Dear Editor
I was suitably alarmed by the tone of innuendo in Michael Duffy’s
article in the SMH (12 November 2005). Hence this letter. I am
almost sure that Michael Duffy would be the first one to jump up
and down and claim an Australian victory if an “Australian” of
Indian origin or Chinese origin won the 100m freestyle at the
next Olympics. Indeed, have we not celebrated Kostya Tszyu’s
victories in boxing as “Australian”? Why, we even claim Russell
Crowe’s Oscar as an “Australian” Oscar! Pray why the double
standards when it comes to excellence in education and in the
professional workplace?
Instead of learning from and applauding the Asian value systems,
which place extraordinary emphasis on a strong work ethic, erudition,
scholarship, exemplar social behaviour, professional/moral integrity
and a strong will to succeed in their adopted homeland, Duffy seems
to have, perhaps, gone down the route of paranoia.
Sentences like “a nation's elite has invited another group to come
in and replace it” demonstrate a mix of shallowness and a degree of
patronization that is potentially damaging. Immigration policy is
not a zero-sum-game, which it would be if “replacement” was a
mantra. It is about how we grow the pie to a substantially different
size than it would otherwise be. Kostya Tszyu did not “replace” an
Australian boxer. He added to the existing medal chest.
Just as the European migrants contributed strongly to Australian
society in their own unique ways, the current wave of Asian
immigrants will shape Australia as she moves into a brave new
world. Let us embrace it like America has and move forward with
purpose and vision.
I point Duffy to an article in Business Week by Abigail Ann Fraeman
(March 21 2005). In it, she talks about how new migrants offer an
opportunity to celebrate their personal successes even as they make
a “significant difference in their new country”. That is the
opportunity that is offered by Duffy’s Asians that “aspire urgently
to enter the middle class”.
A healthy public debate and discussion on this topic would be
necessary and great. But let us carry it out in an environment
of the opportunity that is afforded rather than one of paranoia.
Mohan Krishnamoorthy
Tuesday, November 15, 2005
Letter to SMH
Mike Duffy wrote an opinion-piece in the Sydney Morning Herald on The Changing Face of Our Professional Elite in Australia. It bothered me enough to write the following "Letter" to the editor of SMH. Don't know if it will be published but, here it is anyway!
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Though I agree with your post, I am going to disagree to agree with you on the contents.
ReplyDelete“A healthy public debate and discussion on this topic would be necessary and great. “ A debate may not offer solution to human feelings and opinions. Having a debate is like a stirring a clear still water making it muddier such that the contents settled in the bottom becomes unclear to see.
“Just as the European migrants contributed strongly to Australian society in their own unique ways, the current wave of Asian immigrants will shape Australia as she moves into a brave new world. Let us embrace it like America has and move forward with purpose and vision.”
When feelings of insecurity is involved confirmation that their resources and living space would not be snatched are required before migrants or immigrants move into shape a financially well established country
Since I lived in America and you happen to think that Americans had embraced foreigners in their land, I can offer you an insight unto the condition of foreigners in a foreign land. The Native Americans shared the same feelings as the native Australians. Now the invaded Americans do share the same feelings as their Australian counterparts of “a nation's elite inviting another group to come in and replace it”
Why Asians? Most of the Americans did not want even Spanish people on their land.
The truth is Kostya Tszyu may have added to an existing medal chest in reality he did “replace” a white
Australian boxer.
Everyone has the right to have difference in opinions yet it is not going to make a significant difference in political policies and mandates.
Feelings and Business don’t walk together.
I happen to visit a Red Indian graveyard somewhere near Tennessee. There were boards near the graveyard about their lifestyle and disappearance. When I went back to the place where I stayed, I felt I stood in the land ‘Bloodshed’ and I could not suppress the feelings to get out of the place.
I could offer you a suggestion if you find it hard to digest the writer’s thoughts.
