To think Australia have really gone and done it now?? Shocked and disgusted.

[NeoMaxiZoomDweebie]

Australia have removed themselves from the UN Refugee Convention.

here...this happened only today

They've basically decided that ANY refugee coming to Australia on a boat will now be "processed" on one of their offshore facilities....like Manus Island where there have been numerous suicide attempts and conditions are DREADFUl with people slepeing in places with no doors or in metal storage containers...this is in HIGH heat.

I am shocked. And disappointed... we are talking about refugees here. People already traumatised and lost. The places they're being sent to now are already under investigation for their disgusting conditions.

Yes, Squoosh and there was MASSIVE uproar at that program. It was appalling.

Minstrel shows?
Enlightened.

So? What does that have to do with the argument? A few idiots on a ridiculous television (lack of) talent show does not speak for the entire country. If you're trying to use Darryl Sommers as the spokesperson for an entire country, then you are the one showing your ignorance.

No, mimishimi, israel/palestine conflict is a completely different situation, certainly with respect to refugees and also with respect to indigenous populations.

There has always been a Jewish presence in the land of Israel, since ancient times, unlike australia which was 'discovered'. Jews didn't just arrive there, out of the blue, and begin slaughtering the native population like with Australia (or rather Britain at the time). This isn't a thread about Israel but it pisses me off when people just grab any opportunity to bash Israel (personally i do think its closet anti semitism a la baroness tonge and ken livingstone). A more appropriate example would be the colonisation of the Americas (north and south), no? Plenty of countries to choose from there! Or perhaps colonization of south africa by the boers and british? Why israel??? There is no 'aboriginal' conflict in Australia since there are so few of them left!

lately many Sudanese and eritrean migrants/ refugees have been making their way to Israel after being smuggled over the border from Egypt (which treats them like shit) by Bedouin. There has been a freeze on any deportations to Eritrea as its such a crackpot and repressive state.

Ok squoosh, forgive me for bringing it up. I don't want to derail the thread.

Something like that would never make its way onto British televison, that is my point.

So? Does that make you superior to the rest of the world squoosh? Do you think that the british hold a patent over what the rest of the world finds funny?

Comedy, yes, even British comedy, is often about poking fun at yourself. Remember Frank Spencer? How about Mr Bean? In the case of this particular group of comedians, they have taken their own culture and used it to develop very successful careers for themselves. I'm not personally a fan of the Wog Boy or those types of comedy, but I give all credit to the artists for what they do. Many have gone on to highly successful careers here and abroad and are very well respected in the film industry here.

'Comedy, yes, even British comedy, is often about poking fun at yourself'

Poking fun at 'yourself' is a bit different to poking fun at other communities.

Oh no Squoosh nothing like that would EVER make it onto British tv. Especially anything made by much loved British comedian David Walliams: www.dailymail.co.uk/tvshowbiz/article-1342025/David-Walliams-Matt-Lucass-BBC-spoof-Come-Fly-With-Me-accused-racism.html

Ugh, never saw that, almost as bad as the minstrel show. I'm glad even the Daily Mail saw fit to highlight it.

I can only hope the Australian people made vigorous complaints against their racist comedy shows. Did they?

YES OF COURSE THEY DID.

Yes, they complained in droves

The media here loves to freak about 'the boat people' .

This government decision makes me want to stick my head in the blender.
I will also just politely point out that yes we're defensive when attacked. We're not going to grovel on our knees apologising to you, are we?

Oh- the word is bogan. Redneck is for the US, thanks.

Poking fun at 'yourself' is a bit different to poking fun at other communities.

They ARE poking fun at themselves. Every single one of those comedians are all from backgrounds that are traditionally called "wogs" in Australia. They're using their own culture to develop comedy. It's no different to a british comedian poking fun at the very aspects that make British culture different to others, such as American or even yes, Australian.

Seeing as they've made millions doing it, I don't think they're too worried about some random from the UK on an internet forum thinks about it anyway.

Have you ever seen My Big Fat Greek Wedding? Do you think that was racist?

But it's just been politely explained to me that 'wog' refers to people of Greek origin. The people on the clip I linked to were pretending to be the Jackson Five. Pretty sure the Jackson Five weren't Greek, although please do correct me if I'm wrong on that count.

Kind regards,
random in the UK on an internet forum.

And the Jackson Five skit was absolutely panned in the media, social media and at the water cooler. I really can't believe that you can't see it as two separate issues:

1. A few idiots dressing up in black face and poking fun at another race.

2. Professional comedians using their own culture.

I really don't see how you can't get the difference.

Professional comedians using their own culture? But it's not their culture if they're not black.

I really don't see how you can't get the difference.

The only 'comedians' I have referred to are the minstrel ones. I don't know what other comedians you are referring to.

We seem to be having two different discussions at the same time. I am referring to the "wog" sketch comedy and the discussions about the word being reclaimed by the community and not considered offensive in Australia anymore as it is overseas. I would never call someone a wog, but it's perfectly acceptable for people to refer to themselves or their families as wogs. It just doesn't have the gasp factor about it anymore.

The blackface guys aren't comedians. They're doctors. Twatish doctors. Ironically, I remember reading that they are mostly from immigrant backgrounds themselves (a couple were asian, one middle eastern if I remember correctly).

Am Australian, in Australia.

The thread in an absolute bunfight but two things are fact: we are frittering away peace and prosperity being fuckers. Whenever anyone points this out, we get hysterically defensive.

We should be ashamed of both. We are capable of better.

I personally wouldn't use the word 'Wog' because I don't feel that my cultural heritage makes that OK (I am pretty free with 'Skip' and 'Pommy' though). However I do have greek friends (yes really) who do use wog all the time, it is a term of affection and does not have the same connotations as in the UK.

There is zero chance they will stop using because it upsets middle class British people and I can only imagine what they would call them if they were asked.

As FanjoPaterson says the word is Bogan (or Westie or Feral).

'Redneck' is a rude word for poor Americans.

If you are going to throw around derogatory terms, at least get the continent right.

I am defensive, because I am personally offended at being called a Racist Redneck.

Another Australian in Australia. Actually I was British (born in the UK and held a passport) until I became a citizen of Australia this year.

Sweeping generalisations are shit. Fact.
I am not a supporter of the current government or most of it's policies, nor are the majority of people I know in Australia. Fact.
Unless you've lived somewhere, don't believe everything you read on the internet and don't make assumptions about the general population of a country.

Yes this policy is unspeakably shit. Australians will deal with it in a democratic manner, we'll get rid of the current government and elect one which will deal with these vulnerable groups in a humane and Australian way.

Much is spoken of racist Australia. To be fair, I can see why. I can also temper my opinion with personal experience. The Australians I know would give you the shirt off their back - regardless of your race, ethnic background, sex. I have experienced the best that mankind has to offer in this country which I am proud to call home.

David Cameron and his stooges are far from perfect, this does not leave me inclined to brand the UK universally useless.

Not really the point of the OP, but as with every discussion around Australia and Racism it descends into a row.

But here is a map showing the worlds most and least racially tolerant countries. Which you may find interesting.