The murder of Indian student Nitin Garg in Melbourne has reopened the debate as to whether Melbourne is a racist city.
Australia overall is a multicultural society but nowhere is more evident of this than Melbourne. Melbourne is home to hundreds of different nationalities from almost every corner of the planet. Melbourne was built by immigrants from Europe, Asia, Africa and the America’s who came here on the promise of a new start. Melbourne is the only city in Australia not settled by convicts but by free settlers who came because they chose to do so.
Greeks, Italians, Yugoslavs, Polish, the English and the Indians have settled here, grown up together, side by side in the Melbourne suburbs. The very core of Melbourne culture is its wide range of influences and cultural styles. Melbourne welcomes people from other cultures, countries and backgrounds. Melburnian’s not only welcomes the cultural influences but embraces them on a daily basis.
The call by the Indian press places particular focus on Melbourne’s racist attitude, suggesting Melbourne to be the epicentre of Australia’s racism and warning students that it is no longer safe.
Does the Indian press accuse every city any time an Indian dies anywhere in the world? Does it call them all racist?
With hundreds of nationalities living side by side, doesn’t it seem strange that one nationality sticks out. Melbourne is racist against Indians according to the Indian press but what about all the other nationalities. Surely a truly racist city would not just pick on one nationality.
Can the Indian press be trusted at all with their comments. How can one point the finger until there is undeniable proof that the murderer did so on racist grounds, in other words, innocent until proven guilty.
The only outcome of the Klu Klux Klan cartoon was to further incite trouble and anger. It was offensive in the least to the very people that serve to protect our community, the Victorian police.