Racism continues to thrive

Abominably, NZ First leader Winston Peters appears to ride the fear. FILE PHOTO

HOW enlightened a time do we live in when it comes to racism?

The answer is: Not very.

It's not a question of degrees of racism and/or xenophobia.

Someone could argue that, if there were such a thing as different levels, then we are no longer at a time when negroes were considered little more than animals in America and the "yellow peril" of Chinamen in the 19th century inspired fear among white folks.

But what we have today is different kinds of racism - but the same ugly sentiments, hate and fear. And there's so much of it, we're learning to stop recognising it.

I would argue we are approaching one of our worst times for blatant racism becoming more acceptable in western society.

Donald Trump, hoping to become the Republican candidate for the next US election, can sell out a baseball stadium of 20,000 seats and happily listen to some redneck tell him President Obama is Muslim.

He can play to an illiterate American public disillusioned with the American dream, worried that Islamic State - or the Mexicans - are going to take over. And many in the stadium nod their heads - including Trump.

In New Zealand we are slowly but surely losing our way with the Maori language, while our Maori citizens lose their way in crimes and gangs. Like America, the recovery from the recession has been bitter, and there's talk of another.

Like America, people fear those who want to reach out to our country for a chance at a better life, forgetting that our forebears did precisely the same.

A citizen buys a house, a property, but because their surname is Asian, the fear and anger builds.

And, abominably, NZ First leader Winston Peters appears to ride the fear, waving real estate magazines scripted in Chinese, uttering "wongs" and suggesting migrants should go back, pick up a gun, and fight.

And too many of us nod our heads when, in better times, we'd laugh guys like Trump and Peters off the stage.

Times are very hard. But many of these "fears" involve human beings we've never met - and who are probably braver, and more scared, than us.