I find it interesting in that your an agnostic , how come your the only Education employee that doesn't Hail to the great Julia ?

Even *geographically* we're not part of Asia.
When I went to school, we learnt there were 7 continents, and "Asia" and "Australia" were *two* of them.
In tectonic plate terms, the only Asian country of significance is India (and the Indian and Australian sections are apparently going to separate), where English is a standard part of education.

Isn't is the BRIC countries where development is taking off?
Strange how we never hear about "engaging" with Brazil.

Or Russia, which while it holds much Asian land, most of its population (and therefore industry) is at the European end.

Brazil and Russia also share much ethnic heritage, being essentially European/Christian in character.

All I ever hear about connecting with "Asia" is China, China, China.
A country we have no overlapping heritage with whatsoever, and is still ruled by a totalitarian regime.
We have more in common with Armenia (yes, it's in Asia!).

How about we "engage" with democratic countries, primarily those with which we share some cultural similarities.

Can't you all see that Julia is well-meaning and kindly trying to help by preparing us for the future?

Knowledge of an Asian language will be a crucial life-saving asset after the invasion: suppose our captors shout "Jump Left" and we jump right, or they command "on your knees" and we stand on our head instead because we don't understand what they say - that's a straight bullet in the head!

Relax, history tells us that Chinese are poor soldiers, they have been overwhelmingly victims of outside aggression they've have shown themselves to be pushovers when threatened and hopeless incompetents when on the attack, it's highly unlikely that China would ever be able to "invade" and hold another country.

Hi Jay,

<<it's highly unlikely that China would ever be able to "invade" and hold another country.>>

Oh, and what about Tibet?

(and if not for the Americans, wouldn't it be Taiwan too?)

Never mind, I AM relaxed because due to my age it won't happen in my times, but we were discussing school kids, haven't we, which need to bear the weight of earthly life for many more years.

Kevin,
I do agree with the thrust of your article. It is an excellent and articulate opinion.

However I do have an issue with this Judeo-Christian heritage you claim is the basis of Western Liberal Democracies?

A quick check of an online dictionary says

Judeo
'a combining form representing Judaic, or Judaism, in compound words: Judeo-Christian'

So another logical check reveals
Judiasm
'1. of or relating to the Jews or Judaism

2. a less common word for Jewish'

Now without appearing to be 'half-smart' nor intending offence, Kevin to claim our Western Heritage derives from Judism is nonsensical for at least three reasons.

Firstly Christ rejected Judaism and was crucified for that. Our heritage comes from Christ's new testament and particularly 'The Sermon on the Mount' not from the Old Testament which is derived from the book of Judaism. (The one Christ rejected.

Secondly, Kevin what about our Greek heritage? Wasn't that the source of our democratic system. Wasn't that the basis of our great conversation as carried on throughout our history by our mostly libertarian academics, philosophers and thinkers?

Thirdly and related to the first. Judaic law is based on vengence, 'An eye for an eye' and as evidenced in the modern setting by the barbaric and warlike nature of the modern Israelis?
Our western Justice system is based on the forgiving nature of our Christian ethos. 'Turn the other check' and 'do unto others....' shoulld be ringing in your ears about now.

Look I know it is quite common to use the term Judeo Christian Heritage in reference to our traditions but when it is analysed and boiled down I think you would agree the common usage is deceptive and erroreous. It doesn't convey an accurate perception of our true heritage and omits our logical traditions from the Greeks.

Cheers

Imajulianutter, I was impressed by your comment. It gets rid of the falseness of the Judeo-Christian union and, of course, the Greeks were the ones that set up much of our world for 2,000 years.

The only point I would make is that the 'Christian' nation of America, since 1945, has shown few of the Christian principles as it goes about trying to gain global control of the world.

It has killed and injured millions during its imperial agenda and destroyed whole countries and left them with horrors like depleted uranium and Agent Orange. This 'Christian' nation has refined rendition and torture and, more recently, has employed drones and phosphorous munitions as part of it 'Spreading democracy and human right' deception.

