The following comments are those posted at the Courier Mail Feedback Column (Brisbane Australia) in relation to an article entitled: Migrants say half assaults racial (17sep05)
I wrote this comment because I feel that society is just too free in it's quoting and it's acceptance of 'Research'. One cannot begin to insist that 'Reasearch' is Gospel, until one puts all the issues, (Assumptions and limitations) on the table. And even then, the research must be subjected to independent verification.
It is just too easy to read a negative report and arrive at definite conclusions about the 'fact' of the matter.
For this reason, I posted my opinion.
QUOTE:
While 32 per cent of the general population feel very safe, only 24 per cent of the Vietnamese and Middle Eastern migrants felt that way.
Comment I'm sorry, but I can't understand the fuss.
If the statistics said 70% of 'others' felt safe but only 24% of migrants, then perhaps there is an indication of a significant problem. But the discrepancy between the two groups, no matter how real, cannot be stated as an evidentiary fact, based solely upon an 8% variance.
Being a 'migrant' (I live in China) brings with it, it's own increased sense of apprehension and mistrust, as well as a raised security awareness, that can easily account for the reason that fewer migrants feel as safe as others.
Quote: The findings of a new study based on the survey indicate 38 per cent of actual attacks are perceived as being racially motivated. This compares with just 12 per cent of attacks for the general population and eight per cent of threats.
Comment Sorry! But if you are the victim of an attack, it does not make you feel better that you were not 'attacked for the colour of your skin or your accent'.
I don't question the motives of the researchers for this study, HOWEVER, there are so MANY reasons why people are attacked. If a Vietnamese boy 'looks' GAY, do we claim that he was attacked for being a Migrant or for being gay? It really does not matter for which reason he was attacked.
No amount of social education about 'racial equality' and 'multiculturalism' will change the violent natures of violent people, who at the end of the day 'need no particular excuse' for their actions.
I see this report as just another 'fear and/or guilt' dump on society at large. In my life I have been abused for being Jewish, German, Catholic, Protestant, Rich, intellectual, Male, Straight, and Gay. The abusive person is 'abusive' and the most 'obvious' excuse is the easiest, even if what is obvious is not true.
"Let's bash the wog!", may be what someone says, but is it the truth?
How many 'foreigners' (eg: Chinese) are actually 4th or 5th generation Australians? Is the Asian appearance the excuse or the reason? Because if it is the reason, then the 4th or 5th generation Asian is MORE AUSTRALIAN than the second generation 'Aussie!'.
Do Australian born Vietnamese feel more or less secure than the new migrants? Do the Australian born Vietnamese have a similar level of opinion as that of the new Vietnamese immigrants?
I feel that this article is far too sweeping. It projects a 'popularist image', without there being any substantial evidence to support the notion that 'Australia' is a place for migrants to live in fear. --------------------------------------------------------------- http://www.couriermail.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5936,16633426%255E1702,00.html
The original article may be viewed at the http address listed above. When that article is archived and is no longer available. ---------------------------------------------------------------------
February 2008
All forms of abuse are serious, but the least recognised is Emotional Abuse. In the Article entitled: Emotional Abuse and Female Emotional Abusers this issue is examined. It touches upon Religious abuse, Political Activist abuse, Feminist Abuse, Child abuse, and Men who are abused by women.
Social Commentaries - Middle East - Israel - Society
About the author (and/or) publisher: R.P.BenDedek (from Brisbane Australia) is the author of 'The King's Calendar: The Secret of Qumran' at http://www.kingscalendar.com In addition to his academic articles, in which he sets forth Apologetics for and the results of his discovery of an "artificial chronological scheme" running through the Bible, Josephus, the Damascus Documents of the Dead Sea Scrolls, and Seder Olam Rabbah, he writes photographic 'Stories from China' and social editorial commentaries, both on site, and as a contributing newspaper columnist http://www.magic-city-news.com/R_P_BenDedek_33/index.shtml He currently teaches Conversational English in China. Visit http://www.kingscalendar.com/cgi-bin/index.cgi for more information. =============================================================
