Harry Connick Jr SLAMS Australian Blackface Skit, Host Apologizes (VIDEO)

(AP Text, Scroll for Video)

ADELAIDE, Australia - An Australian variety show host has apologized for a skit in which singers parodying the Jackson Five performed in blackface.

American singer and actor Harry Connick Jr., who was serving as a guest judge on Wednesday night's "Hey Hey It's Saturday," was visibly shocked by the skit, in which four men with afro wigs and blackface sang and danced behind a Michael Jackson impersonator wearing white makeup.

Connick, 42, gave the performance a zero score and told them that if it had been done in the United States it would have been pulled off the air.

Blackface was a traditional trope of minstrel shows in the U.S. that dates to the 19th century. Whites playing stock black characters -- usually offensive stereotypes meant to demean -- rubbed coal, grease or shoe polish on their faces. Blackface performances are not common in Australia.

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Public reaction to the "Hey Hey" performance in online forums was mixed. Some Australians said they were embarrassed such a racist sketch had been broadcast, while others said detractors were too politically correct and that the skit was funny.

Michael Jackson died June 25 at age 50.

At a news conference on other issues Thursday morning, opposition politician Helen Coonan labeled the skit "disgusting."

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Host Daryl Somers apologized to Connick at the end of the live show.

"I know that to your countrymen, that's an insult to have a blackface routine like that on the show, so I do apologize to you," Somers said.

Connick said he would not have appeared on the show if he'd known about the skit.

"I just want to say, on behalf of my country, I know it was done humorously, but we've spent so much time trying to not make black people look like buffoons, that when we see something like that we take it really to heart," he told Somers after his apology.

Anand Deva, the frontman of the "Jackson Jive" act, said it was not meant to cause offense but added he would not have performed it in the United States.

"Hey Hey" ran for 27 years starting in 1971. The "Jackson Jive" group first appeared on the show 20 years ago and were invited back to reprise their roles during the second of two reunion shows for the once-popular program.

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Comments

[yankeetwo]

Blackface humor has been Politically Incorrect, and almost never seen in the US since long before we invented the term, i.e. for at least 50 years. It's a racist slap in the face to the descendants of former slaves, especially true in this case, so soon after Michael Jackson's tragic death. Jackson's obsession with being white is no joke. It is a sad testimony to the severe effect of racism, and to the frailty of even the most creative and successful men.

The Australians have also, until recently, apparently been guilty of destructive treatment of aboriginals, and are also apparently guilty, as recently as 1970, of gross neglect and abuse, including physical, emotional and sexual, of a half million orphans and British castoff children as well. The sexual abuse was at the hands of the Catholic Church of course.The stories I've read about Australia recently are shocking.

Recently PM Rudd issued apologies to the victims of these sick Australian policies which have done severe harm to millions of innocent victims, mostly children. He needs to do far more than that. He must do everything possible to repair the damage done, e.g. provide psychiatric care (patient's choice), medical care, cultural and social support, educational and vocational support, and wherever necessary, financial support to every single victim. Because if he's not willing to do everything in his power to rebuild the lives backward policies have damaged and destroyed.

Otherwise, his apologies mean little or nothing.

[the deliman]

Big up to Harry Connick Jr. to represent America well overseas.

[jensixtyten]

Actually I live in America! And I was SPECIFICALLY talking about Rush Limbaugh and his ilk .... and if you seriously expect me to believe that the average Australian even knows who they are then I seriously can't take any of what you say without a huge grain of salt.

I'm not saying Australians aren't exposed to American television but certainly not conservative right-wing pseudo political commentators. Sheesh!

And, no I'm not stupid, I do happen to know that Rupert Murdoch owns Fox. (And he also happens to be a DUAL American-Australian citizen so he not just "Our" anymore.) But if you somehow think that exactly the same content is played on the Australian Fox network as the US Fox network then you are mistaken.

