Pericles: >> 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. <<

Along the same theme I believe it was Shylock in The Merchant of Venice who demanded a "pound of flesh" as payment for a debt. It has been performed countless times and with each performance the stereo type is enforced. Shakespeare was not being anti Semitic, the money lenders of the time were dominantly Jews. The rich in Europe employed the Jews as go betweens for their money lending enterprises during the Middle Ages. The reason was that the church frowned on usury. The poor old Jew, a Shylock by others making.

I heard the primary age kids next door fighting and one called the other a Jew. When they were over next I asked them if the knew what a Jew is. A tight arse was the reply, I asked who taught them the word, and they said every body knows it.......primary age kids Pericles.

I wonder if it could be because we have ethnic gangs roaming the streets, in some areas, bashing & robbing innocent passers by, while shouting things like "get the whitey".

I don't ever recall this kind of rubbish in the days of the "dago", & "wops". I lived in Fairfield, [Sydney] in the late 50s, & early 60s. My across fence neighbours were a pom, a Greek, & a Maltese.

Did the Maltese have a tag? I was very proud to shake his hand, after what they went through for being on our side during WW11.

This lot, & the Italian, & the middle european, [never did find out where he came from], from across the road used to help me push my racing car from time to time. Great people, one & all. They liked to claim the car as "their" racing car, & I was supposed to know what was wrong with their cars, when they played up.

Don't think it would be like that these days.

Sorry, that came out wrong - I've been preached at way too much this week

Irfan, why should this countries citizen's change to suit recent arrivals? Our families built this Country into what it is, determined its laws, fought, bled, sweated and died for it.

In doing so, we earned the right to do and say as we please.

When recent arrivals accomplish one tenth of what the earlier settlers did, then they have the right to dictate how things will be run, etc.

Try and push too hard too quick? You'll get resistance and after that, violent resistance to change. This "was" a conservative Country and most of it still is. Calling people who don't wish to "look" or "sound" like they come from the richer parts of Sydney or Melbourne, because they think they are pretentious w@nkers, bogans just because you disagree with them...

It won't wash

That is why a lot of recent immigrants (last 30 years) have never really proceeded out of the major centers, they know damn well they will not be accepted unless they are willing to adapt themselves, the people from where they go aren't going to adapt to make them feel at home if they don't.

Don't like it, go somewhere else... I like most of this Country just fine (everywhere outside the major centers). Or stay in Sydney/Melbourne.

By the way, I don't go around calling you a raghead, because you won't appreciate it, so why do you get to call anyone else anything?

Maybe this story is just another reason why we are wary of Islamic immigration:

The sale of undergarments with alleged pictures of a mosque on them sparked a riot by Muslims in Srinigar.
Turns out the images were actually of St Paul's and Big Ben.
Strangely enough, Christians didn't start rioting when the true story came out.
Go figure.
http://www.nationalturk.com/en/alleged-blasphemous-images-trigger-protests-in-kashmir-256254624

Hands up all Australians who encourage the immigration to Australia of people whose religion causes them to riot under the misapprehension that holy buildings are depicted on underpants.
I can see that Foxy and CJ Morgan quickly raised their hands.
Anybody else?

Pericles:
"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"
A nice segue from Victorian Dickens to Elizabethan Shakespeare--not that I suggest you weren't aware of the fact.

Not really on topic, but I wonder to what extent PC over anti-Semeticism censors 'just' criticism of Israel? The Jews seem to be doing their level best in offering a belligerent face against all criticism, as though it must be founded in prejudice, and they have their historical precedent to whitewash whatever measures they choose to take in the name of self-righteous "self-preservation"--more like revenge and rationalisation, I fear, for centuries of depredation and humiliation.
The 'just' fear behind boat people et al, nothing to do with justice, is the endless supply that threatens Australia's 'fortuitous' prosperity.
The Moslem countries have just the same axe to grind, as does Russia, China etc. The chickens always come home to roost.
For sure it is the 'big' 'Other' syndrome that drives Western fear. We haven't grown out of anything.
I say let them in, for no country is an island.

thanks DJ
Pericles
I agree in the past with the wogs and dagoes and the reffoes of Cabramatta that the racism passed as did the problems caused by it but this is something different. This has the sinister poison of religion and terrorism injected into it. The stoking of the fires by Israel and the US. OIL.
As for the fear factor terrorist Islam and power hungry western leaders could not have been better made for each other and i doubt we will see any change of bogey man any time soon. They love each other too much.
Proxy
So what about all the similar type verses in the bible?
You know the ones. Dont make me quote them.
sonofgloin
Racism is not natural. The reason kids say jew like that and know such things is because of South Park.
Hasbeen
No in the 50s and 60s it was the anglo bodgies and widgies and rockers and mods and surfies who were the "gangs". Go back and search some of the papers from back then. Huge outcries over out of control drinking too. It never changes.
custard
Being a redneck is NOT Australian!