Steven:

The following website may clarify things for you:

http://newmatilda.com/2011/02/23/can-multiculturalism-work-for-labor

"Dilan Thampapillai is doing is stating the rights that accrue to any citizen of a secular liberal democratic state. And if that’s all there is to multiculturalism then why all the fuss?"

But I think thats his point. That people like Bernardi are imposing their views and taking away those freedoms from people. At least, that is what they are trying to do.

Lexi,

No that linked web page does not clarify anything. So some people think Muslims, Jews*, Asians etc don't fit into Australian society.

So what are you going to do about it? Send them to a re-education camp?

People will hold opinions. Some will even dare to hold opinions of which I do not approve. You think a speech by Chris Bowen and yet another bureaucracy is going to fix that?

jjplug,

I have not noticed anyone taking away any freedoms.

*For the record, I am Jewish. I know there are people who do not like Jews. I even know there are people for whom Israel-bashing has become an acceptable form of anti-Semitism just as Muslim-bashing has become an acceptable form of racism. Does that mean either Israel or Islam should be immune from critique, analysis, satire and scorn? And do you think it is in the power of government to change people's opinions? Do you think we need a thought police?

Get real folks. This is simply an ALP patronage machine.

The more I think about this thread the more crazy the whole multi culti agenda seems.

People have uninformed opinions. People have daft opinions. People even have racist opinions. All this may be very sad but there it is.

The notion that people will change their opinion because Chris Bowen or Julia Gillard tells them they ought to is itself a daft opinion.

I mean come on, can you imagine some guy who hates Jews saying, “Well gee if Chris Bowen tells me to stop hating I’d better change my mind”?

But this much I can guarantee. Nothing is more likely to inflame public opinion more than the sight of Labor handing out patronage to certain favoured groups.

As mac and other have pointed out, all Dilan Thampapillai is doing is stating the rights that accrue to any citizen of a secular liberal democratic state. So what is a multi culti bureaucracy supposed to do? If someone tries to stop a Jew wearing a “kipah” (skull cap) in public do you expect him to phone the “department of multi culti affairs”?

Get real. In these circumstances you call the cops. They are the people who are supposed to enforce the law. Not a multi culti bureaucrat.

Um, have you actually been listening to anything that Cory Bernardi has been saying?

Lexi,

Perhaps you have noticed that Muslims all have one thing in common: Islam. That is the problem.

As to the fact that Muslims come from “linguisitc and ethnically distinct cultures” – all I can say is “wow”. Who would have imagined that Muslims in Malaysia, Pakistan, Egypt and Turkey have distinct languages and cultures. Next you will be telling me that they have legs and hair on their heads.

There is another thing Muslims have in common: wherever they dominate, the persecute others, including other Muslims, and where they go, they cause problems.

As to your professor, she is a politically-correct multiculturalist whose crusade against racism (ie, anything non-Western) is just a means to proclaim her moral superiority over the ignorant masses - all white Australians, of course. Only she is caring and enlightened. Note that she, by her own admission, is raising a racist child, her son (http://www.safecom.org.au/eva-sallis-mch.htm). Of course, it is Australia’s fault.

I asked you a question and you didn’t answer. Why? Instead of “countering mainstream attitudes to Muslim people” why don’t you ask Muslims to change their attitudes? Duhhh. Ask them to renounce the hate and violence in the Quran, or denounce the vile actions of their prophet, and then maybe there wouldn’t be such a problem. As I said, try putting the blame on people that accept an ideology that teaches that Non-Muslims are vile, inferior. I doubt that you have ever read the Quran, much less the ahadith.

As to Islam or Muslims in Australia, I assure you that I know more than you