[keeran]

Don't worry about Rush Limbaugh we have Sam Newman. This jerk appears every week on an AFL football show. Whats that got to do with anything? Well firstly can I thank the few Aussies that conceded that most Australians DO KNOW the meaning of blackface. Sam Newman a retired footballer who remains on a high ratings, national, weekly AFL footy show caused outrage when he painted his face with black shoe polish in March 1999 to mock an indigenous footballer at a time when racial vilification charges had been leveled at a number of footballers across the league. Ford Australia dumped Sam Newman as their spokesman, channel nine, the same network that broadcasts Hey Hey the most recent offender of blackface, made an apology as did the host of The Footy Show as well as the offender Sam Newman.

http://www.highbeam.com/doc/1P1-21463147.html

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sam_Newman

[keeran]

The incident was in the national papers and on every news network for a week! We don't know what balckface is ??? BULLDUST! Everyone in Australia knows that it's offensive and understands what it means. As for Sam Newman he's been involved in many disgraceful incidents including degrading women. In particular he stuck a picture of a female politician on a sex doll and performed oral sex on the doll on national television!!! He's still on the show and has renewed his multi-million dollar contract just weeks ago. In September THIS YEAR he held up a picture of a Malaysian man and his new wife and referred to the man as a "monkey '.. "not long out of the forest". Absolutely nothing to do with football and pure racism every week on national television. This is Australian humour and because it's racism disguised as humour in Australia we say it ALL OK MATE!

http://www.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/sam-newman-criticised-by-abcs-media-watch/story-e6frf8w6-1225778160576

[auscraig]

Labelling a country as 'racist' because of one skit on a TV show is ridiculous. Can I assume that all Americans are like the folks on Jerry Springer? You all live in trailer parks, have sex with your own family & dress as transvestites? of course not. When I visit the USA (as I do often), I accept I am a visitor & the way you do things & customs are different to Australia. I accept your sense of humour, history & sensitivities are differerent to mine. I also realise I cannot impose my beliefs onto that country. When visiting a country, I do not expect they will adjust their humour so as to not offend me. The arrogance of Harry Connick Jnr. He would do well to remember that when VISITING another country you do not impose your beliefs and prejudices onto your host. You remember that you are the odd man out and you need to accept that what is offensive to you, may not be to the locals. This skit was not meant for a US audience. More than one participants ain the skit are from India and have dark skin. Sorry America. We're not you. It's not our responsibility to acquaint ourselves with how you've treated your African Americans. It's up to you to feel guilty about that, not us. A country that churns out so much crap TV has no place lecturing another on it's TV content.

Mind your own business America.

[keeran]

Yeah America mind your own business! Stop interfering in our home-grown thinly veiled racism we pass off as comedy. How dare you tell us what it is to be Australian. We've even managed to teach our ethnic medical professionals to sing and dance. You wont see that on Grays Anatomy. Racism?? What racism? There are no blacks in Australia that we need to worry about. At least none that own TV's. Plus our ethnics are brown they're not black and they shalt DENOUNCE their darkness. We're not interested in what you think of us. We our own people. Hmm.. I wonder what's on telli; Oprah? forget that... what's on after... hmm... Dr Phil that looks good. I wonder what's on Channel 7; Ellen?? There's something strange about that bloke? Whats on after? The View? Damn you Whoopi! I wonder whats on tonight. NCIS then NCIS LA!! ... awesome!!!. Oooo then CSI then CSI Miami .. wicked ... THEN CSI New York! Back to back baby!! Look out! Scrubs reruns awesome. Bet they don't have dancin' doctors.

[Heather Mac]

Sorry y'all get so much of our crappy TV. I wish we got more stuff from the rest of the world--I'd love to see Good News Week outside of iTunes. :)

[Bacygirl]

I'd forgotten when I read this piece that Australia was under apartheid just like South Africa. The White Australia Policy as law from 1901 to 1975. The program doesn't seem such a stretch when putting it in the perspective of their past.

Also, American blacks would be surprised at the many negative stereotypes of black people TODAY in other countries. I remember being shocked when living in Taipei by products like Mamy Po diapers and a toothpaste they sold with a coal black man (reminiscent of the Cream of Wheat fellow) with a big grin on his face and a sparkle on his teeth.

The Chinese even have an equivalent of 'ni--er." It translates as "black ghost" or "black slave."

Slavery was outlawed in 1962 in Saudi Arabia. South Africa's apartheid was in force from 1948 to 1992. Slavery is still alive and well, albeit illegal, in many countries. Especially sex slavery. Which makes Obama's election even more poignant. He is a symbol of hope for so many people around the world.

[FreddyRacoonish]

Thank you for demonstrating your ignorance. The White Australia policy was actually about immigration, where preference was given to migrants from Europe over those coming mainly from Asia. It's not an aspect of our history that we are proud of, but to infer from it (based on what - the name?) that Australia was apartheid is pathetic.

[Bacygirl]

While the White Australia policy was aimed at immigration of asians, it doesn't change the fact that your practice of apartheid inside your country was aimed at aboriginals!!! Your ignorance lies in your denial that you're bigots.

