When we migrated to Australia in 2007 as a 17 year old, I was asked to go back to high school to finalise my final year high school education. Because I had finished high school in Nigeria nearly 2 years prior I was not keen. Instead I chose to complete a 1 year College degree that was a bridging course to uni. This turned out to be a good decision. I met friends who I will hold in my heart forever and learned so much about my new home.
However one word that kept getting thrown about with every lecturer i had was how tolerating Australia was. I was almost always uncomfortable with the word tolerance until I realised why.
Let's get into some technicalities shall we?
Some definitions:
To tolerate according to the Oxford dictionary is to “allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference.” And: to “be capable of continued subjection to (a drug, toxin, or environmental condition) without adverse reaction.
In order words to put up with or to endure someone or something inspite of one's feelings. Like tolerating a crying child on an airplane or tolerating your parents nagging you about being single while all your friends are married.
It's always seemed so finite. That things could bubble over one day and there'll be a Cronulla riot or a similar event. That even though I was here I wasn't quiet accepted and I was well... simply being tolerated.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics "the 2016 Census shows that two thirds (67 per cent) of the Australian population were born in Australia. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians had either been born overseas or one or both parents had been born overseas. A large proportion of these people are white, from English speaking countries but that also includes people like me from Africa and Asia. This is a large proportion of people to simply tolerate.
Rather than tolerate I'm suggesting inclusion or inclusivity depending on how you wish to use it in a sentence...acceptance or my favourite...RESPECT.
RESPECT because...
RESPECT according to the dictionary means
1. a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
2. due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.
There's no duplicity or hypocrisy about it, it's genuine.
RESPECT because migrants and refugees offer :
Wage participation and employment.
Taxes.
Diverse skills just like we did. My mum migrated as a skilled migrant as a registered nurse, a role desperately needed in Australia. Not only that migrants take on low skilled and low paid jobs.
Migrants and refugees create a richer and a more culturally diverse Australia.
Population increase which can be a positive or negative, however considering Australia is a country of 25 million people and technically the Iargest island in the world, I don't see the problem. The technicality here being that by definition because Australia is a continent it cannot be an island.
And just like Aretha Franklin demands a little respect...not tolerance.
[Verse 3]
I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my propers when you get home
[Chorus]
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) Baby
(Just a little bit) When you get home
(Just a little bit) Yeah
(Just a little bit)
You get the gist...
There is no arrogance about anything I've said here but I think it's time we start changing the narrative and having genuine and honest conversations. Leaving the prejudice at the door and simply sitting together and accepting one another on an equal playing field, being open to learn and grow together. Because aside from our Indigenous brothers and sisters who cared for this land before we arrived, we all migrated here at some point or another.
So learn to respect and not tolerate.
Let's get into some technicalities shall we?
Some definitions:
To tolerate according to the Oxford dictionary is to “allow the existence, occurrence, or practice of (something that one dislikes or disagrees with) without interference.” And: to “be capable of continued subjection to (a drug, toxin, or environmental condition) without adverse reaction.
In order words to put up with or to endure someone or something inspite of one's feelings. Like tolerating a crying child on an airplane or tolerating your parents nagging you about being single while all your friends are married.
It's always seemed so finite. That things could bubble over one day and there'll be a Cronulla riot or a similar event. That even though I was here I wasn't quiet accepted and I was well... simply being tolerated.
According to the Australian Bureau of Statistics "the 2016 Census shows that two thirds (67 per cent) of the Australian population were born in Australia. Nearly half (49 per cent) of Australians had either been born overseas or one or both parents had been born overseas. A large proportion of these people are white, from English speaking countries but that also includes people like me from Africa and Asia. This is a large proportion of people to simply tolerate.
Rather than tolerate I'm suggesting inclusion or inclusivity depending on how you wish to use it in a sentence...acceptance or my favourite...RESPECT.
RESPECT because...
RESPECT according to the dictionary means
1. a feeling of deep admiration for someone or something elicited by their abilities, qualities, or achievements.
2. due regard for the feelings, wishes, or rights of others.
There's no duplicity or hypocrisy about it, it's genuine.
RESPECT because migrants and refugees offer :
Wage participation and employment.
Taxes.
Diverse skills just like we did. My mum migrated as a skilled migrant as a registered nurse, a role desperately needed in Australia. Not only that migrants take on low skilled and low paid jobs.
Migrants and refugees create a richer and a more culturally diverse Australia.
Population increase which can be a positive or negative, however considering Australia is a country of 25 million people and technically the Iargest island in the world, I don't see the problem. The technicality here being that by definition because Australia is a continent it cannot be an island.
And just like Aretha Franklin demands a little respect...not tolerance.
[Verse 3]
I'm about to give you all of my money
And all I'm askin' in return, honey
Is to give me my propers when you get home
[Chorus]
All I'm askin' is for a little respect when you come home
(Just a little bit) Baby
(Just a little bit) When you get home
(Just a little bit) Yeah
(Just a little bit)
You get the gist...
There is no arrogance about anything I've said here but I think it's time we start changing the narrative and having genuine and honest conversations. Leaving the prejudice at the door and simply sitting together and accepting one another on an equal playing field, being open to learn and grow together. Because aside from our Indigenous brothers and sisters who cared for this land before we arrived, we all migrated here at some point or another.
So learn to respect and not tolerate.
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