You could be proud that you did not kill the natives to live in their land instead you just wanted to add another medal “(using your Asian Value systems(strong work ethic, erudition, scholarship, exemplar social behaviour, professional/moral integrity and a strong will to succeed in their adopted homeland )” in their medal chest trying your best not to replace “an Australian.”
Though I agree with your post, I am going to disagree to agree with you on the contents.
ReplyDelete“A healthy public debate and discussion on this topic would be necessary and great. “ A debate may not offer solution to human feelings and opinions. Having a debate is like a stirring a clear still water making it muddier such that the contents settled in the bottom becomes unclear to see.
“Just as the European migrants contributed strongly to Australian society in their own unique ways, the current wave of Asian immigrants will shape Australia as she moves into a brave new world. Let us embrace it like America has and move forward with purpose and vision.”
When feelings of insecurity is involved confirmation that their resources and living space would not be snatched are required before migrants or immigrants move into shape a financially well established country
Since I lived in America and you happen to think that Americans had embraced foreigners in their land, I can offer you an insight unto the condition of foreigners in a foreign land. The Native Americans shared the same feelings as the native Australians. Now the invaded Americans do share the same feelings as their Australian counterparts of “a nation's elite inviting another group to come in and replace it”
Why Asians? Most of the Americans did not want even Spanish people on their land.
The truth is Kostya Tszyu may have added to an existing medal chest in reality he did “replace” a white
Australian boxer.
Everyone has the right to have difference in opinions yet it is not going to make a significant difference in political policies and mandates.
Feelings and Business don’t walk together.
I happen to visit a Red Indian graveyard somewhere near Tennessee. There were boards near the graveyard about their lifestyle and disappearance. When I went back to the place where I stayed, I felt I stood in the land ‘Bloodshed’ and I could not suppress the feelings to get out of the place.
I could offer you a suggestion if you find it hard to digest the writer’s thoughts.
You could be proud that you did not kill the natives to live in their land instead you just wanted to add another medal “(using your Asian Value systems(strong work ethic, erudition, scholarship, exemplar social behaviour, professional/moral integrity and a strong will to succeed in their adopted homeland )” in their medal chest trying your best not to replace “an Australian.”
Though I agree with your post, I am going to disagree to agree with you on the contents.
ReplyDelete“A healthy public debate and discussion on this topic would be necessary and great. “ A debate may not offer solution to human feelings and opinions. Having a debate is like a stirring a clear still water making it muddier such that the contents settled in the bottom becomes unclear to see.
“Just as the European migrants contributed strongly to Australian society in their own unique ways, the current wave of Asian immigrants will shape Australia as she moves into a brave new world. Let us embrace it like America has and move forward with purpose and vision.” When feelings of insecurity is involved confirmation that their resources and living space would not be snatched are required before migrants or immigrants move into shape a financially well established country
Since I lived in America and you happen to think that Americans had embraced foreigners in their land, I can offer you an insight unto the condition of foreigners in a foreign land. The Native Americans shared the same feelings as the native Australians. Now the invaded Americans do share the same feelings as their Australian counterparts of “a nation's elite inviting another group to come in and replace it”
Why Asians? Most of the Americans did not want even Spanish people on their land.
The truth is Kostya Tszyu may have added to an existing medal chest in reality he did “replace” a white
Australian boxer.
Everyone has the right to have difference in opinions yet it is not going to make a significant difference in political policies and mandates. Feelings and Business don’t walk together.
I happen to visit a Red Indian graveyard somewhere near Tennessee. There were boards near the graveyard about their lifestyle and disappearance. When I went back to the place where I stayed, I felt I stood in the land ‘Bloodshed’ and I could not suppress the feelings to get out of the place.
I could offer you a suggestion if you find it hard to digest the writer’s thoughts.
You could be proud that you did not kill the natives to live in their land instead you just wanted to add another medal “using your Asian Value systems(strong work ethic, erudition, scholarship, exemplar social behaviour, professional/moral integrity and a strong will to succeed in their adopted homeland ” in their medal chest trying your best not to replace “an Australian.”