[Bacygirl]

Freddy, maybe you were sleep during your Australian history course.

Apartheid Australia far worse than Apartheid South Africa in Indigenous imprisonment,
http://gpolya.newsvine.com/_news/2009/08/18/3165882-apartheid-australia-far-worse-than-apartheid-south-africa-in-indigenous-imprisonment-

Australia's Own History of Apartheid, (from Online Opinion, Australia's e-journal of Social and Political Debate)
http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=5044

Australia facing new "Apartheid," aborigine says
Agence France-Presse (AFP)
30 December 1997
http://www.hartford-hwp.com/archives/24/054.html

Australia let apartheid-era team pass through to NZ
http://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=10484995

[keeran]

There's a little known but genuine incident that was experienced by a well known Aboriginal Australian. His name is Ernie Dingo believe it or not. Most Australians would recognise him as a TV presenter on an Australian travel show. Some Americans may know him from Crocodile Dundee II. Ernie is unmistakably Indigenous. One day while on holiday at a Resort in Western Australia he had been swimming in the hotel pool when another swimmer had complained to management that an Aboriginal was in the pool. The manager promptly ejected him!!! Australians seem to be taking the high moral ground on race in comparison to America and while I do not defend American history I ask Australians how famous do you have to be if you're black to swim in a pool? I’m kidding obviously the manager had no idea he was a famous Aboriginal. Ha!..How bout another question; How many Aboriginals are CEO's of major corporations in Australia. There's plenty of Black and Mexican CEOs of large multinationals in the States. Ask the Aussies if they have a thing about Mexicans too?; How many times did you see Sol Trujillo the former CEO of Australia's largest Telco Company depicted as one of the Three Amigos in Australian newspapers. Ah but that's okay it's only a cartoon. Yes some of the excessive claims of racism are hard to take coming from Americans but as Australians we certainly can't take the high moral ground on the issue of race.

[OZCHICK84]

so bcoz an australian was racist towards ernie dingo means to say that all aussies are racist? and how are we taking the high moral ground on the race road?? i dont think any of us here are denying that racism still exists in australia, but we are juz defending ourselves from those ppl who are saying that australians are ALL racist, or are racially backward compared to other countries like the US. u wonder why there are no CEOs of Aborigine background? maybe its bcoz they havent been able to adapt to modern Australian society, which needs to be resolved, but its also similar to how the Native American Indians are coping in America. and once again, im not taking any moral high road on this, we still have a long way to go in resolving our racial and cultural issues as a nation, but australia is no more racist than any other country out there.

[OZCHICK84]

and how is that taking the moral high ground? maybe u should learn to read the comments first b4 u start spouting off claims.

[keeran]

Your comment: "maybe its bcoz they havent been able to adapt to modern Australian society"... AHAHAHAHAH. Oh dear. Please you're embarrassing us more than I ever intended. We have plenty of indigenous doctors, lawyers and philosophers; my point was where raw talent and intellect is not the primary prerequisite for achievement you will not find Indigenous Australians. Hence the average Australian boardroom is devoid minorities.

[Rhonda Louise Thomas]

Can Americans (black and white) please tell us where is Native American History month? Why are you making fun of Native Americans by using Native American mascots (highly offensive and racist) in your sports events? Why are you not rebuilding New Orleans? Why are you not doing your best to rid Hotevilla of the Peabody mines in Arizona on Hopi land? Why have you not released Leonard Peltier? If your interest in our Australian minorities is so great why do you not feature them more prominently on any of your TV, film or radio shows? And why are you not understanding that many Aussies agree that the piece on the crap TV show in Australia you've seen means you can judge a whole nation by this is more racist than the original piece aired in the first place. I am offended. As an Australian I want your apology.

[KismetAU]

Thanks Rhonda - let's make a deal with Americans

Australians - we must stop living in a bubble and accept that our humor is sometimes thinly glazed racism. I know we think we don't mean anything by it, but usually it has an underlying meaning that we casually and flippantly throw about in the guise of "humor". Also let's embrace all our different cultures and see the good and fine points of all peoples. Let's make our nation an example to rest of the world of how tolerance and acceptance can work. Let's welcome and embrace all those with good intentions to become part of our society.

Americans - please ban guns in your country, say sorry to your black people for slavery, be more part of the entire world, come down from your "we are the greatest" podium, the "world power" that thinks everyone's morality matches your own. Stop being cultural Imperialists. Give all your citizens the civil right to marry.

