Gotta love yer logic Proxy.

>>CJ Morgan, When authoritative surveys determine that Muslim males are more violent than non-Muslims and that "there is a significant correlation between (their) religiosity and readiness to use violence", normal people wonder about the wisdom of importing such attitudes into Australia.<<

Statistically, men are ten times more likely to commit murder than women.

Should we perhaps also therefore question the wisdom of letting any men at all into the country?

What about the repatriation of all the men that are already here, would that be a really intelligent solution?

I wonder sometimes whether the people who resent the arrival of other nationalities and religions into this country are the same people who would like us to close our borders to international trade. Does a fear of immigrants go hand in hand, I wonder, with a fear that our country is being "taken over" by foreign businesses?

It is, after all, all about fear.

Al
Ha ha, I would not call the KKK or the BP cultural groups - they are radical and politically motivated.

Calling for a strengthening of bonds between cultural groups is not the same thing as supporting ethnic differences that cause harm under our system of law - such as topics we have covered on OLO like FGM, terrorism, stoning, forced wearing of the burqua etc.

Banjo
I think Australians in the main are not racist and are inclusive of other cultures. But there is a tendency in the media to highlight the worst of social tensions such as the Cronulla riots and there was that journalist/camerman who tormented a Muslim citizen coming out of court with thinly veiled references to terrorists. It is no wonder the man's son reacted as he did. Put yourself in the shoes of a mainstream Muslim, who lives with the 'terrorism' label no matter their own exemplary behaviour as a citizen.

Most of us have been to countries where we are the minority and where there are racial/gender stereotypes. As a woman I would not go out in light clothing when in the Middle East, and would have to endure the vitriole of Muslim men who cast me in the role of evil temptress, undressed meat and tart all based on a stereotype of Western women.

I think we can do better than that.

Pericles
Are you talking about international trade or free trade, they are quite different. Trade has nothing to do with race or culture, but comes down to beliefs surrounding the sovereign rights of nations to decide the terms of trade with those whom they do business. Not play by the rules of another's vested interests where the playing fields and starting points are inequitable.

To confuse that with racial issues is to misunderstand the big picture.

Foreign ownership is a fact of life in Australia, but again, in terms of sovereignty, a nation should IMO have the right to set the terms of those economic arrangements.

In a fair world, if you called Pauline Hanson a whingeing bogan you might reasonable expect her to call you a whingeing blackfellow in reply. I dont think she would, but thats hypothetical. The result would be a mudslinging match that helps nobody.

I am sick of modern day bogeymen, "hoon" and "bogan" are examples. It would seem a bit silly to be all worked up about racism, but then exercise a similarly irrational prejudice against others.

I am a bogan, no question about it. I drive a great big V8 and listen to ACDC all the time, I even have a Metallica ring tone on my phone. I have a collection of black T-shirts and flanno's, and swear a lot. However, like most other bogans, I have no interest in politics. Not all bogans are living in the past and supporting yesterdays girl, the same way I imagine you might not like others generalising.

Well said Pat. Have never been sure what a bogan is. I think the term is overused implying someone who is less educated who disagrees with another's point of view. Some of the dumbest people I know are educated.

Just to lighten things up a bit - where I live the bush, I'm surrounded by bogans. At this time of year every second person of either gender I encounter is wearing ugg boots, a flanny shirt and a beanie. In warmer weather, it's thongs, Metallica t-shirts and baseball caps. There are plenty of southern cross tatts and Aussie flags attached to ridiculously fancy utes.

Many of these proud bogans are my customers, neighbours and acquaintances. Hell, I'm wearing a flanny and beanie now (but NO ugg boots... I do have some absolute standards). I can say with confidence that the vast majority of my bogan neighbours are quite decent people who, besides displaying appalling taste, all loved Pauline Hanson and all hate 'boat people'.

While my town polling booth always returns a slight ALP majority in both Federal and State elections, the wider electorate at both levels invariably returns the sitting LNP members with absolute majorities of over 60%. Mind you, the Green vote is steadily climbing out here - this year our perpetual candidate may even get the magic 4% and get his campaign costs back!

When it gets a bit much for my enlightened sensibilities, to console myself I sometimes visit the "Things Bogans Like" blog. It's often hilariously perceptive, and the comments are a riot:

http://thingsboganslike.wordpress.com/

Enjoy!