gypsy

You and Jayb are confusing religion with culture. And confusing human beings with robots - we adapt and so do the people who migrate to these shores. You do not make the same prejudiced claims against the many people of Asian background, or Pacific Islanders. Just Muslims who are not just from the Middle East and who are not one homogeneous group.

One obstreperous woman in a veil does not equate with a clash of cultures.

You claim you do research. Well, thus far you are revealing a great deal of ignorance, specifically (purposely?) about Islam.

Sorry I should have said, "with 2 unnotable exceptions"

Jocelynne: that the majority of australians do not support the current abysmal 'policy' on refugees & asylum seekers.

Where in heavens name do you get your statistics. Wherever it is they are horribly out of touch. You must have been only to a Mosque & to a few misfit demonstrators to collect your Data. Saying so doesn't make it real. People are fine. It's the Religion, Dogma & Customs that Australians cannot abide. I can put up with most things from Religion, it's the Dogma that I find most offensive, even with Christianity.

Ammonite: You claim you do research. Well, thus far you are revealing a great deal of ignorance, specifically (purposely?) about Islam.

I do a great deal of research on all Religions & Cultures. none of my research has shown that Islam is an accomodating religion. The policy is convert or die. If you convert everything will be peace & happiness. If not... "off with your head." It started with Mahomad being kicked out of Mecca in 622 & then 624 he gathers an army & goes back, the 1st. offensive at Badr. 628 Muhammads message to all rulers to embrace Islam or else. 629 1st. battle near the Dead Sea. 633 Muslims capture Arabia. 624 Battle of Ajnada. 625 Damascus. It hasn't stopped. Violence, violence, violence & subjucation all the way. A peaceful religion? I think not.

Isn't Islam both a religion and a culture?

Doesn't the religion determine how to behave culturally?

Christian cultures, regardless of backsliders, tend to behave in a similar and open way. Canada, Australia, UK, USA and new Zealand .. and these tend to be countries no one is running away from, for reasons many Islamic people come to Australia to "escape"

They come here because our culture, based on Christian generosity and benevolence and tolerance, welcomes everyone.

Where Islam seems to be at odds, everywhere, is that the culture and religion appear to be completely intolerant of everything not condoned specifically by the religion, thus their culture is a reflection of the religion.

So, ammonite, rather than just spraying people who disagree with you, why not consider what they are saying and how they see the world .. you appear to be able to separate culture from religion, that even the participants cannot do .. many Australians cannot seem to be able to separate Islamic culture from the religion..

Perhaps it is the practitioners who are ignorant, and would welcome you to educate them? You could tell them, that their religion, should not determine how they behave, and that their culture, should not be in any way linked to their religious beliefs

That would be very enlightening, tell us how you go with that

How prejudiced are those who view Muslims as somehow inferior to Christians? I am one of those who are completely opposed to the detention of asylum seekers and refugees. Surely Australians should not condone the mental damage resultiing from detention and indefinite uncertainty Red neck commentators who display such ignorance and hostility towards asylum seekers are the ones to be feared. It's so easy to attack a people whose voice is silenced. My friendships with Muslim people and what I have learned from them reveals a deep sense of humanity - and of humour, a fine literary mind, and skills and knowledge that could only benefit and enrich Australia. I too learn and am inspired by their immense courage. Truth is that Muslims, like Christians, vary in the degree to which they observe their faith. Thank you Claire fro this insightful piece.

Jenni: How prejudiced are those who view Muslims as somehow inferior to Christians? I am one of those who are completely opposed to the detention of asylum seekers and refugees.

No one is being prejudiced & I'm sure that no one in Australia sees Middle Eastern POEPLE as inferior. We can say that we arn't infavour of being eventually forced to adopt Middle Eastern Culture. Which is the aim of Islam. Islam is a Middle Eastern religion which still has its values & culture rooted in the Stone Age. Western & Eastern cultures have advanced over time, Middle Eastern culture has not. Middle eastern culture is out of step with Australian culture & therefore not welcome in Australia.

A NOTE: On your name. A Jen in Middle Eastern culture is a male evil demon a Jenni is a female evil demon. ;-)

Claire, do you really want to know who are facing persecution,starvation and death?
Take a look at any refugee camps in Africa. These people have been waiting years before any of these blow-ins arrived without the proper documentation to assess their suitability. Every one of these African refugees have been assessed by UN refugee assessors and found to be genuine.If these so-called boat people want to be assessed then where should we hold them and for how long, being fair to all these Africans from real hell holes like Sudan, Somalia, The Dem republic of Congo, Burrindi and Rwanda. Or should we waive these requirements and keep the African refugees waiting for another 10 years?Ask yourself - what happened to the papers? Wake up to the monumental scam.
Take a look at these Mid Eastern and Afghanis and Pakkis...do they look half starved and persecuted? Some have arrived with suitcases stuffed with tens of thousands of American dollars.
If we are to show solidarity with refugees then send us the REAL refgugees and from Africa and we shall GLADLY show immense solidarity with them.

socratease
You might not know that our policy is to admit 30,000 refugees only and on a first come and first served basis.