[davegate2000]

This whole episode reminds me of another situation that happened recently.
A few months ago, our Prime Minister Kevin Rudd was accused of being racist because, when the Mexican CEO of Telstra resigned (with a $10 Million pay cheque), the PM wished him "adios".

All the PC crowd jumped on him, saying that his "adios" was proof that Australia is a racist country.

Really? Isnt that a bit of a stretch? And how does the placement of a Mexican as the head of one of Australia's biggest company support that idea?

People need to stop being such whiny cry babys.

[keeran]

Governments can legislate against racism until the cows come home. In most instances as history has shown us, it's done poorly. Equal Opportunity legislation is a vital part of a nations blueprint for an equitable society. To use your words, Sol was hand picked and at the time of his "placement" AUS government still held 51% share in Telstra. I applaud organisations that choose their boards based on merit rather than connections. The point I made was, we ridiculed him in the media based on his race. Do I think he would have even got the job had Telstra not been government owned? I think not! There lies the answer to your question. On the issue of race relations in AUS in recent history the government's been forced to take the lead. Legislate all you want but if the culture encourages racism then the end result is still more of the same.

[OZCHICK84]

thanks to the other australian commentators here for speaking up that not all australians, including asian australians, african australians, the Aborigines, and white australians, are not as racist as americans claim to be. i think it speaks more of the human race that we always seem to hate those who are diff. from us. instead of americans lecturing australians on how to become more racially evolved, maybe they should reflect instead that a lot more needs to be done to improve race relations, and not juz from one country, but globally.

[guytaur1]

Australians walked across the Sydney Harbour Bridge in support of Reconciliation.
Polls and surveys show that Australians want the Aboriginal People to have the same rights and opportunities as everyone else without taking away from their culture.
The majority of Australians love different cultures. It makes life more interesting. Especially when it comes to food.
Harry Connick Jr is being reported in the Sydney Daily Telegraph as sitting down for dinner with the host of Hey Hey Mr Daryl Somers today.
So like Will i am. Harry Connick Jr does not judge the people of Australia on one skit.

[Poyda]

And according to Will.i.am you can thank us Aussies for the Awesome Obama !!

http://www.watoday.com.au/national/rudd-apology-inspired-the-world-william-20091009-gpmi.html

Happy to take that one. Hardly makes up for that skit though. Perhaps we should convene a UN Meeting where Rudd can apologize for the skit too.

[linkthewindow]

How's Rudd responsible for this skit :/

I want Obama to apologise for Beck

[Poyda]

Your response was funnier than my not too subtle sarcasm could ever be. You did get it was sarcasm, right? :/

[Poyda]

I think we have covered one skit on Australian television, White Australia policy (abandoned in the 60s), the Stolen Generation (for which Australia's government, and the nation with it, has made a formal and much needed apology); and the Cronulla Riots. That has America 4 - Australia 0.

To quickly even things up, a little:

1. Katrina
2. Rodney King
3. the internment of the Japanese
4. the War on Terror (ie Muslims).

That has America 4 - Australia 4.

To break the tie, perhaps we should discuss which country :

Was the first to give woman the vote? The first to elect a native to federal parliament­/congress? The first to have a female deputy PM/Vice-President? The first to give universal health care to all natives? The first to give free tuition and living allowances to any native who wants to attend university? The first to pass federal anti-discrimination laws? Has a history of slavery? Has a history of segregation? Banned the marriage of blacks and whites as recently as the 70s? Is the home of the KKK, Rush, Dobbs, Beck, O'Reilly ("these black people even have table manners")? Tortures middle-eastern men? I don't I have even got to the little preoccupation that Americans have with Mexicans, but no so much with Canadians.

Something tells me this is going to be a close one.

[Poyda]

Now. Many Americans, it seems, have decided to double down on Aussies being "racist". Let's see what they have to say about themselves after we resolve the naughty little questions posed above.

And if the Americans aren't here to try and make an a rrr sse of themselves by commenting on a society they know nothing about, then what is going on? Is a skit on Aussie TV really that fascinating?

[linkthewindow]

Of course, "They are worse then us" isn't a valid argument ;).

But yes, if a poorly-done sketch on a TV show means Australia is racist, then I shudder to think of America.

[Poyda]

Precisely. That was the point of my sarcasm.

[KismetAU]

You forgot GUN LAWS - why is there so much murder in the USA ? GUNS...really USA please get rid of them.

[Heather Mac]

Not to mention that y'all have had atheist PMs. I'd bet money that the US has an openly gay President before we have an openly atheist President.

