Is This Really Better?

Let's talk about supermarkets.

I don't particularly like shopping at Woolworths or Coles. I do so for convenience, and for things I can't buy easily anywhere else (like milk, juice and cleaning products).

For meat, for bread, for my fresh groceries, I go to the butcher, the baker and my local grocer.

Although supermarkets are sometimes cheaper, they aren't necessarily better. I don't get the same level of customer service when I go to Woolies or Coles (although some are certainly better than others), my fresh groceries are often better quality (and sometimes cheaper!) at my grocer.

I have issues with the fluorescent lighting in big supermarkets. There are often so many people, and they are massive and sometimes I can't find what I want.

My favourite grocer is a bit of a hike for me, a half hour away. But when I go, I know that it all will be fresh and well priced, I can buy my chinese veggies there (for much less than the big supermarkets and much nicer), and also tofu and other chinese or asian products that are still treated as "unusual" by supermarkets. My favourite butcher is the better part of an hour away, but the quality is so much better, and so delicious. And no fat! Going all the way into Northbridge to go to the Chinese Butcher when we've got people coming over or even just for ourselves is perfect.

I've been watching a program called "Turn Back Time: The High Street". Tonight they were in the 70's, and a smaller more personal store was forced to close when their larger rival was allowed to slash prices by 20%. And people were surprised and sorry, even though it was their own buying behaviour that killed the business. In fact they blamed the other larger store much before they blamed themselves, even though they were the ones that chose where to spend their money.

I suppose all you can say is, shop wherever you like on whatever you like, but be aware of the consequences of your actions.

I've given up

I've given up on watching Question Time with the Politicians. Even the bits we get to see during the news make my head hurt. Do they have to shout at each other all the time??? Can't they all at least pretend to be grown ups?

And these are the people who get to decide what we do as a country.

On the other hand, I just watched Q&A, and the way that everyone handled the conversation and behaved themselves staggered me. It's like *swoon* competent and coherent conversation about important topics.

Also, the live tweets are hilarious.

Stolen House

Yesterday, whilst on ABC Online, I noticed an article titled Dude Where's My House?. It was a brief article about a landlord going to collect rent (in Malaysia) and finding the house was missing. There wasn't a lot of information, so I went (as you do) to The Star Online.

Landlord homes in on 'missing' house. Same basic story, but in addition, there was a picture of it, and more backstory. Basically, in early February three men arrived at the two story wooden house, removed all the furniture, dismantled it, and took everything away. All that is left is the 24 concrete pillars that used to hold it. The neighbours didn't suspect anything was strange about this so didn't challenge the men as they carried out their task.

:P Only in Malaysia :D Read the Star Article, it's quite good.

Passing White

I was watching Deadly Deportment on Landline just now. Basically it was about how young Aboriginal women in the area are being taught additional skills in the hope of making them more employable, and giving them the confidence to dress appropriately and do well in whatever job interview they go for. It was a very good program, and it makes me sad that they feel shame over dressing well, and things like that, fearing that they will never be good enough, that they will fail, and it will be worse than never having done anything in the first place.

Some of the women involved (as happens in any mixed group) can "pass" as white. In some ways this is worse than being discriminated against for being different, as many POC experience. The casual racism in Australia is still very rampant and alarming - as anyone who has been asked "What are you?" (not who are you, what) can attest. But it is worse when you can "pass" because, suddenly people are making these horrible comments, not about you, but about people like you, maybe your friends, all because they assume that you are (white) like them. And it takes courage and strength to say to these people, no it's not okay, you can't make those comments about these people, these are my people and you are being rude.

I can't say that I know what it is like to be Aboriginal in this country, for I am not of that descent. But as a half-Chinese person growing up here, living here, it is apparent to me that the discrimination does not go away. When someone makes a rude comment about Chinese people, and then turns to me and says "Oh, not you Julie", or worse, doesn't realise how offensive they have just been, because I don't "count" or "register" to them as Chinese, well, if I don't say anything, then I am shamed. Because I have just passed, and it feels like I have let the side down.

I want to be strong enough to stand up for my beliefs. Always.