John you do have some interesting ideas. Personally I don’t think you go far enough as I consider there are other potentially violent groups living in Australia. I am particularly concerned about the rural population of Queensland and their antipathy towards government in Canberra. Based on a personal survey conducted in a small country town I found that twenty percent of those in the bar expressed extreme views on the federal government and the life style of Canberra with particular wrath aimed at those who had retired on large public service pensions. Assuming the rural population of Queensland to be approximately six hundred thousand and assuming that the situation in the majority of rural Queensland was only a third as bad as the town I surveyed; that still leaves approximately forty thousand rural Queenslanders who are potential supporters of violence against the government. I would therefore recommend that extra funding be found for the ADF to secure the Brisbane line and that potential rural leaders be carefully monitored. I am also particularly concerned about the wearing of moleskins and akubras and feel that these articles identify a particular minority view and of course an akubra could be used for weapon concealment therefore I would suggest that wearing of these items be banned forthwith and if it does result in some rural Queenslanders leaving the country for say Texas then I am sure that Australia can bear the loss.

I personally love our multicultural society, but I think that in the current climate of terrorism and paranoia about muslims, it is probably not a bad idea for our government to postpone or curb immigration from Islamic countries. It is without doubt the worst time for a muslim to be living in Australia right now so why make it even more tense than it already is.

I suggest we step back, take a deep breath, and look at the issues surrounding the future of multicultural Australia. There seems to be a lot of anger and fear and right now is our chance to discuss and analyse what the implications of an increased muslim community will mean to our culture and our future.

There are reasons why the extreme right winged Le Pen nearly got elected in France a few years ago so no matter how idealistic we might be about living together as one big happy multicultural family, the truth is that very few countries in the world have racial harmony.

If a country as tolerant as Holland can't get it right, then what hope have we? Most Australians, and most french and Dutch are pretty tolerant, but if the boundaries are pushed too far, there is going to be a backlash. This happened in Nazi Germany, it happened in France last year with the hijab. Extremist religious groups such as Jews and Muslims who seek to live a separate way of life from the mainstream do fine until their growing population starts to make the mainstream population feel like foreigners.

I have some beautiful muslim friends who will remain so until they start asking me to let them broadcast prayers throughout my suburb, and banning the sale of alcohol.

By the way, if SBS is ever taken off the air, it will be our greatest loss ever.

hi minute,

Europe being 25 years ahead of us on the multiculture experiment is a vital point, sadly as the ideals are based on goodness, it doesnt work. To deny there is a problem, well we can't, this blog alone shows there is a problem. People in this string are been called racist and so forth, exreamist or nazi, its crazy they are most likey normal people who are just sick to death of this culteral fad called PC. I originally was for PC when it first came about, but as it progressed i found it to hypocritical and open to misuse! Many other people i know have been the same.

To me the need to legislate agaisnt free speech, ie vilification laws only shows a weakness, or need for protection of the idea in the first place.

If idea's have worth they should be able to stand their ground in debate. im sure all of us here can take a bit on the chin for the sake of free speech. itd be great to drop the squealy name calling and have some clear debate.

As a Australian university student, I must admit I'm shocked at the immediate stinging responses of some members of the public in response to the article written by John Stone.

In particular I wish to single out the post made by Colin Mullane, who quote, called the article "a shocking piece of bigoted and ignorant vilification". He then went on to say "The problem is religion as a whole, not one specific set of beliefs or one group of people.".

Newsflash buddy. The only bigot in this forum to date is you, shooting down the guys article with emotive terms and negative connatations in a lame attempt of "throwing mud and hoping some sticks". But hey, that wasn't enough. You then had to go on and stereotype religion as a "problem".

The reality is there are people in this world who have an opinion who's different to yours, and they have the same rights to express it. How about making at least a point towards your arguement, rather then coming online and just abusing people.

Ranier, your post wasn't much better. I just really hope you guys realise that while you're pointing all the fingers, you're the ones who have the problem here. If anything, that anti free-speech behaviour reminds me of Nazi Germany. Let's strive in an open forum like this to cheerfully debate alternative point of views , rather then cling to dogmatism.

As for Strayans well made point:
"Yet when criminal things are done by someone who identifies as Muslim...people allege that the criminal act is somehow tied to the religion...that Islam is to blame".

Strayan, I agree that it is easy to start pointing fingers and consequently developing dangerous stereotypes in the way you have discussed.
However an inherent problem lies with the Koran, the fundamental text of Islam. It is my understanding that the Koran has many policies that disagree with the democratic foundation of our beliefs. In this case there would be a valid stereotype of muslims of having some un-democratic belief. That's where I think a lot of the fear comes from.

Although I agree that there are a lot of moderate muslims out there who are strongly democratic, there will always be people of ANY group who will strongly adhere to the "book" of what they're about. Therefore rather then being naive and embracing all cultures, I think we need to make sure at the least that the culture's values and attitudes are compatible with our own.

Justin86.. WELL said... (about arguing the ISSUE, rather than throwing mud.. verrrrrry shabby Colin Mullane !)

MINUET "3 fold amen" :) you said a lot of good things, but in the context of this thread you summed up so well

"When their growing Populations make the mainstream population feel like foreigners"

In anthropological terminology this is called 'culture shock' and usually it has 3 outcomes.

1/ The culturally shocked person embraces completely the source of the shock and "goes native" rejecting their own background.

2/ They reject outright the new and 'cling' to their own culture, glorifying the good in it, and denegrating all that is 'new' in the culture they are being confronted with.

3/ They adjust to the new, not rejecting their own, but recognize what is going on, and assimilate to a comfortable degree to their new situation.

Now.. the problem comes, when all the voices are saying that the mainstream culture should be taking the 3rd approach to new cultures entering australia,, RATHER THAN THOSE cultures adjusting to OURS.

Yes.. I confess.. I 'shouted' ... to make a point. So, this leads to the issue of effective social policy.

SOCIAL POLICY
Government, should be shaping policy and thinking, such that all would be immigrants NEVER expect the mainstream Australian culture to adjust to theirs.. but the other way around.

This can be distilled down to specifics. It is not a difficult thing to identify particular cultural issues in culture/religion xyz which will be potential problems for such people coming to Australia.

These issues can be explained to them, along with the needed sanction of "P" plate citizenship until they have demonstrated in verifiable ways they are cabable of 'Full Licence' to live here as harmonious citizens.

For those who say "why doesn't mainstream Australia take outcome 3 in regard to new cultures coming here ?" Simple answer:

Imagine you are an atheist, and I am a Christian, You invite me to your house, and just as you invite us to partake of a meal, I INSIST that we 'give thanks' for the food. Nice ?