Racism. It sounds nasty and it is. Racism is part of the soft underbelly of human reaction that flinches at the splinter of difference between human beings and shrugs off the telegraph pole of similarity.

We people are brothers and sisters in the one human family. We’re all capable of fine, noble behaviour from time to time, and long periods of moderately good behaviour. However, there are also some negative behaviours that we prefer to overlook.

Racism denies the self-evident reality of how much we all share as human beings.

Perhaps because of a fear of difference, insecurity, or a caveman tribalism, of the kind that drives kids to scuffle in a playground or teenage gangs to spoil for a fight.

Racism is an illusion, a lack of understanding, but it’s also a troublemaker that can lead to physical or psychological violence.

Surely we need to have an honest look at ourselves and admit that all our societies can sometimes be racist, and that in order to be the best person and best society we can, we need to combat racism. We need leaders who will speak up for tolerance and decry intolerance. Let us recognise that people everywhere are pushed by similar emotions, desires and needs.

Australia needs courageous leadership right now. In this country a number of Indian students, working late shifts at night, have become easy targets for violent criminals. This is disgraceful; and it’s criminal.

Some of our political leaders have denied these attacks are racist. Are they correct? Our police are doing their best to solve crimes, be objective and combat violence, but they haven’t come up with easy answers to this question. My guess is that some attacks may be racially motivated and some are just senseless criminal violence. Neither, however, is acceptable.

Whatever, top-level denial has not allayed Indian fears, served our community well, nor stopped the crimes. Our political leaders probably believe that they are correct in saying that Australians are not racist. We live in a multi-racial society and, from looking around my neighbourhood in Sydney, I would also have said that racism is not a problem here. Get on any bus or train and see what a mixed community we are and that we live in harmony.

In any society around the globe, however, there are some negative elements and Australian society is no different. We should simply say a loud, clear “No” to racial negativity. Our leaders should say, “Racism will not be tolerated and racist violence is criminal.”

Other societies can harbour racist elements, too, and you don’t have to be white to be racist. Bulletin after bulletin of world news makes this obvious. In my youth, I resided in Asia and had to become used to people staring at me and pointing as they said (loudly in their native tongue) “Look a white, see, a white.” That was pretty embarrassing. But I became accustomed to it. Fortunately today, Asia has changed as greater familiarity with a global world has brought much greater acceptance.

Like Anne Frank, I believe that people are basically good. When celebrated Indian composer A. R. Rahman gave a concert in Sydney’s Parramatta Park this January 2010 and called for racial harmony, tens of thousands of Australians joined him to enjoy the music and share that spirit. Let us hold on to that. Let us give tolerance a chance.

Image Courtesy of DayLife - Fans are pictured during India's Oscar-winning composer A R Rahman's free concert in Parramatta Park in Sydney's western suburbs January 16, 2010. - Reuters Pictures

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