The Australian Muslim Community is a large, diverse,
heterogenous group composed of 120 ethnic and/or
linguistic backgrounds, each with their own unique
cultural norms but with one underlying element -
they are all Australians.
Lexi,
Yes for now but, just wait until the numbers are right.

When was it decided that all the concerns, issues,
policies and pre-occupations of this country had to
be divided into a "them" and "us" dogfight?

Australians' interests are far more complex than those
who insist on seeing all discussions through a very fixed
ideological viewfinder. Such one-eyed bias is a
triumph for negativity.

It has been an interesting and robust discussion
and also sadly - a real eye-opener.

Some of us seem to forget that - Australia has become home
to thousands of asylum seekers, most of whom had no
option but to leave their countries of origin. Most people
find that the nature of being Australian is to be
part of the rich diversity of this country.
Which is in keeping
with the sense of potential and openness that so many people
enjoyed on coming here. And, most of them feel privileged
not only to have been able to make a home here but also
to have found their own sense of belonging.

Of course welcoming asylum seekers involves taking some
considerable risks, but in the end, through interaction and
discussion, we'll sort the problems out as we've always done.
Almost every human advance is based on experiment, innovation,
and adventure.

Fro me this discussion has now run its course. I wish
you all well - and simply ask that you re-read your posts
before posting remembering that you don't really know the
people you're addressing who don't agree with your point of
view and sweeping generalisations or personal insults simply
lowers the bar of the discussions. Try to be better than
that, if you can.

Lexi,
what you seem to not notice is that those of us who care about the future of Australia find it offensive that some posters refuse to accept what some of us have already experienced & are trying hard to make it sink in with those who don't accept reality. WE are the ones being discriminated against by those who have nothing more than idealistic fuzziness filling their minds.
We get reminded at every post how wrong we are & how we need to learn to be better to those who do not have our interests at heart. I find it offensive to read ignorant posts written by people who live off our taxes.

Lexi - Not very eloquently put YOU fail continually to answer questions.
You posted a link to support your argument, I have given quotes that show clearly they are ECONOMIC refugees only.

Why don't you acknowledge you are wrong.

Quote "simply ask that you re-read your posts before posting " You should take your own advice then if you take off the blinkers will see reality.

All your linked people are economic refugees.

"Australians' interests are far more complex than those
who insist on seeing all discussions through a very fixed
ideological viewfinder. Such one-eyed bias is a
triumph for negativity."

And only superior and moral types like Lexi can recognise this complexity.

How arrogant and out of touch is that?

Off you go Tinkerbell

If asking for reasonable discussions is being
"arrogant and out of touch," then that's a rather
sad state of affairs that things have come to this.
If reasonableness is now a rarity then something
awful has happened to the public discourse.

After all our posters on OLO, like the voters
in this country are remarkably diverse.
They come in all persuasions, city and country folk,
very young and very old, straight, gay, and
everything else. They are all welcome to their views,
within the limits of defamation and good taste. If that
angers some people, well that is, as we used to say,
stiff cheddar. All should be heard,
Reasonably.

And if that makes me "superior," then that's something
I shall wear as a badge of honour. It's better than the
alternative.

And BTW - I love "Tinkerbell." She was someone who
fixed things and had the capacity to bring a light to a
child's eye. (sigh).