[keeran]

OZCHICK84 you seem to continually miss the point. Intent has no relevance to whether something is racist or not. The fact that these individuals were doctors of ethnic origin goes to the heart of what it takes to be accepted in Australian culture. Racism against Blacks by Ethnic Australians is rife and it's often unspoken but it exists and Australian culture encourages if not overlooks this kind of racism. I like you am Asian and I'm afraid to say many Asians in Australia think nothing of referring to Aboriginals in the most derogatory and demeaning of ways. Racism is so interwoven in our culture that we can not see it when it's staring us in our faces. We become incredulous when people are strong enough to point it out. I love this country for the opportunities it gave me and my family and I will defend it with my life if I were ever asked but against the charge of racism I'm afraid to say Australia; we've failed miserably.

[Poyda]

No, you are missing the point. The skit has given some in the American media a reason for kicking the boot into Aussies, and some on this blog have sounded like the twits on Fox in their eagerness to make some unfounded generalizations about an entire group of people. You would think that Australia is the something akin to the American South if the likes of Ozchick weren't here setting the records straight. Australia's politics is left of San Francisco, but you have some running around spouting off that we are rednecks, when they clearly have never visited the country.

Keep up the good work Ozchick.

[OZCHICK84]

keeran, juz coz u or the other asians u know of are racist against Aborigines doesnt mean that u can generalize all asians as being like u or them. juz coz we're both asians doesnt mean we share the same views. and fyi, not all Aborigines are 'black' as u claim, some of them are as white as anglo saxons or nearly as light as they are due to interracial mixing. it seems like ur the one whose steretyping here. plz try going to other countries such as canada, US, or the UK and ull also find that theres always going to be a group of ppl from diff. nationalities who will always want to discriminate against others. i think singling out asians, which are made up of diff. nationalities themselves and who can also be very dark of skin, is quite unfair and is generalizing.

[keeran]

OZCHICK84 at no point did I say I share the same views as you. Your comment: "and fyi, not all Aborigines are 'black' as u claim, some of them are as white as anglo saxons or nearly as light as they are due to interracial mixing. it seems like ur the one whose steretyping here" Your understanding of Race Relations and Racism is so infantile that I must interject to your putting me straight. I assure you every black person who reads your statement would clearly recognise your shallow understanding. This is what I'm talking about; Australians Just Don't Get It. Most black people do not consider the lightness of ones skin colour excludes them from identifying themselves as black. That's from Black 101 baby. Your last argument was, we didn't know painting our face with black shoe polish and doing a jig would be offensive to blacks. Come on seriously do you have to study history to know that might offend? Okay it was one skit from a crappy show but unfortunately it's indicative of a greater reality in Australia.

[guytaur1]

I hope that brings some perspective to these comments.
Australia has racists in it there is not doubt. Just as the US and every other country has racists in it.
Australia is not as bad as the Media is trying to portray it.

[Kamilaroi]

Well said.

[Heather Mac]

Right on. *fistbump*

[guytaur1]

Black-eyed pea Will.i.am inspired by PM Kevin Rudd

From: AAP Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 EST 2009 Sat Oct 10 00:00:00 EST 2009

Proud ... Will.i.am, (left), of the Black-Eyed Peas has praised PM Kevin Rudd. Source: AP
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd's apology to the stolen generations inspired people around the world, Black Eyed Peas frontman will.i.am says.

"I salute your prime minister, Prime Minister Rudd, if it wasn't for that I believe there would not have been that wave of conscious shifting happening and I don't think there would be an Obama," the American rapper said on Thursday at the Melbourne opening of reconcilia­tion-inspi­red art project Nomad Two Worlds.

"I think seeing a potential leader of a country as wonderful as Australia take a stand and do that inspired other world leaders and potential world leaders on what they can do and change to move forward into this whole new era with its technology and nationless collaboration happening.

"The future leaders of the world are breaking down the walls of what once held us back in the past.

"I really salute and I'm truly very inspired by your prime minister."

Nomad Two Worlds is a collaborative art project by fashion photographer Russell James and indigenous artists including Clifton Bieundurry, which was inspired by the February 2008 apology to the stolen generations.

