In his book Wasted Lives: Modernity and Its Outcasts, the prominent sociologist Zygmunt Bauman says ‘Human vulnerability and uncertainty are the principal raison d’etre of all political power’. Since September 11, the political power in the West and all over the world has been fed on ‘the official fear’ of terrorism, which involves so much uncertainty and also threatens human vulnerability. Bauman points out that since the terrorist attacks in the US, migrants and especially refugees, mainly the ones from Muslim background, have been turned into objects of ‘official fear’ and social anxiety in relation to terrorism. There has been so much talk about ‘the European values’ and some people have been anxious that these values will be lost and the societies in Europe might fall apart due to multiculturalism.
Similar issues have been also raised in Australia since September 11. In Australia, Cronulla riots in 2005 became another turning point which has strengthened the political power against multiculturalism, and since then migrants and refugees have been continuously reminded of ‘the Australian values’ and ‘Australian way of life’.
Recently the government has announced that it will introduce a Citizenship test for the potential Australian citizens. The test will be in English and consist of 20 questions about Australian history, politics, sports, plants, and animals etc in Australia, which are randomly selected out of 200 questions. I think the citizenship test is discriminatory against migrants with limited English and limited literacy. Some of the sample questions from the test are below: (http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21752187-2,00.html?CMP=KNC-google)
1. Which colours are represented on the Australian flag?
a. Green and yellow
b. Red, black and yellow
c. Blue, red and white
d.Orange and purple
2. Indigenous people have lived in Australia for …
a. At least 40,000 years
b. About 8000 years
c. About 800 years
d. Less that 400 years
3. Australia’s national flower is the …
a. Rose
b. Wattle
c. Kangaroo paw
d. Banksia
4. Which is a popular sport in Australia?
a. Ice hockey
b. Water polo
c. Cricket
d. Table tennis 5. Australia’s political system is a …
a. Parliamentary democracy
b. Monarchy
c. Dictatorship
d. Socialist state
6. The Capital of Australia is…
a. Sydney
b. Melbourne
c. Hobart
d.Canberra
7. Which animals are on the Australian Coat of Arms?
a. Wombat and echidna
b. Kangaroo and emu
c. Kangaroo and dingo
d. Lion and unicorn
8. Where did the first European settlers to Australia come from?
a. Spain
b. France
c. England
d.Ireland
9. Who is Australia’s head of state?
a. Prime Minister John Howard
b. Queen Elizabeth II
c. Governor General Michael Jeffery
d. Premier Steve Bracks
10. Who was the first Prime Minister of Australia?
a. Sir Edmund Barton
b. Sir Henry Parkes
c. John Curtin
d. Sir Robert Menzies
11. What song is Australia’s national anthem?
a. God Save the Queen
b. Star Spangled Banner
c. Advance Australia Fair
d. Waltzing Matilda
12. What do you call the elected head of a state government?
a. Governor
b. Premier
c. Mayor
d. Prime Minister
13. Which federal political party or parties are in power?
a. Australian Labor Party
b. Australian Democrats and the Australian Greens
c. National Party
d. Liberal Party and National Party
14. Which of the following are Australian values?
a. Men and women are equal
b. `A fair go’
c. Mateship
d. All of the above
15. Australia’s values are based on the …
a. Teachings of the Koran
b. The Judaeo-Christian tradition
c. Catholicism
d. Secularism
16. What does Anzac Day commemorate?
a. The Gallipoli landing
b. Armistice Day
c. The Battle of the Somme
d. Victory in the Pacific
17. In what year did the first European settlers arrive?
a. 1801
b. 1770
c. 1788
d. 1505
18. How many states are there in Australia?
a. 5
b. 6
c. 7
d. 8
19. Australian soldiers fought in …
a. World War I and World War II
b. Korean War
c. Vietnam War
d. All of the above
20. What is Australia’s biggest river system?
a. The Murray Darling
b. The Murrumbidgee
c The Yarra
d. The Mississippi
Answers:
1) C, 2) A, 3) B, 4) C, 5) A, 6) D, 7) B, 8 ) C, 9) B, 10) A, 11) C, 12) B, 13) D, 14) D, 15) B, 16) A, 17) C, 1
B, 19) D, 20) A