This article espouses the need for more moderate mentoring for young Muslims. Certainly it is worrying if most are being exposed to more fundamentalist and non-Western views. However there is no mention of encouraging the Muslim youth to see themselves as Western youth and instead emphasises that they should stick together rather than assimilate within the wider community. Why is it so rare to find Muslims of any age in social gatherings that include people of other backgrounds. At work functions our Muslim colleagues rarely attended with excuses of the food being unacceptable or because alcohol would be present. There was no reason why they could not have supplied their own food. As for alcohol this is (for better or worse) a part of life here in Australia. No-one suggested they should drink any. There are usually plenty of other non-drinkers around. I consider that the parents of Muslim children should be preparing them for life in Western society by allowing them to integrate and understand their fellow Australians. Other cultures have managed this and at most of the social gatherings I attend there are lots of interesting people from all around the world encompassing many cultures and religions to speak to and learn from. It is only the muslims who are absent.

sajo

I couldn't agree more and have said similar in my post above (on Monday, 14 November 2005 11:09:25 PM).

The whole debate on resolving problems with Muslim integration seems to descent into a complex religious study of Islam rather than talking about everyday Muslims in Australia and what we they do.

The problem could stem from the virtual absence of secular spokespeople of Middle Eastern ("Arab") origin who don't wear their religion on their sleeves. As long as they explain their relationship with wider Australian society in religious terms the longer they will marginalise themselves.

It should be possible for young "Arab" Australians to assimilate into a wider peer group without resistance from parents or the Mosque. Without setting them free of the perils of religion (any religion) they will continue to be alienated individuals who are a danger to us and themselves.

Philo,

I am neither defending nor trying to change my religion. I am explaining to you what you misinterpret or misrepresent. That’s all.

What I find interesting is my postings on this site and others are actually about modernisation but as far as I can see you, BD and Kaktuz (the three Mosque-teers) are on the constant attack with the ‘my religion is better than yours’ and quoting us from your book.

Plantagenet,

I pray in different mosques in Sydney (3) and given the high numbers of youth most speeches are dedicated to assimilation and integration. Some might be more than others about values and stuff but they are all encouraging Muslims youth to embrace the society and be a good neighbour and citizen.

Having said that, Australian Muslims in my view are behind American Muslims, I was in Portland Oregon in January when the mosque announced the last software piracy incident by any of the Muslim community in the US (and also the last smoker) because it is non-Islamic, which is an example of how a modern mosque can objectively add value to a secular society.

People,

Eureka, I've got it (sound of running and dripping)

Why don't we force moslems to assimilate;

it is ver easy (one could almost say idiot proof)

1. Forcibly remove all of their children

2. Baptise them

3. Place them in good catholic / protestant, white households

4. Educate them (forcibly if need be) into the non-violent, non-polarised Australian way of life.

ohhh!.... Whasat? already been done, um;

alright then,

lets instead,

1. arrest them and force them to convert

2. use whatever force is necessary

3. Perhaps the Catholic church would deign to assist (it DOES have experience).

oh, been done too you say,

well, whatever are we to do?

Perhaps a new approach IS in order.

Your Right Aaron... (luv that name.. is your last name Cohen ? :)

I take your point about ways to 'deal' with the "pesky muslims".

For me, there is little that can be done in practical terms involving anything other than persuasion and free choice. Any more than this is unbiblical, and if u are not aware of this, please refer to say Luke and Acts. Why not read the whole New Testament ?

I prefer to recommend more stringent and very selective and discriminatory immigration policy. I use the 'd' word deliberately, because I think we are past the lunacy of the left and PC mob who think it is 'not polite' to discriminate positively in the interests of your own culture and national security. Its about time we ascribed new more healthy positive connotations to the D word.

I would give very close scrutiny to the behavior of the category
"Lebanese Muslim Male" in terms of citizenship and immigration status. Any demonstrating an attitude like those who attacked the Channel 7 cameraman would be deported forthwith at their or their families expense.

As for Mulims already in darkness here, we can only shine a light for them.

Ms Malaise,
regarding slavery in Islam. I'm sorry you are just plain wrong. Goto Sudan and Saudi Arabia, Mauritanea and umpteen other "Dar Ul Islam's and see it for yourself - alive and well, and with Quranic blessing.
Sex with captive slave girls ? Under Sharia its LEGAL. (and disgusting) Nothing more to say about that.

F.H. regarding free speech, I support the freedom to lampoon the Orthodox pope in Sydney Newspapers and if Orthodox Christians rioted, the full force of the law should be applied. (I doubt they would)
F.H. every time you describe Jesus as 'just' a prophet, you insult God and us, but we luv ya :)

Ms. Malaise,
Can I ask does the Ms. represent that you are a divorced woman?

You are ignorant of the Muslim murders of fine Christian men in Ambon and Aech and the capture of their wives and girls as sex slaves in the last 3 years. Sex slavery is not extinct in strict Muslim communities and we have it practised by our Indonesian neighbours, including the mutilation of the private parts of young Christian girls captured as jihad booty. I have video tapes of girls who escapted from their Muslim captors homes to tell their horrific stories of their mothers rape and physical subjection. They tell of their mothers being made concubine wives of their Muslim male captors.

Is Indonesia an Islamic society? If not please identify what it is.

Quote, "The comments regarding the taking of slave women in islam are inaccurate. Slavery is no longer a part of Islamic society and therefore this law is no longer appropriate, from what I have been told by those knowledgeable in religious matters."