[Poyda]

Oh Rudd will love this. Can't wait for Rove. The Aussies here will know what I'm talking about. "Twitter Time" hahhahhhaha

[OZCHICK84]

i know exactly what u mean. i think rudd's too celebrity obsessed and his attempts at trying to be hip and to become part of the in crowd is truly cringe worthy, but at least he's a lot better than john howard ever was. speaking of which, i wish they'd brought back full frontal instead of hey hey. their parodies of howard and pauline hanson on tv were absolutely classic. =)

[linkthewindow]

After reading through about five pages of "Australians are racist/Australians are dumb" posts, like other Australian posters, I am offended.

Yes, Australia has race problems. Yes, we've had a tarnished past with race relations. Yes, many Australian politicians and many Australian people are still racist.

HC Jr. was right in speaking up, and I applaud him for standing up and trying to correct a perceived injustice. Blackface has horrible connotations in America, and it's not surprising that he took offense to the skit.

But, it must be stressed, that in Australia blackface has literally no negative historical connotations. This was the first time I saw a blackface performance on Australian television. Before, I had very limited knowledge of the history of the performance, so to an Australian audience, the presentation was tasteless, but not offensive.

What I do find disturbing is that a lot of "liberal" Americans are generalising a nationality as being "racist" for a single skit on a show. Australia has had a terrible history with race relations, and we still do have racist fringes, but if you're willing to generalise a whole nation as being racist due to a single skit on a TV show, then you should look in the mirror.

Australia still has it's problems, and Australia is not perfect. But talking about a couple of amateurish and offensive "actors" is distracting from the real issues that every country has in relation to race.

As an Australian, I also apologise for these tasteless idiots.

[supertim]

For most of the last century Australia pursued a 'White Australia Policy.' It was designed to limit immigration only to those of white skin.

In the first half of the century nearly 80 percent of all immigrants came from the United Kingdom.

Despite being geographically in Asia, Australians generally viewed Asian people with suspicion dubbing them the 'yellow peril.'

In the words of one of the prime ministers of the time Harold Holt "Australia must be kept preponderantly British in its institutions and compositions of its people."

Immigrants, Holt conceded, "offered much" and in return they must simply "become Australian." For many that too often meant being forced to laugh along with jokes at their own expense.

http://edition.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/09/jackson.australia/

[OZCHICK84]

right, try asking that to the poms who are being ridiculed at their own expense, the greeks, the italians, the kiwis, the westies, the politicians etc. u seem to think that australians are obsessed with racial jokes. btw once again u mention the white policy which has already been lifted. i can probably mention the rodney king beatings and other racial attacks that occured even after the civil rights era, need i even mention the katrina??? australia is becoming more and more multicultural, and is increasingly seeing its asian neighbours as its partners and important allies. granted, theres still some tensions in relation to china, but i think even americans arent exactly welcoming to china either due to its communist gov.

[Poyda]

OzChick - you are on fire! Keep slaying these mo r o ns whenever they pop up.

[OZCHICK84]

one thing i can say, based on my experience here as an asian immigrant. the australian gov. has been more than fair in helping us settle here, inspite of the fact that we had no other relatives here when we first arrived. most of the ppl i met were very welcoming and ive met many other ppl who came here from diff. parts of the world. my experience of being racially discriminated against here has been pretty rare, and my family and i are glad and thankful to live in a country where our gov. looks after its ppl by providing them with free healthcare, and a social security net. plus our economy is now in fast recovery compared to your own country and to other western countries out there. our unemployment has recently dropped due to an increase of new jobs on the market, and theres now a consensus that we pretty much avoided the recession u guys are in right now coz we did not allow our banks to screw us over the way u allowed urs to. yup, i can definitely say the benefits of living here greatly outweigh the negatives.

[KismetAU]

I hope Australia continues to value and extend Asian immigration. Australia is a part of Asia and i hope our population and culture reflects that in generations to come. What is great about Australia is that we mix it all up and the result is a very cosmopolitan society, rich in world culture. I hope Australia can be a model for tolerance, acceptance and the 'get along" attitude. Let Australia become what America PROMISED to be, but never achieved.

[Kamilaroi]

Umm, what history book did you read this in?

Harold Holt was Australian Prime Minister 1966-1967, would you like to compare to your own countries policies in the 60's.

The white australia policy was actually introduced in 1901, and was repudiated in the 1970's by then Prime Minister Gough Whitlam.

But please don't let the facts get in the way of a good story.

[OZCHICK84]

well said Kamilaroi. americans cant seem to accept the fact that australia as it was in the 60s is no longer the same australia in the millenium. their stereotypes of typical australians i.e white, crocodile dundee/steve irwin types, seem to be too deeply ingrained into their systems to allow them to consider the alternative.