May 18 2007: How To Be A Good Citizen
Filed under Politics
Australia is implementing a new “citizenship” test for all those who want to become citizens. Questions will range from the national flag, to the animals on our coat of arms, to our national flower, to the first prime minister, to the so-called Australian concepts of “mateship” and “a fair go”. What exactly is a “fair go”? How are the thousands of refugees from war-stricken countries being held in detention centres in the Australian outback being offered a “fair go”?
The idiocy of the concept of course, is the fact that 90% of the current Australian population won’t be able to answer half of these questions. I count on the fingers of one hand the number of people I know who know that Sir Edmund Barton was the first prime minister of Australia. Knowing the history, emblems and national anthem of Australia doesn’t make someone Australian. It won’t make a difference in daily life - your neighbours aren’t going to invite you over for a friendly barbecue because you know that the emu and the kangaroo are on our coat of arms.
It’s only when you learn to love the fact that you live in a neighbourhood with Indigenous Australians, Russians, Italians, Greeks, Chinese, Vietnamese, Americans, Irish, French, Germans, Argentineans, Nigerians, that you really begin to learn how to love being a true-blue Aussie. Multiculturalism is what makes Australians the way we are. It’s about time that the government begin to realise that not all of us are white middle-class people who have barbecues every Sunday afternoon while watching the footy/cricket and downing a six-pack of Carlton Draught.
19 Responses to “How To Be A Good Citizen”
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If it was multiple choice, I’m sure I’d be ok with the test.
Now, people a little like my parents on the other hand… How are people who don’t have a good grasp on English going to take this?
Tracey on May 18 2007 #
I think they’re barking up the wrong tree with random questions about Australian history, but I guess they get an E for effort. They just need to reconsider their approach.
The only real problem I have with multiculturalism is that it can potentially alienate people. I am in favour of throwing up the “no entry” sign to people who cannot speak English — if you can’t, then it will be far too difficult to get along, considering most of the population will not be able to communicate with you. Unless, of course, you petition the government to create special districts for people who speak the same language, thus alienating everyone else. Pretty soon you have Russian-only churches, Italian-only schools, Japanese-only hospitals, etc. This is not a bad thing in itself, but if the quality of these language-specific venues is any better than that of public ones, it’s unfair.
I’m probably not contributing anything new to the debate on multiculturalism, but personally, I think if it gets to the stage where Australian natives need to learn new languages to accommodate immigrants, a line has been crossed. An alternative would be mandatory English lessons for immigrants, but something tells me that wouldn’t go over too well.
Reply: While there’s no mandatory English lessons for immigrants, I do believe that Centrelink has an unwritten policy which requires people applying for benefits to attend some kind of English class if they weren’t born in Australia.
My mother’s been in this country for fifteen years, collects parenting payment for my brother (what…$50 every two weeks to cover his schooling expenses?), and has to do an English course via correspondence because of that $50, even though she’s never had trouble communicating with people in English. My mind boggles at the logic.
Jordie on May 18 2007 #
I will fail the test because I’m no Australian and I feel that what you’re saying is true. Being any citizen is having to get used to multiculturalism. Every country have different races and groups, and being able to live in peace makes one a true citizen, in my opinion that is.
Chien Yee on May 18 2007 #
The current immigration policy in the US is just ridiculous, so I agree with the “what makes an Australian (or American) an Australian.” Entry into a country should not have to be so official. As long as people are going to school or working, then it shouldn’t be an issue. Like you said, most of the people in the country don’t even know the official facts. So where is the fairness when it comes to immigrants having to learn facts such as how many starts are on the American flag. Pointing out another thing you mentioned, multiculturalism. Isn’t that the beauty of the country known as the land of the free?
Lovely site, I will return.
Mike on May 18 2007 #
We have a similar one here at Canada, and honestly, I can completely agree with the subject you’ve brought up even though we live at opposite ends of the world. I don’t know many friends who remember Canada’s first PM, and that there’s a lion, and a unicorn on our coat of arms, yet my parents know them. How it makes a good citizen is beyond me.
