With racism in all its ugliness creating fear and mistrust on an ever widening scale, Joseph Raffa highlights the need for us to see ourselves as humans first and foremost.

Stamping out racism is surely something that must begin in the home and in the schools. Legislation can make it a punishable crime to utter racist remarks but will it stop its expression?

Societies are enclosed conditioning chambers of variable influences – of language, race, history and traditions. A subtle sense of being different and maybe better than others flows in at an early age.

We are not encouraged to see ourselves as humans first but as nationals with an exclusive background. Distinction takes over and settles in.

So, I am Australian, or Aboriginal or whatever becomes the catchword that identifies humans.

Look under the label – the outer variations for what lies beneath. There you’ll meet the essential human, not only in others but also in yourself.

One and the same life-force flows through all. The conditioned mind divides, creating separation where none exists. It projects the attitude of racial superiority and acts accordingly. This mind needs to step aside and let the heart shine through.

Love, the kind that sees the One Universal Nature in all is what is needed.

Then racism will die a natural death.