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Leader and founder of the right-wing Australian One Nation party Pauline Hanson recently took to Twitter with a request.
She asked people to share examples of racism.
Australia's government, like the United States, was founded by Europeans who arrived on an already populated continent inhabited by Indigenous people with their own systems of government already in place.
The subjugation and attempted genocide of the Indigenous populations in areas the British Empire colonized is well documented.
In Australia, many of the techniques mimic those of the United States and Canada, specifically family separation and forced attendance of remote boarding schools to assimilate children and eradicate indigenous languages and culture.
The book Follow the Rabbit-Proof Fence, available here, and subsequent film Rabbit Proof Fence, available here, illustrates the often deadly toll of racism in Australia and other nations with similar pasts.
Except, that's not the racism Pauline Hanson is talking about.
Pauline posted:
A twitter mob is trying to get me deplatformed. I think we can turn their hashtag into a force for good. Anti-white… https://t.co/hpKAR4OP7z— Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺 (@Pauline Hanson 🇦🇺) 1565849788.0
@PaulineHansonOz Narrator: Pauline had a penchant for making up excuses for her horrible personality.— texasisbest (@texasisbest) 1565956475.0
Yes, Pauline's version of racism is having her social media privileges revoked due to her own repeated violations of the private company's terms of service.
So, not physical or cultural genocide then, Pauline?
Some tried to educate her.
@PaulineHansonOz There's no such thing as "anti-white racism" in Australia. Societal racism manifests as de jure a… https://t.co/WC4qBjvKK0— Pé Resists (@Pé Resists) 1565885039.0
@PaulineHansonOz There's no such thing as anti-white racism. There may be prejudice or discrimination, but there ca… https://t.co/AUT8O93byO— TxGrrrl (@TxGrrrl) 1565976596.0
@PaulineHansonOz Anti white, or reverse racism, does NOT exist. It’s simply not a thing. White privilege, on the… https://t.co/K6yj4dqgHO— SmithStreet (@SmithStreet) 1565867500.0
@PaulineHansonOz Let’s all #WakeUpToRacism, and realise what utter tripe Hanson invariably offers. If she had seen… https://t.co/a6YbXhT2kj— Rod_Hagen (@Rod_Hagen) 1565940965.0
@PaulineHansonOz Funny how Hanson has NEVER , despite her continual tripe, demonstrated the slightest real experie… https://t.co/g85PsaDA6t— Rod_Hagen (@Rod_Hagen) 1565941252.0
@PaulineHansonOz https://t.co/wJ8Zt3ENzw— Nickie 🧓🇨🇦 (@Nickie 🧓🇨🇦) 1565891572.0
@PaulineHansonOz Racism is about a system stacked against the people who don’t control the institutions of that sys… https://t.co/1nN6t0HRAv— Troy Simpson (@Troy Simpson) 1565960306.0
But many decided to give Pauline exactly what she asked for.
@HepatitisLee/Twitter
@PaulineHansonOz I wear head scarves in winter to keep warm and nobody pulls my scarves off. Anti-white racism.— 💧Lynne Murphy (@💧Lynne Murphy) 1565964219.0
@PaulineHansonOz I have never once been followed by store detectives, or ignored when I’ve tried to seek service in… https://t.co/r8q5btt4qw— Van Badham (@Van Badham) 1566001558.0
@PaulineHansonOz @LisetteFahrun I’ve never been pulled over by a cop. I have run a red light, driven without valid… https://t.co/QRqgacMkrX— D Lauren messenger (@D Lauren messenger) 1565899585.0
@PaulineHansonOz I can't pronounce "tortillas" with a hard 'L' sound without getting laughed at by the Hispanic wai… https://t.co/0ICfzZqwiP— I wear the pants (@I wear the pants) 1565917915.0
@PaulineHansonOz I was living in a share house and someone nicked my entire season 6 box-set of Star Trek: The Next… https://t.co/FRKSUtoRzf— Ketan Joshi (@Ketan Joshi) 1565850847.0
@PaulineHansonOz This was shortly after my friend Sidney and I entered a lucrative street basketball competition an… https://t.co/0FdM19xLl5— Ned Balme (@Ned Balme) 1565850934.0
@PatrickLenton @PaulineHansonOz Shocking story! https://t.co/6c4y6FM8K5— Pauline Pantsdown (@Pauline Pantsdown) 1565860601.0
@PaulineHansonOz I asked someone what that basketball movie with Woody Harrelson was called. I can’t repeat their r… https://t.co/LzQKnw9VoD— Matt Burke (@Matt Burke) 1565852246.0
@PaulineHansonOz When this anti-white movie was released In the early 90’s, my high school team mates almost used i… https://t.co/P1cab1wDy3— P4gey®️ (@P4gey®️) 1565868902.0
@PaulineHansonOz The lady at my favourite Bahn mi shop didn’t think I could handle extra chilli. #wakeuptoracism— Rob Swander (@Rob Swander) 1565851354.0
@PaulineHansonOz Nobody ever talks about the fact that my people, whites, are disproportionately over represented a… https://t.co/blmJukyUw6— Sam Connor (@Sam Connor) 1566003872.0
@PaulineHansonOz Mum wouldn't give me an extension on a loan to buy my 3rd investment property. #wakeuptoracism— Dan Ilic (@Dan Ilic) 1565852311.0
And the oppression in makeup stores and counters!
