Tolerance Issues in Australia Essay Example | Topics and Well Written Essays - 1000 words

Tolerance Issues in Australia - Essay ExampleThe implication here is that irrespective of racial or ethnic affiliation, all Australians atomic number 18 equal members of society and are accepted as such. According to Adams (1997), this supposition is little more(prenominal) than a myth or an maintain in politically correct, wistful, thinking. Not only has the dominant, Anglo-Saxon, group only recently compactd the article of faith of tolerance tho have displayed a persistent proclivity for continued backtracking.To fully comprehend Adams argument on the location of tolerance in Australian society, an explanation of his conceptualisation of the term is important. Tolerance is the acceptance of the other, accompanied by recognition of the inherent value and equality of social/ethnic/racial groups. Tolerance is characterised by the embrace of moderation and the absence of ethnic/racial arrogance (Adams, 1997). It most certainly has its limitations and these limitations are reach ed when ones rights are transgressed upon or ones space is violated (Adams, 1997). The violation of ones place/space/rights generates fear which is, in turn, outwardly expressed by credulity towards the others. In other words, there exists a fine line between tolerance and intolerance according to Adams definition.Operating from within... Indeed, the land was violently wrested away from its native inhabitants and redefined in the White Mans image. As Adams argues, Australia was devised as a smock mans country, defiantly and arrogantly white (Adams, 1997 13). Within the framework of the project for the re-creation of Australia, non only did tolerance have no place but intolerance, legitimised through conviction in the white races superiority, was the main instrument. Historically, therefore, Australia was founded upon intolerance.It was only following the recreation of Australia as an Anglo-Saxon country and the solidification of the white mans locating as the dominant socio-poli tical group that Australians began to embrace the concept of tolerance. As may be inferred from Adams discussion, Australias embrace of the principle of tolerance was motivated by the growing popularity of liberalism, on the one hand, and enabled by racial confidence, on the other. kind of simply stated, the White Man believed that he had created a white Australia, forged a nation in his own likeness and hence, could afford to be tolerant towards minorities (Adams, 1997).As minority populations increased and Australia evolved into a more obviously multicultural society, the dominant groups tolerance was tested. According to Adams (1997 13), the voice of bigot has never been silenced in Australia. It was emotional upon the sensation of threat emanating from immigrant groups and the supposition that their growing number could instigate change in Australias Anglo-Saxon identity. It was capitalised upon and secondhand by Hanson and other right wingers who, not only divided the nation but, exposed the very minute limits of tolerance in Australian society (Adams, 1997).Australia has for