Friday, December 19, 2008



Must not call Polynesians and Africans "spear-chuckers"

Polynesians are Pacific Islanders who look like large Japanese -- native Hawaiians, New Zealand Maoris, Tongans, Samoans etc. They did use spears until the missionaries got to them in the 19th century. In Australia, they are usually poor and ill-educated and often have lots of children. On average, they have a high rate of crime.
"A Lesbian Asian bus driver was fired by Brisbane City Council after she wrote a note referring to commuters as "spear chuckers with prams". But Lillian Tam - who said she has fought discrimination all her life - said the note was not meant to be malicious or racist, the Courier Mail reports. She claimed the phrase was used by bus drivers to describe the 110 bus route in Brisbane after a group of Sudanese, Tongan, Samoan and Caucasian passengers wearing face masks and carrying spears were picked up one day. Ms Tam said other routes were dubbed the Orient Express, the Bombay Express and the Granny Run.

The full bench of the Australian Industrial Relations Commission this week rejected Ms Tam's appeal against an earlier decision of Senior Deputy President Peter Richards, who found her dismissal was fair.

Ms Tam, 47, of Parkinson, had been a casual trainee bus driver at the Richlands Bus Depot for two and a half years, when she left the note requesting a particular bus for a friend and colleague at the refuelling station on April 6, 2007. It stated: "Could you please not give a 2506 merc (sic) tomorrow coz (sic) I'm taking over and I'm doing all the 110s - I do not want to pick up all those spear chuckers with prams!!!" The commission was told that if Ms Tam drove a high-floor bus, as she requested, many passengers would not get on because of the lack of space to manoeuvre their prams.

But the note was found by indigenous co-worker Katherine Jennings, who told the commission she felt angry, humiliated and frustrated by the "extremely derogatory" and "disrespectful" language. "It conveyed to me that dark-skinned people are primitive," Ms Jennings said"

Source

Rather surprising that a Lesbian was not privileged in what she could say. I guess homosexuality is not as holy in Australia as it is in the USA.

10 comments:

Anonymous said...

Why did they have to specify her as a lesbian? It had nothing to do with the story.

Anonymous said...

Well if they actually picked up guys in masks holding spears on that bus route as she claims I find it hard to see how it would be racist or offensive by any stretch of the imagination.

Anonymous said...

"Why did they have to specify her as a lesbian? It had nothing to do with the story."

Oh come on, Anon, don't you know that all Gays, Lesbians, Trans-gender, Transvestites, and whatever other confused, sick, lifestyle choice one makes must be publicized and promoted else they are not being given fair treatment.

Anonymous said...

Er, um, I think the reason to say she is a lesian is to show that she understand discrimination and (gasp) would never discriminate againts others. That is, unless they are white heterosexuals. then they are fair game for all.

Anonymous said...

What ever happened to "Fatty, fatty two by four....."?

Anonymous said...

sorry. posted to wrong comment.

Anonymous said...

"It conveyed to me that dark-skinned people are primitive". Despite not one mention of dark skin or primitive. Sounds to me more like she is insane.

Anonymous said...

Funny how you notice that mentioned lesbian, but do not question why they mentioned Asian?

Mobius

Anonymous said...

allow me to recycle the comment I made on NOV 12
I'm proud of my spear chucker English ancesters. One saved the life of the King by spearing the wild boar about to attack him . He was rewarded with title , lands , a pension , and a crest consisting of a boars head on crossed lances with three balls over all. So yes being a spear chucker is a good thing. Civilized too !
-----------------------------------
still proud of the spear chuckers
SUPERMAN the student architect

Anonymous said...

Which king was that?