It will in due course, use nukes while singing, "Jesus wants me for a Sunbeam'!

Yuyutsu,
Tibet and Taiwan are part of China and in the case of Tibet they had little to defend themselves with, China would struggle to even invade much less control a country like Vietnam or Thailand whereas India, Japan or Korea could defeat China in a stand up fight.

Dear Jay,

If/When China takes over Australia, its propagandists will claim that Australia was "always" a part of China and that now the poor people of Australia were finally unified with their motherland; and that those few retrogrades who still claim otherwise will soon be done and over with (and if you're good you may even win a free kidney or liver off them).

So alright, at the moment their army is not that strong because they prefer building an economy, but when over a billion people are hungry their priorities can quickly change.

Yuyutsu may have a point.
When I arrived at my local station this morning a train had
arrived with a big mob of high school boys.
At least 65% of them were Chinese, another 20% were Indian and the rest
were Australian.
Perhaps Pauline Hanson was right after all.

However those who think Australia is in Asia have a distorted view of the real world.
Their view is as distorted as the world maps on their schoolroom walls.
Is no one aware that Asia is on the other side of the world from Australia
and that Asia is closer to Europe than Australia ?
Is no one aware that the US is closer to Asia than Australia ?
Is no one aware that on Mercador's projections that a degree of
latitude in the Nth hemisphere is 30 % larger than it is in the Sthn hemisphere ?
Is no one aware that degrees of longitude are parallel in Mercadors
projections ?

As a further shock to their senses, Indonesia and the Philipines
are NOT in Asia !

Wakey wakey !

Whether one Asian language will be made a compulsory subject or not, it is of course for Australians to decide. Whichever it may be, it is a difficult and ,perhaps on account of this, interetingly exotic language for school boys and girls.

It is a good thing that there are Australia and New Zealand down there or up there. They are the bridge between East and South East Asia and the West.

What I have wanted to see is more frequent visits by Japanese prime and foreign ministers, etc. to Australia, Indonesia, Malaysia and other South East Asian countiries.
What I have wanted mass media to do is to write more news from these countires.

Kevin Donnelly wrote 8 November 2012:

> Prime Minister Gillard’s Asian White paper represents an ... attempt to take control of the nation’s classrooms in order to enforce a utilitarian, Asian-centric agenda on schools ...

I am just back from talking about education at an Indonesian Islamic State university: http://tomw.net.au/technology/it/sustainable_development_through_green_ict/

My impression from this, and looking at how education is organised in Malaysia, is that the Australian government's white paper is a long way from the centralist state based approach you fear. Also a little discipline and organisation may not be bad for our education system.

> Prime Minister will pressure every child to study at least one Asian language. ...

A second language would not seem such a bad idea for our children. I felt very much a second class citizen in Indonesia, as I speak only English and most people around me could speak at least three languages.

> Australia is a Western, liberal democracy ...

Perhaps we could broaden that approach a little. In visiting an Islamic university, what struck me was that, apart from the different religious decoration on the buildings, how much like an Australian university it was. The emphasis on religious values of the Islamic university did not feel that different to somewhere like the Australian Catholic University.

> Ignored is that education is essentially a human affair and that no amount of surfing the net or entering virtual classrooms can replace face to face contact. ...

Yes, face to face contact is useful for education, particularly for younger children. But for upper secondary, vocational and university education, e-learning is very effective. Here is the presentation on teaching online I gave in Indonesia: http://tomw.net.au/technology/it/sustainable_development_through_green_ict/

> As argued by Pope Benedict XVI is a 2011 ...

Pope Benedict XVI also spoke positively of the role of the Internet in study and in pastoral care on 7 February 2011: http://www.vatican.va/holy_father/benedict_xvi/speeches/2011/february/documents/hf_ben-xvi_spe_20110207_cong-educ-cattolica_en.html