The Discriminant


This poem was created entirely by Tim St.Clair using Descrimination in the Workplace and at Home as its theme. 
For a long time, the workplace has been a sector where there is racial tension. The community is divided into sectors of race. There is, for example, the Italian food sections where natives of the country can work with others of the same fellowship. The society is therefore disintegrated as a community and each race forms a microcosm of her roots.
The workplace has then become mistrustful of each separate segment for it has no clear integration except, perhaps , a physical line where workers of different backgrounds live or work together. This barrier can be very tense, and is mostly where inter-racial discrimination can occur. Since Australia is, or would prefer to be known as, a multicultural society, there are many races and creeds all packed into dense population centres. Without fail, there are clashes.
This poem endevours to look, firsly at the problem itself. Who is the discriminant of which society? Who is right? if the question can be answered. Secondly, it attempts to percieve the difficulty in changing the Workplace for the better and just if it is at all possible.

1.
The Aborigional.

‘Ah ya bloody Abbo! Y’slimy piece of shit!’-White- One.
‘Onya bruddah. Hah. Fuckin’ black cunt!’-Greek- Two.
‘Hey whatchit buddy. And smile so we can see you comin’.’-American- Three.

‘Two’s a company, three’s a crowd.
Something must be done.’
The Native Australian counts and plots
The demise of his working brother.

‘Heya, bro! Godme sumoney foragrog mate?’ He dribbles, drunk from dole money.
‘Oh, piss off. Piss off!’ The teased Aborigional runs off, crying.
‘Fuckin’ stupid lady. Don’t give me me money! Dumb spag.’ The black mumbling.

‘Have some god-damn pride in yourself.
You are the scum. You are a disgrace
To our proud Aborigional race.’
Why do they not fight?

2.
The Italian

‘Greasy wog. Git back to ya cunt-ry.’ Across the bar.
‘Italiano mama. Goa homa andi makea maya la pizza’ In the factory.
‘Hey! Go rub yaself on me car. She’s a bit rusty!’ In the Police station.

‘Why did we ever come to this country?
The Lucky Country. A place to work, a place to live.
Italy was better than this hole.
Should leave, but this place could be better.’

3.
The Anglo-Australian

‘Fuck off, you Asian shit!’ A miner hollars across a wide, busy street.
‘Greaseball Greek. Nice nose! Get back to your mama!’ The nobody in the pub.
‘Black cunt. Fuckin’ take that.’ The worker hits the black, in an office with his mates.

‘Piss off. This is our country. We were here first.
At least we brought civility to this bloody land.
We own the land, you only live here.
You only have rights to your own land, not ours.’

4.
The Argument

And we all ask ‘What is wrong with us all?
Why do we segregate the community and world?’

Get real. We do.
That’s that.

But to do it in such a way?

Yes. That’s that. Don’t seek the answer,
It’s not worth the effort. Give up.

What? Give in to them. That’s lowering ourselves
To their standard. We must act now!
Give it a break...

5.
The Discriminant

And who is right? Me? You? Us?
Anyone? Is there a right answer or is it something inbuilt into every man and woman?
Is there an answer or just a solution? There is a difference.

Perhaps a story? Why not imagine the utopian society?
‘...
And the world of man was not divided as are continents.
Humanity had not racial trait, man could not hate fellow man.
But there was fueding, only with friends for there were no enemies.
And it were not true feuding. It was, just,  a play with friends.
For there were no enemies, and there could be no hate,
Could not there be true love either?
...’
Need more be said, understanding our otherwise utopian society?

Face it, Racism, Discrimination and a split world is here to stay.
And not a thing there is to be done about it.
Unless we face ourselves, unless we face our workmates,
Unless, of course, we all want to.

Unless of course, we cannot.