Advance Australia Fair!

The word fair is in our National Anthem. Is Australia fair? Or equal?

We have a long and complicated relationship with what is fair and equal, and the discussion often leads to separatism rather than solution.

On the weekend, I visited the pool to do a few laps. While there I saw a swim class made up of young teenagers of all different heights, weights, faces, and skin colours.

They laughed and joked together after each lap, teasing each other when out of breath, and passed around their water bottles to share. Each time someone improved their time, they praised and cheered each other on. At no time were their words used in reference to each other’s skin colour or ethnicity. Sadly, this was something notable.

Quiet racism occurs every day in society. In Australia, it is against the law to do something in public based on the race, colour, national or ethnic origin of a person or group of people which is likely to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate. This type of behaviour is classified as racial hatred and is prosecutable. However, it is generally casually acceptable.  

Unfortunately, our children are exposed to it every day, not just through in-person interactions but also explicitly in politics and media, subtly in video games and music, and overtly within sport at the highest level.

At SCA, over 20 nationalities are represented. Life without cultural diversity and the opportunity to learn together, discuss different perspectives, and share differences leads to quiet racism. At its core, racial hatred is predominately built on a lack of exposure to others, propagated by reinforced negative ideas externally until these ideas become internal truths.

There is no singular solution to quiet racism in Australia, however, embracing and celebrating our differences and maintaining open-mindedness when attempting to understand each other will assist in minimising separatism. At SCA we strive to foster these values in our community. As God’s children, created in God’s image, we play a vital role in promoting through both action and word, a love and acceptance of all.