Most of my posts were actually "sarcasm", it is the lowest form of wit (and therefore well above the intelligence quotient of many here).

FFS, here we have a whining migrant/2nd Gen (who cares) waffling on about why the Politicians should cater to whining bogans?

Cos they vote?

Sheeeshh, I am rarely glad that the National Party exists, but it may actually be the savior of what is actually "Australia", not some useless hodgepodge of mixed up losers... Go to Central Australia, or go to NW Qld...

You know what? I have never been so disgusted in all my days as I was when I heard about that guy being beaten to death with a bollard, while he was unconscious and on the ground in the middle of Sydney Airport...

How far has that part of the Country slipped? NOT ONE PERSON EVEN TRIED TO INTERVENE? Yeah, they had bollards, like there is some shortage of them in Sydney Airport?

A bunch of frightened little sheep and you wonder why the Politicians cater to what you call "bogans"? Because that is what Australia used to pretty much amount to, cultural cringe aside.

I'd love to see the difference if two groups into each other @ Mt Isa Airport. I know what would happen, the police would take them to the Showgrounds and let them sort it out one on one. How do I know that? Because it has happened...

Irfan, what you call a bogan probably bears no relation to the limited group I call bogans, let me guess, it pretty much encompasses all skippies, no? If so, there is your answer

The other problem is, I am now required under Political Correctness, to live with other people's issues, colors, shapes, etc. I can't say as I've been overly bothered one way or the other by it, you'd be suprised at the number of gays and lesbians in Aboriginal Communities (way away from Sydney), or the variety of people in Mt Isa... But I'd like to ask a question.

Where do you get off, attempting to describe a part of an ethnic group as someone politicians shouldn't listen to based upon some stereotypical set of characteristics?

Think about it... If I suggested Politicians should ignore all migrant groups, or SPECIFIC migrant groups, based upon some rigid stereotype, I'd be jumped on from an awfully great height, why do you, or should you, have a right I don't have?

It is all based on fear. Politicians with some exceptions play on that fear if there is a vote in it, despite the transparency in that deception.

Historically, even in monocultural societies there was discrimination or division usually on the basis of class. Since the growth of the middle class, globalisation, information dissemination and immigration, race has replaced class as the great divider.

It all amounts to fear of differences or the unknown, fear of failure and lack of will to take responsibility for one's own woes.

As mikk said it takes great leadership to strengthen bonds between cultural groups, only mediocrity to perpetuate it.

Pelican,
What is based on fear? Some posters have alluded to racism but no one has put forward any evidence of racism,

I read 3 major newspapers daily, sometimes more, and watch 2-3 TV news each night and I have not seen anything on racism. Unusually for Irfan, he waffles on about all sorts of things but does not state what his concerns are.

Of recent times it has been disclosed that the Vic police have been covering up bashings and anti-social behaviour by some Sudanese or Somarlia youths, so that could be what is being referred to. Or that there have been clashes between Sri Lankans in both Sydney and Melbourne, but that could not be called racist. Even the Croats and Serbs have not been active of late. Nothing about the Lebs either, or is that too common to bother reporting.

Some time back some Indian students were being bashed and robbed, which they claimed to be racist, but neither they or the police disclosed the ethnicity of the attackers. Everyone immediately thought the attackers were anglo-aussies, but it turned out otherwise.

If somebody thinks there is a problem, then first it has to be identified. Do not beat around the bush, state clearly what the problem is and where it is and who is doing it. Only then can we discuss the issue. I was hoping Irfan would explain further.

Dear Pelly

you said:

//As mikk said it takes great leadership to strengthen bonds between cultural groups//

Do you think a bunch of KKK and "Black Panthers" could be wisely led by anyone ?

I'm using an extreme example here of course.

What about hard core Socialists and the Business Council of Australia ?
I spent about 20min on the phone to a Socialist in Melbourne yesterday just trying to fathom their ideas about climate change, Gore etc.. and while it was a congenial convo.. (non combative).. she kept on coming back to the evils of CAPitalism.. in fact she understood everything in the world.. even global warming :) (besides war, injustice etc) and attributed all evil to.. 'capitalism'.

She did concede that a manufacturer like me.. faces huge problems and dilemna's (labor costs etc)... but the answer was nothing other than a world socialist order.

Realistically.. it's difficult to bring the Passionate Arab Muslim and the Othodox Jew together for a happy convivial chin wag.
Or the Unionist and the Boss. Or people of diverse cultures 'when'...those cultures by their essential content include the vilification of the other one.

nationalism and patriotism are just great vote winners, but also work against tolerance of difference. So some young people will continue to have the southern cross tattooed on their body, while baby boomers will continue to walk the Kokoda track. The Australian community has changed.