Foxy

I agree with 95% of what you have written. It is a very accurate assessment of the Australia I know.

However we do not have a Judea Christian heritage. We Christians dumped and accepted Christ's remodelling of the archaic and mysognist Judeaism.

Key of those are the golden rule and forgiveness, which are fundamentals in our legal system and social mores.

We tend to do unto others, turn the other cheek and forgive people. That best sums up the basis of our tolerance.

'Harmony Day'? Why should we have a 'Harmony Day' in Australia while Japan is allowed to have 'Japanese Only' Football matches?

"If we want to live in a civil society, we must show respect and tolerance of ‘others’ who are not from the dominant culture [Anglo-Australian]."

(1) Of course the 'others' should show respect and tolerance for the dominant culture, particularly its liberal democratic principles and commit themselves to reducing racism and xenophobia within the own communities. Otherwise our multicultural society will resemble those of our Asian neighbours with periodic outbreaks of 'communal' violence.

(2) Liberal democracies are intrinsically multicultural, so the government has no business involving itself in institutionalised multiculturalism with its associated bureaucracies and vested interests.

Dear Imajulianutter,

The Bible includes the Jewish Scriptures of the
Old Testament so the moral foundations laid
down in Judaism are upheld in Christianity.
The early uses of the term Judeo-Christian ethic
referred to the Jewish roots and identity of the
early Christian Church, but it wasn't used to speak of a
common set of morals until much later.

Google the ethic for yourself - its meaning is quite
interesting.

foxy
I agree, all of Christ's teaching was based on the Hebrew Scriptures. I also agree with your earlier posts - diversity and tolerance are Australian characteristics, and ones to cherish.

The artice got this wrong, however:
"In the major cities: Sydney, Melbourne and Perth, over 80% of the resident population are born overseas"

This is obviously incorrect. About 80% of migrants live in the major cities, but that doesn't mean 80% of people living in major cities are migrants.

Dear Rhian,

I'm not sure of the percentages however immigration has
always been an important element in Australia's
nation building. We have integrated millions of
people with diverse backgrounds from over 200
countries and we have drawn from that diversity to build
a successful nation. Mirgrants have chosen to come to
Australia and to share a common set of values. They
have added to the rich tapestry of Australian life - in
the words of Australia's "Father of Federation," Sir
Henry Parkes, we have become "One people, with one
destiny!"