Girl from my highschool’s Facebook status: We are told we cannot celebrate Christmas in our schools because other cultures here in Australia find it offensive, and now Australia Day is being torn apart by saying its racist to fly our Australian flag on Australia Day.. IF ITS SO RACIST FOR US TO FLY A FLAG HOW IS IT NOT RACIST FOR THEM TO BELIEVE IN THEIR COUNTRIES… TAKE THE TURBAN OFF… GET RID OF THE BURQUA… WHATEVER COUNTRY YOU CAME FROM, STOP TRYING TO TURN OUR COUNTRY INTO YOURS… you came here to A.u.s.t.r.a.l.i.a… enjoy our way, our laws, our culture, our language, or get the FUCK out. Sharing our country doesnt mean changing our traditions. And you call US racist?? REPOST IF YOU AGREE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! [8 people like this]

Same girl’s comment on the above status: I understand that some people strongly disagree with this, and that is fine. This is just my option. I dont mind that other cultures come to Australia, its only when they try and change our ways it pisses me off [4 people like this]

My attempt at a calm response: Just so you know, the survey you’re referring to actually asked many people who were flying an Australian flag on their cars nearing an Australian holiday questions that proved, according to that survey and the public experiment, that those people did agree with many racist beliefs, such as the ‘White Australia’ policy. It wasn’t calling all flag-flyers racist.
Also, I’m pretty sure that women wearing burqas, or people wearing turbans, aren’t on some great mission to make Australia just like the countries their families originally came from; families that often fled those countries and sought refuge here to stay safe and alive.

Oh, and thank you for recognising that it’s fine for some people to disagree with this. I won’t ever be able to recognise that your view as valid.