Assessment Task Two (2) : Immigration Museum Excursion

Immigration museum excursion

[Author Name(s), First M. Last, Omit Titles and Degrees]

[Institutional Affiliation(s)]

Author Note

Immigration museum excursion

https://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/people-like-me/passports-please/

Questions/answers

Did you pass? Briefly explain where you failed in your test or why you did not fail the test. 2 marks 2.

I could not pass the test as I lack the knowledge about nationally celebrated days, personal responsibilities as a national, Australian government rules and regulations, election policies, and hiring procedures of government representatives.

Watch Pauline Hanson’s 1996 video

https://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/people-like-them/the-white-picketfence/pauline-hansons-1996-maiden-speech/

a. What did you think of Pauline Hanson’s speech?

Overall, the speech was powerful covering a range of topics. She addressed inequalities stating that aboriginals are the most disadvantage people in Australia. She also talked about social ethical and legal problems. The one thing I liked the most was she talked about providing support to those facing hurdles in life so they can the chances to rebuild themselves and have a good future. However, the later part of the speech was purely focused on kicking out the immigrant from Australia. She stressed on the need in change of immigration policies and not to let Asians migrate and settle in China (“Pauline Hanson Maiden Speech IN FULL September 10, 1996—YouTube,” n.d.). Her concerns seemed pointless as no country can survive on its own without letting in people from other countries. Additionally, the immigration strengthens a country’s economy (Hinojosa-Ojeda, 2012; Borjas, 1995).

b. How did it make you feel as an Australian or a recent migrant?

When I was planning to move to Australia, I tried to do a little research about the native Australian’s views about the immigrants (“Pauline Hanson Maiden Speech IN FULL September 10, 1996—YouTube,” n.d.). I am not surprised knowing her point of view. Everyone is free to have their own thoughts and perception about this issue. But what I have heard and experienced so far, people around me are not racist. They are more welcoming and approachable than I expected. Watching this video made me a little but upset but what I feel is this in not majority’s voice and most people are different.

c. Do you agree with some of her thoughts? Explain your response briefly.

I do agree with her to some extent but her view that ‘Australians are endangered by Asians’ is not correct. Good and bad people exist in all cultures and religions. This does not mean the whole nation is in danger from a specific ethnic group. Another point which I do not agree on is the about the strength of the society. According to Hanson, a multicultural society is not strong. I my view it is exactly the opposite, a multicultural nation is stronger with the diversity in religions and cultures (Kymlicka & Banting, 2006).

Watch Kevin Rudd’s 2008 Apology to the Stolen Generations video https://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/people-like-them/the-white-picketfence/kevin-rudds-2008-apology-to-the-stolen-generations/

Did you find it an emotional experience?

The speech was truly emotional and had me in tears (“Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech—YouTube,” n.d).

Did you agree or disagree with saying sorry?

I do agree with the prime minister Kevin. He tried to make immigrants feel that their existence does matter to the country and that they belong here. The nation stands with them in their losses (“Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech—YouTube,” n.d.)

Did it affect you directly?

The words did affect me directly (“Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech—YouTube,” n.d). Being and immigrant, leaving your mother land behind forever, getting settled in a new place is really tough and all you need is a few words of kindness and warmth. His speech really provided me comfort and reduced my stress.

Poh wanted to be like everyone else in her new country and was “Desperately wanting to assimilate as a child migrant, I shed everything that made me feel different in my new country. “Poh Ling Yeow, Cook, TV Presenter, Artist, 201

Why do we need to belong?

We need to belong to a place to be accepted by the natives and aboriginals. The biggest challenge is acceptance of immigrants in a community. Survival is difficult in a new place is extremely difficult if the locals do not mix up and welcome them. In an effort to be accepted, the immigrants like Poh forget their identity and try taking a new start to get settled.

Who do you belong with?

People belong to the place they live. For example. being an immigrant, I belong to Australia.

“Difference is not an easy thing to accommodate. It's not simple to embrace and respect and defend cultures that are different to your own. That's the nature if you like of human relationships. We gotta work and build on it. And it’s by having these sorts of debates, getting people to think about it and talk about it that we're going to move along.” Mick Dodson, Co-Chair Reconciliation Australia, 1996 In Australia who fits in? Who doesn’t? And who gets to decide? Write a reflective paragraph about the above quote

The people who are born and raised in Australia can fit in easily, but the new immigrants face several challenges getting settled here. I agree with Mick that the change and differences are not easy to be accepted whether it is cultural or societal. And they only way to help merging of people from multi-cultural backgrounds is by talking on the matter.

“Let us keep before us the noble ideal of a white Australia, a snow-white Australia if you will. Let us be pure and spotless” Reverend James Back Ronald, member of House of Representatives, 1901 Describe briefly what was the white Australia policy and when was it abolished?

White Australian policy, formally called Immigration Restriction Act, was term used to assemble the laws to stop nonwhite immigrants from migrating to Australia. The policy effectively stopped people from non-Europe background immigrating to Australia. The policy was ended after World War II as the government wanted to attract immigrants to Australia. The prime minister Harold Holt officially ended the policy in 1966

We pride ourselves on our generosity and the diversity of our society. Walking down our city streets we are surrounded by difference. But how do we feel when difference moves in next door? Or sits next to us on the tram or in the classroom? Watch all 4 videos and see if you can see yourself.

https://museumvictoria.com.au/immigrationmuseum/discoverycentre/identity/people-like-them/whos-next-door/

Have you seen or experienced this kind of scenario before?

I have seen a similar scenario in a bus when a lady sitting next to was wearing Hijab and an white guy got on the bus, walked towards us and sat exactly opposite to us. After being uncomfortably starring at her, he starts talking to her in indecent manner pointing towards her Hijab. He started passing comments like why do you think you are wearing this thing. Does it make you feel protected? Why do always need to cover your head, it needs some oxygen and so on. They lady did not respond to her and got off on the next stop.

How would you react? How did it make you feel?

If it was me, I might have reacted the same way. Ignoring and not getting into any type of argument. It would have made me feel very uncomfortable and unsafe.

References

Hinojosa-Ojeda, R. (2012). The economic benefits of comprehensive immigration reform. Cato J., 32, 175.

Borjas, G. J. (1995). The economic benefits from immigration. Journal of economic perspectives, 9(2), 3-22.

Kemnitz, A. (2003). Immigration, unemployment and pensions. Scandinavian Journal of Economics, 105(1), 31-48.

Kymlicka, W., & Banting, K. (2006). Immigration, multiculturalism, and the welfare state. Ethics & International Affairs, 20(3), 281-304.

Pauline Hanson Maiden Speech IN FULL September 10, 1996—YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hkV1PkPj7ZA

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd apology speech—YouTube. (n.d.). Retrieved October 17, 2019, from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aKWfiFp24rA