Graham - When I clicked the link it failed to direct me to any specific post or comment I have written on this stream. If you wish to point out the exact words/sentences/paragraphs which somehow are any more 'disrespectful' than many other dissenting views, and more importantly lack any sort of truth - please do. I shall make apology if you put forward convincing argument.

I laid no charges against 'changing bio in midstream' except to say I was also curious to know why.

When an Author writes material from an ideological perspective, a very one sided perspective to boot, and at same time provides information about themselves indicating - strongly - they have turned their back on that very ideology, they leave themselves open to questions of integrity. That's a fair call.

Alice Aslan would likely be executed in countries mentioned where the Islamic religion dominates culture, law and governance. Apostasy on two huge levels - she refutes the existance of God and supports homosexuality. Here in Australia Alice would be viewed with absolute HATRED by some Moslems for same reasons. Not to mention any other haram views she holds. Yet she always decries a lack of tolerance by the "West" against immigrants of the Moslem faith.

I do not believe it 'disrespect' to point out the contradiction that the 'tolerence' she believes is due Moslem immigrants in the West would be turned against her in an Islamic State. More ironic, even in many religious enclaves existant in Australia, UK and other Western countries.

But put forward your reasons and I will respectfully consider your POV

Thanks for the reply, Graham,

Not sure how changing the bio note does anything to address the issue you raised. It still has her name on it and she shows up on Google. The bio note was quoted in comments, so was obviously pertinent to the discussion. I suspect there is another explanation.

Alice has been published on OLO on a number of occasions. She could not have been unaware that the discussions are often robust.

The fundamental problem with the article is that it illustrates an important point made in several of the comments: some immigrants coming to Australia are intolerant of Australia as it is and want to change it into something more suited to their own tastes.

Tolerance is not a one way street. In this case, Alice proposes restrictions on freedom of speech in the interests of a particular minority. That would be a very bad precedent.

If propositions like that are put forward, they will no doubt be vigorously disputed.

As for divine-msm, I didn't read the comment as anything more than a rhetorical device: "if you think there's intolerance here, I'll help send you to the Middle East so you can see some real intolerance" - sort of the reverse of "That's not a knife!" Loudmouth read it that way, too. It was not a personal attack on Alice, nor, I suggest, was it meant to be taken literally. It was about the overstated perception of intolerance here.

Hi Divine,

Link works for me, but it was your post on Thursday 10th at 1:00:07 PM and it was of the "if you don't like it here go back where you came from" variety.

Ken, I don't want to get into an argument about the article. You asked why her bio was changed, and that was the reason. The details about the author sit in a database and so over time they get changed as what is important in an author's life changes.

If I get a request to change I do.

50 comments on this thread made me have a look at the article, and I can only commend it for bringing to our attention the rise of intolerance that the conservative governments of various countries are trying to exploit--though not entirely cynically, I'm sure they genuinely sympathise. If any one cares to read Eric Hobsbawms "Age of Extremes" you'll find that precisely this trend was prominent before WW2, and that Alice Asian's comment: <But in the face of increasing economic insecurity and social unrest, it seems conservative political leaders in Europe will keep making multiculturalism and Muslim minorities scapegoats for a long time> should be taken as sobering.
I applaud an excellent article that sports its credentials by attracting so much reactive criticism.
Australian identity is an ongoing crock of you know what that politicians do their best keep alive for the next election.
Australian identity is multicultural, transgendered, omnisexual and ideologically eclectic. There's no purity to preserve.

Ok Graham - here's the post verbatim.

Is it the sentence: "If you are not prepared to adjust cultural practices to fit it why should you be accepted?" written in the context of what is expected of Australian citizens travelling or living in a foreign country?

Or my offer to help fund Ms Aslan's study into cultural tolerance in a country where she will find only the opposite?

I could be accused of mild sarcasm at worst methinks. No "fit in or eff off" statements. How well did you read my post?

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Oh of course it's trendy Alice! It has nothing at all to do with the negative aspects of foreign 'cultures' that have migrated to European, Australian and other 'Western' shores.

In my humble and personal experience, the INTOLERANCE not only stated but practiced by some of our own immigrants and their descendents is shocking, often illegal and completely at odds with Australian mores.
Apologists make excuses for such behaviour on 'cultural grounds'. I don't! Everywhere I've travelled it's been a case of "When in Rome ..." How much more so when u come to live in a country and adopt it as your home? Oh of course it's trendy Alice! It has nothing at all to do with the negative aspects of foreign 'cultures' that have migrated to European, Australian and other 'Western' shores.

I'm good for a hundred bucks towards the "Alice Aslan One Way Travel Fund". Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. I'm sure she will find the levels of tolerance refreshing and acceptable. Oh it does lack the excitement of an annual Gay Mardi Gras but I'm sure there will be the odd public hanging, stoning or amputation to add a little spice ...

Posted by divine_msn, Thursday, 10 November 2011 1:00:07

Pardon my lack of copy and paste skills. My early post Graham refers to follows without errors. So far there is nothing he has specifically pointed to that I believe needs repeal or apology. Rather I feel a little "disrespected" by the statement that my post is saying "if you don't like it here go back where you came from". It clearly doesn't!

........................................................................

Oh of course it's trendy Alice! It has nothing at all to do with the negative aspects of foreign 'cultures' that have migrated to European, Australian and other 'Western' shores.

In my humble and personal experience, the INTOLERANCE not only stated but practiced by some of our own immigrants and their descendents is shocking, often illegal and completely at odds with Australian mores.
Apologists make excuses for such behaviour on 'cultural grounds'. I don't! Everywhere I've travelled it's been a case of "When in Rome ..." How much more so when u come to live in a country and adopt it as your home? If you are not prepared to adjust cultural practices to fit it why should you be accepted? And this is largely the problem ...

I'm good for a hundred bucks towards the "Alice Aslan One Way Travel Fund". Saudi Arabia or Afghanistan. I'm sure she will find the levels of tolerance refreshing and acceptable. Oh it does lack the excitement of an annual Gay Mardi Gras but I'm sure there will be the odd public hanging, stoning or amputation to add a little spice ...

Posted by divine_msn, Thursday, 10 November 2011 1:00:07 PM