"Yeah me too but watch out for the Aussie “Lads” – wanna be Lebs who everyone else makes fun of." - and the yob/lad part of our culture is in there with things to be less than proud of.

I've had my run in's with them as well. I've not heard of women needing to avoid certain streets in their neighborhood because of the confronting behavior of groups of Aussie "lads" (again it probably exists but I've not heard of it). Where lad's seem to be an issue is at events with a lot of booze.

Rebecca6 the issue of indiginous religion has already been raised. Over to you on that one. Captain Cook did not stay, the founding happened as a penal colony with some history of extreme brutality. Should I cling to those traditions as well?

I'd agree that no-one choosing to move here should be scheming to try and make it more like the place they left (dam lantana, rabbits and foxes). What I'm not convinced of is that many migrants are actually trying to do that. A small number but most seem to want a break.

In the context of this thread the apparent tolerance by Aussie muslims to vocal muslim extremists does concern me. Those who write for the broader media seem much more focussed on attacking Islams critics than on speaking against those who do the real harm to the reputation of muslims.

R0bert

I am glad that you are a proud Åustralian Muslim.

However, until Muslims stand up and be counted, and openly condemn the appalling attitudes, customs and crimes perpetuated in the name of Islam, Islam will be seen to be a monolithic belief, without variation.

The silence from Muslims when fellow Muslims insult main-stream Australia is deafening. Instead we have those rushing to defend this, as already mentioned by OLO contributors. Instead one has to wonder why such people were not removed from positions where they represented the "public face" of Islam.

Every other major religion have those who openly criticise aspects of their "kin", whose practices and attitudes are seen to be misguided, or abhorent. Why are Muslims different?

As for racism. Many have pointed out ... ad infinitum ... that Islam is not a race. The term "Islamophobia" was first coined in Iran by their religious leaders condemning those who did not embrace Islam as dicated.

Many Muslims seem to believe that they are a special and unique presence in Australia. In fact, they are wrong. We have had Muslims in this country since the 19th century, when these people became an important part of our history. The descendants of these Muslims are very much part of Australia. These Muslims see no distinction between themselves than any other group; and fellow Australians see no distinction either.

I suspect many Australians are irritated by the fact that new Muslims whilst insulting the country that has taken them in and the values we hold in Australia, expect preferential treatment. Australians are not insular, indeed our values have been shaped by the many other cultures that have entered this country. For this we owe a debt of gratitude to them.

Muslims need to take a long and serious look inward.

Jewelry,
I suggest you google Ayaan Hirsi Ali. There is heaps there and I think you will like her. She is very outspoken about Islam, but is articulate and speaks quietly. A very interesting woman of vast experience in both Islam and Western culture. There are some who have critisized her for speaking out but, to my knowledge, few have been able to dispute what she says and I believe she is closely scrutinized.

When I read this article, the alarm bells started when the author said he did not think Canberra was a racist city or Aus was a racist country. Here he is suggesting that persons who are anti Islam are racist. The racist card is played to put opponents on the defensive. In doing this he has lost his credibility, in my eyes.

Islam is a religion and a way of life, its followers come from many different races, Am i a racist if I am anti Buddist or anti Hindu or anti Christian?

I would not, at this stage, agree to stop Islamic immigration. How ever I would stop further immigration of those groups, of whatever religion or race, that have shown they are not prepared to integrate into our society.

First on that list would be those groups that practice FGM. Next would be the Croats and Serbs who continue their feuds here, same with the Sudanese or Somalies that are currently using machettes on each other. That will do for starters, but consider the Leb muslims because of anti social behaviour and the Sri Lankans and the Tamils for feuding.

I think that would be sufficient to get the message across that we do not want those who flout our laws and social standards. If you are not prepared to integrate, you are not welcome.

If you are not prepared to integrate, you are not welcome.

Banjo.....Now I know you love your country.

Lets keep australia, just like it is.....wht doya recon mate:)\\

Br Proud by all means, but make the guesses understand, we will not take your sh!t.....by any means.

Australia is a place of all first peoples, that's made this country the way it is, and if you think you are going to change us into thinking Muslim is the way to go..............Oh dear:) You have No idea of what you are, and why you do it.

We call that stone-age.

Peace or not?

Your call:)

LEAP

I am not at all surprized that 40% of Camberrians are anti muslim. If you added on those that had serious misgivings about Islam, the figure would be much higher. if the survey was done in Sydney or Melbourne the figure would be higher still.

Why?

Simply because of the conduct of the muslims themselves. Lebs are the majority of muslims here and are well known for their anti social conduct. The pack rapes in Sydney did not help their cause, nor the attempted domination of the Cronulla beach, which resulted in a strong community backlash. Plenty of instances of bashings of anglo blokes and harrassment of anglo girls. Pretending to be offended by nativity scenes at shops and so on. Some popular Sheik, named Feize, reckoned our girls deserved to be raped, because of their dress.

We have now gaoled 20 muslims for planning terrorist activities here in Aus. Lucky we caught them.

Then we get to the international situation. Since 9/11 there have been over 17000 terrorist attacks, with unknown dead and injured. This last week alone the have been 118 killed and 227 injured. Riots and demonstrations in UK, France and other European countries.

There are far too many instances of beheadings, stonings and honour killings in the name of Allah.

Sheez, and the author wonders why muslims are not particularly liked gennerally

Hi Mohammed Ali,

I'm a complete irreligious nutter and won't enter into any of the pointless point making or religious or cultural point scoring. I'm proudly western and have been educated by the great writers and philosophers of the west. And am proud of our developed Liberal Democratic basis. Which has drawn in no small measure from the majestic Islam of the Caliphates, of Baghdad, which of course you know predate the rise of the Islamic fundamentalism of the Imams, of Mecca, or roughly the 11 or 12 century A.D..

I will take issue with your political premise. Let me quote,

'Is the call for an absurd moratorium the chasing of working class votes for the Liberal Party?'

Which seems to me if you take such a statement to it's natural logical conclusion, only indicates you may, rather unconsciously, believe racists and anti-muslims don't already vote for the Liberal but for their oponents the Labor people.

'In my 20 years in Australia I am yet to experience a tradesman who has shown any hostility towards me ...'

And this statement in apparent condescending defence of assumed (Wrongly) labor voting tradespeople seems to me, again if you take such a statement to it's natural logical conclusion, only indicates you, again rather unconsciously, believe such people may indeed be racist but that they haven't exposed themselves or you simply haven't recognised such.

I have a little advise for you. I think you need to converse with a much wider group than you do currently and avoid showing an anti conservative bias and re-assess the ALP and it's supporters. This forum is a start but ignore the bigotry and contain your own.

Oh and avoid the ABC, it's the propaganda arm of the ALP and they tend to expose people, inadvertently with their lack of intellectualism, amateurism and socialist bias, more than do the 'normal' media.

And oh do move from Canberra it's diseased fake intellectualism is highly contagious.

Often what we say betrays, with the application of a little lateral perception and logic, more than we ever intend.

Good health and cheers