Well said Irfan.

I agree that bogans have fast become one of the most complaining and maladjusted groups in Australian society.

The Liberals just look cheap chasing the bogan vote. Sadly, the bogans think that they are the majority. But they are not. The bogans are only a substantial MINORITY and an ill-educated and ill-behaved one at that.

Blame our recent leaders.
Bob Hawke and Paul Keating were never accused of racism and indeed Keating actively sought to place Australia within Asia. Gough went to China. Even Fraser accepted tons of reffoes with compassion and leadership.
But since Howard, who was always a 1950s racist of the old white Australia ilk, we have been led by those who happily use the race card and the dog whistle as part of their wedge politics and cultural wars. Along with the influence of the septics and self defeating actions of the terrorists, many have been given license to unleash their hatreds much more openly.

Racism has changed from a heinous personal flaw that it was in the 80s to an almost patriotic "boganness" that in some peoples eyes defines the "real" Australia. Mostly young and uneducated males, swayed by the likes of Abott, Hanson, Howard and the parrot to blame their failings on the blacks or the towelheads or chinks.

Rudd and the current Labor have done nothing to reverse this trend. Indeed their latest moves on Asylum seekers and the Aboriginal intervention show they are no different than the previous lot. Whether they are racist or just uncaring opportunists I dont know, nor care, it is just as disgusting either way.

Only leadership who sets the example and practices non racist polices and fights against the injustice caused by racism and exclusion will reverse this hateful trend in society and allow all Australians to live more harmoniously and successfully.

The same goes for whingeing Muslim bogans.

Well said Mikk.

Given the amount of airplay this topic gets on this forum, I'm a little surprised at the question.

"Why are we rightly intolerant of certain kinds of intolerance toward Jews and yet tolerant of virtually identical kinds of intolerance directed at other groups?"

It's fear.

Just as it always has been.

Fear of the unknown, fear of "the other", the embers of which are fanned by carefully selected gobbets of "truth".

Charles Dickens provides illumination into the same syndrome with his portrayal of Jews in Victorian London. They were similarly vilified - even by supposedly intelligent people - for their usurious ways and "pound of flesh" mentality.

There's a neat cameo in Our Mutual Friend, where Fascination Fledgeby uses the Jew Mr Riah as the front man for his moneylending business, especially when he chooses to call in the Lammles' notes, forcing them to sell everything.

Since "everybody knew" that the Jews were unscrupulous, and enjoyed sending Gentiles bankrupt, everyone assumed the heart of stone was Mr Riah's.

But we grew out of anti-Semitism - at least, the overt and visceral version thereof. We grew out of wog-baiting - at least, most of us have. Some folk still get upset when third-generation Melburnians choose to support Greece on the soccer pitch, but fortunately they are becoming rare.

Similarly, we will grow out of the current preoccupation with Muslims being "the other", and simply get on with life.

I could easily be convinced that every generation, in every country, has its own "focus of fear". We just happen to live in an era and a country where Islam is the natural scapegoat.

Makes me wonder who will be next.

Will it be the Poms' turn again, I wonder?

Indeed blame our recent leaders, but also blame the press who will not call them out on absurd statements.
Blame the shock jocks and other extremists who treat all facts as just someone's opinion, and who put rhetoric ahead of research.
Blame the lack of honest analysis, and the deliberate attempt to skew the arguments off center.
Blame opinion bought and paid for, and ignorant or cynical practitioners of propaganda.