Indian students protest in Flinders Street. Photo by Will Ockenden.
I was actually going to write about bogans this week, in the wake of Melbourne mayor Robert Doyle suggesting we essentially build a bogan proof fence, keeping undesirables from the Western Suburbs from besmirching our city streets. There are so many issues connected with Doyle's apparent snobbery - class, crime, cash and even, I suspect, ethnicity - that I could easily ramble on the topic. But I won't. Well, just a little. Researching the bogan issue for a feature, I stumbled across www.bogan.com.au. (Never again will I struggle to explain the concept of bogan to a foreigner, thanks to their handy 'Bogan of the Week' gallery and concise history of the term.) Of uncomfortable interest was a forum thread complaining that the analogous Sydney term 'Westie' had been co-opted by 'the Wogs, Fobs (sic) or the Refuges (fully sic)'. Another proud Australian tradition eroded, allegedly, by our multicultural society. These are testing times, it seems, for our national identity. In the wake of recent protests by Indian students, Australia is having to defend itself against accusations of racism and comments such as those above provide unfortunate evidence for the prosecution.
An oak tree, not in Punjab Place. By slimmer jimmer.
Then, today, worse was to come. Punjab Place, a small cul-de-sac in the Queensland suburb of Logan, is to be renamed 'Oak Tree Place' following complaints from local retirement home residents. According to news.com.au, resident Ron Edmonds denied any racist intent, claiming the new name was "just a nicer name." However, the developer responsible, born in the Punjab, has said he believes it to be "clear cut racism" and the president of an Indian association agrees. Instead, the story seems to highlight which cultural icons we continue to privilege. There's not an Oak Tree in sight on the street in question, so the name is hardly more fitting, aside from the Anglophilic imagery it conjures up. English tree good. Indian place name "not so pretty". Of course, it's a complete non-story, but it chimes with ongoing tensions between the Indian community and, well, whoever it is being racist towards them. Is it all of us? The story, slight as it is, reminded me of comments from 4us, a set of four films made by refugee children settled in Melbourne. One of the films, 'In My Shoes', sees a group of Sudanese and Somali teenagers talking about their experiences encountering prejudice in Australian society. It's confronting stuff. The comment that stayed with me was that Australia, as the kids saw it, wasn't really a racist place. But it was intolerant of different religions - in their case, Islam. In other words, Australians don't mind where you come from, but struggle to accept that other cultural backgrounds may come to play a role in the public sphere. I don't know how true that is, but felt challenged by this insight. Which leads me to another fluffy story covered by a few news outlets today - the Paris Burqini Ban. Both the Age and news.com.au have latched on to this story, allowing themselves a hint of outrage at these intolerant Frenchies banning a great Australian invention. Whether the ban or the complaint from the banned burqini wearer are politically motivated is impossible to say, but it follows controversy following a blanket ban on religious wear in state schools.
An Australian Icon revised. Photo by brimfulofsasha
Comments on the news.com.au article predictably range from 'they should go home' to 'people should be free to wear what they want'. While many were amusing and many others depressing, one that seemed relevant to this post was:
It would be very sad if a place like France was to loose it's cultural identity. For Australia it's not so bad, we don't really have a cultural identity. So I can accept it. But France is renowned for it. Posted by: Goosens of Hervey Bay
Goosens isn't the first to suggest it, but do we really lack a cultural identity? If so, why do we react uncomfortably when the influence of other cultures enters the public sphere? Is "bogan" our sole contribution to global culture?
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