Ramsha on May 18 2007 #
As an aside, I would argue against people not knowing Canada’s first prime minister. He’s on our $10 bill after all, and it’s the one thing they drill into you in history.
Reply: But does knowing the prime minister (or, not knowing the prime minister) make someone Canadian? That’s just academic knowledge…there’s nothing cultural about it at all.
Mike Haddad on May 18 2007 #
I suppose the new citizenship test is to ensure that people know at least something of Australia (unfortunately though, they expect too much). Although I agree that it has nothing to upholding any Australian culture, except perhaps some historical turning points that may have been significant to the change of Australia and what it has become now.
Perhaps they are afraid that the Australian “spirit” would be lost, introducing so many cultures from different countries that Australia’s origins are smothered. Just a thought. In the end, once implemented, it could be a loss or a gain. You will never know.
- Random Blog Hopper
Ash on May 19 2007 #
Woah. A citizenship test? That sounds really…fascist. Scary. I think I much prefer New Zealand’s points system.
Not only that, but it’s also really stupid. I mean, you could just look those things up on google.
Anastasia on May 19 2007 #
We have one of those in England. For an experiment my class did one - other than myself and a friend, nobody could answer many of the questions.
Amber on May 19 2007 #
New Zealand’s immigration policy is probably one of the best in the world, in my opinion.
Basically, the guy in charge of foreign affairs should be our Prime Minister based entirely off what he’s doing for immigration. Haha.
I am so politically narrow-minded. :P
Nellie on May 19 2007 #
Yeah apparently we have that here. It’s a good job I don’t have to take it because I’d probably fail.
Matt on May 19 2007 #
NZ immigration policy the best in the world? you have got to be kidding me… After living in NZ for 3 years - EVERY new immigrant I knew PAID their way into New Zealand. After sitting their butts in NZ till they get a citizenship, they fly over across the Tasman and try to migrate to Australia. Sorry - but I’m glad Australia changed the rules.
I personally prefer immigrants to sit those “stupid” tests because they can learn basic understandings of how Australia came to be. And it being in English, so much the better. I hate how immigrants come to Australia and only mingle within their own culture because their too scared to go out of their comfort zone. Bla - I could write an essay about this -__-^
Mish on May 19 2007 #
I think it’s the same for England — I actually have a friend who failed the citizenship exam because she didn’t know something about some kind of stereotype for an area of England ( I don’t remember )
I think the US has a citizenship test too… but some people want it repealed because some people here can’t even speak English! But that doesn’t mean they’re not positively contributing to the US. :P
Felisa on May 19 2007 #
There go my thoughts of one day moving to Australia.
Josh on May 19 2007 #
If I move to Australia, become a thief, keeping all sorts of trash (old cars, windows, doors, boards, etc.) in my yard, with uncut lawn, curse at my neighbors, behave in an obviously racist way, BUT can answer all of the questions perfectly, adding some details even (like, say, a short biography of the Prime Minister or drawing by heart the coat of arms), does it make me a good citizen?
I don’t really see the point…I have no idea what Canada’s coat of arms look like, but I don’t think I’m a bad citizen.
Julie on May 19 2007 #
@Mish: That was before Winston Peters became the Minister of Foreign Affairs.
Things have changed pretty damn dramatically since.
But I don’t want to turn this into a debate simply because you’re challenging an opinion. An opinion that was clearly marked as an opinion.
Nellie on May 19 2007 #
Just browsing by. I don’t think the citizenship test is much useful. they should make it mandatory for new immigrants to be taught englished or given the chance to learn it. My dads been in this country for more than 20 years and serioulsy he can only say hi good thank you sorry and goodbye!!! i just dont get it. i’ve never stepped foot into my ‘motherland’ before yet i can speak and write chinese very well. i dont understand why immigrants dont bother to learn the language.
anna on May 19 2007 #
@julie: I would guess a moose and a beaver.
Mike Haddad on May 20 2007 #
Sorry. double comment. I didn’t read that properly after work. I’m pretty sure it’s something stupid like a unicorn and a gryphon.
Mike Haddad on May 20 2007 #