When I walk into a Sephora and can’t find any sales reps to help me find my “Beige buff” foundation but a Black wom… https://t.co/OOAbjmfCvY— Melisande Richlieu (@Melisande Richlieu) 1565878503.0
How's a white woman supposed to buy foundation when there are so many colours to choose from? #WakeUpToRacism https://t.co/tRLOpsA7cV— Freja (@Freja) 1565929628.0
@PaulineHansonOz Sometimes I struggle finding a foundation that is my perfect match. It’s just really hard to pick… https://t.co/ZeQjjKXo2X— Natalie 🎵 (@Natalie 🎵) 1565868901.0
@PaulineHansonOz Oh God, so many. Last time I tried to buy foundation - there were so many shades which could be pe… https://t.co/6MsjkRyvKs— Lydia (@Lydia) 1565864079.0
@PaulineHansonOz Seriously, when I go to the makeup counter - there are all like 1500 foundation colours for white… https://t.co/4OvEdEnLBo— Veracity Cat (@Veracity Cat) 1565862009.0
@PaulineHansonOz The makeup store only has foundations in extremely dark shades: porcelain, pearl, alabaster, sands… https://t.co/Lhl53sCLnL— Scandi Bogan 🥚🥚🥚🥚 (@Scandi Bogan 🥚🥚🥚🥚) 1565854383.0
@PaulineHansonOz It is outrageous that skin cancer is so prominent amongst my people. It is time to admit that the… https://t.co/yoR305n1XY— Scandi Bogan 🥚🥚🥚🥚 (@Scandi Bogan 🥚🥚🥚🥚) 1565854550.0
Such suffering...
@PaulineHansonOz My white friend is scared to speak out but he is sick & tired of being singled for higher wages, l… https://t.co/55hcbBxJeX— Candide (@Candide) 1565856714.0
@PaulineHansonOz I’m definitely treated differently for being white. Last month for instance, I sailed through immi… https://t.co/EzKOC3mVK7— 💧Katherine of Tarragon (@💧Katherine of Tarragon) 1565858823.0
@PaulineHansonOz I went to a Taco Bell drive-thru and the young women who took my order asked me if I want MILD or… https://t.co/Zn68evUpF4— bullfish (@bullfish) 1565942716.0
@PaulineHansonOz I got judgemental looks for going to the servo for Winnie blues in my socks and thongs. And on he… https://t.co/tgV5oSmqvl— Erin 🦕 (@Erin 🦕) 1565933192.0
@PaulineHansonOz the nail ladies spoke in a different language than mine and i pissed myself because i was so scare… https://t.co/kXbiZrSjLT— silla eléctrica (@silla eléctrica) 1566083166.0
@PaulineHansonOz One time someone thought I was French and started talking to me really fast and I was all like "Je… https://t.co/Vc5VIKWtnW— Nick Feik (@Nick Feik) 1565850420.0
@PaulineHansonOz And I get mocked just for wearing SOCKS. I mean, it’s winter, feet get freezing in sandals! #antiwhiteracism— Nick Feik (@Nick Feik) 1565860664.0
@PaulineHansonOz I’m statistically likely to live for 8 years more than an aboriginal woman. Do you realise how muc… https://t.co/HSwkeQsH6m— Melanie Burnet (@Melanie Burnet) 1565943546.0
@PaulineHansonOz A friend canceled brunch plans while I was there at the cafe. #WakeUpToRacism— Matt Burke (@Matt Burke) 1565850439.0
@PaulineHansonOz I got sunburned once when I spent too much time in the sun #AntiWhiteRacism— ☕ Latte Sipping Bogan 💦 (@☕ Latte Sipping Bogan 💦) 1565855086.0
@Latte_Bogan @PaulineHansonOz I got served at a fish and chip shop before I was ready to order because the other cu… https://t.co/X7HCTwhwEe— 💧Pvt Bobble 🧦🦜🖕 (@💧Pvt Bobble 🧦🦜🖕) 1565856081.0
@PaulineHansonOz No one ever asks me where I’m really from, which is upsetting, as I have many thrilling tales of g… https://t.co/otQtPlfdGc— Lisa Ricketts (@Lisa Ricketts) 1566027253.0
@PaulineHansonOz One time I had to explain to my non-white friends how just because I come from Queensland and am s… https://t.co/j1zlM27Eed— Kim Wincen (@Kim Wincen) 1565924011.0
And the grocery shopping oppression!
