditional dress, why shouldn't they, except for security and identification reasons of course, like in banks, airports, driving etc, where their faces are covered. Why should we feel compelled to force others to conform to what we see as normal attire just to make us feel more comfortable? Why do we even care what other people wear?
This is not a backlash either, just an observation....

That does happen Troopy, people of same nationality stick together when in another Country. I noticed this of course in the Philippines. But there were still a lot of expats like myself who did mix with locals, and it can be very rewarding as I tried to point out in my earlier post..

03_troopy · Guru

Totally agree BG, just putting forward different points of view ;)

Gerty Dancer · Guru

Remember when a lot of English immigrants into Australia complained frequently, and earned the nick-name "Whingeing Poms"? Most of them have either settled into happy Aussies or went home.

Knowledge speaks, but wisdom listens.