Reverse racism

So, apparently there is reverse racism in Australia. Did anyone with half a brain think otherwise? And can anyone blame them? There's going to be a story on TV next week about it. It will show Australians getting different (more expensive) prices than people of the same ethnic group as the shop owner. Is this a shock? Can anyone out there honestly tell me that, if you lived anywhere else in the world, if someone from your own ethnic group came into your workplace, you wouldn't give them a better deal? Or maybe they're better at haggling? Australians aren't used to haggling - they've done stories on that as well!

As a former shop owner, I know that some people get better prices than others. In my case, it depended on the customer's attitude and whether or not I liked them. If they were rude, no discount; if they were polite and friendly, I would knock a few bucks off the total. It didn't matter to me what nationality they were. Nice is nice.

Migrants and refugees get a raw deal here. I'm not going to blame them for helping people from their own group. I think most of the time they must feel alone and ostracised. If this helps them, so be it. Maybe if we were all nicer and more helpful to non-Australians, they would find it easier to assimilate, and be more willing to give us the best price too.

Put yourself in their shoes. Imagine you're in a foreign country - not by choice, but by circumstances beyond your control. You don't speak the language very well, if at all. You don't understand the culture. The food is strange. And no-one is willing to help you. So, you help yourself by opening a store. Other people see your store and see a little slice of home. It's an oasis of acceptance and familiarity.

Of course they're going to give them a better price. And I dare any one of you to tell me you wouldn't do the same thing.