@PaulineHansonOz The Woolies near me doesn’t have the mayonnaise I like. I have to go to the one at Ashfield. #wakeuptoracism— Jordan Raskopoulos (@Jordan Raskopoulos) 1565851874.0
@JordanRasko @PaulineHansonOz The Woolies near me doesn't have Maggie Beer pate anymore. What is going on? How do I survive? #wakeuptoracism— Jo Neil (@Jo Neil) 1565854053.0
@jo_neil4 @JordanRasko @PaulineHansonOz The woolies near me has 6 types of hummus but only one type of vegemite! #WakeUpToRacism— cort (@cort) 1565873541.0
@CoherentGuile @jo_neil4 @PaulineHansonOz Oh my lord cort, Vegemite is halal!— Jordan Raskopoulos (@Jordan Raskopoulos) 1565873725.0
@JordanRasko @jo_neil4 @PaulineHansonOz VEGEMITE IS HALAL?!?! It's an attack on our national values. At least tim… https://t.co/4SYfPNEOzS— cort (@cort) 1565873875.0
@PaulineHansonOz The MAJORITY of chocolate is BROWN. I’m boycotting it. #WakeUpToRacism #WhiteChocolate #REPRESENTATIONMATTERS— Nadine Chemali نادين (@Nadine Chemali نادين) 1565912587.0
@femmocollective @PaulineHansonOz #AllChocolateMatters— Ray (@Ray) 1565943150.0
One respondent had an entire list of things White folks in Australia never (always) got to do while Aboriginal Australians always (never) were allowed to.
Such suffering and hardship, Pauline.
@PaulineHansonOz The more I think about it Pauline, the more I see the necessity of asking these questions. When w… https://t.co/pLfwzkgiYu— Three wombats in a Driza-Bone (@Three wombats in a Driza-Bone) 1565860927.0
@PaulineHansonOz When will white people have the opportunity to get a university education? Or even complete high s… https://t.co/6dHChOqYt9— Three wombats in a Driza-Bone (@Three wombats in a Driza-Bone) 1565861048.0
While these folks kind of nailed it.
@PaulineHansonOz as a white person, people always assume I have never experienced racism. and those people are ri… https://t.co/AZhGoxTGFn— Jem (@Jem) 1565932362.0
@PaulineHansonOz Highjacking an anti-racism # with a white supremacy message is so very 2019.— MaryBeth Turner (@MaryBeth Turner) 1565922117.0
@PaulineHansonOz I know you've been told a thousand times but I feel morally obliged to tell you again in the hope… https://t.co/Ws97Gn1CLF— 💧cmdibley (@💧cmdibley) 1565922980.0
Pauline Hanson, no one is trying to deplatform you because you’re white. We couldn’t care less that you’re white. W… https://t.co/JwNINyJX5x— rotund chimken (@rotund chimken) 1566198694.0
For people in a position of privilege, others gaining access to spaces that were exclusively theirs or gaining rights they always had can feel like oppression.
But others gaining rights doesn't actually reduce their rights. It only reduces their privilege.
Listen to the first episode of George Takei's podcast, 'Oh Myyy Pod!', where we explore the racially charged videos that have taken the internet by storm.
Be sure to subscribe here and never miss an episode.