I suggest everybody takes a cold shower and then reads Tanveer Ahmed's article (OLO 15/12/05). It gives a very good start to getting to the roots of the problems relating to the Lebanese community and the riots -- without the adversarial attitude that too many posters are promoting.

Scout,

Truly, your idiocy is sublime.

Thank you, you have made my weekend.

To those who attempted to answer my questions from my recent post thanks. To those who simply went off on a tangent and and then rewrote the questions to suite their own boring answers, here it is again.

Please define Australian national identity, culture, values in ways that don’t solely depend on trotting out those same tired old arguments that tell us what and who it is not?

In other words - what are its core component?

Or is your inability to answer this question (but caste aspirtions at so called non-Australians) aka "a perpetual absence of true meaning" quintessentially what it means to be Australian?

Is your cup half full or half empty?

Why is it that when a building is dilapidated – it is demolished?

Why is it when an animal is badly injured – it is destroyed?

When a dog bites someone – gone…

When a citizen breaks the law – he/she is dealt with and locked up.

When a physician discovers a cancer – he/she eradicates it.

When a certain group assaults our way of life – we talk about it, we legislate, and do next to nothing.

What am I missing here? Am I the only one being paranoia? How much more evidence do we need before balance is restored?

Just remember the humble Cane Toad was introduced for a worthwile reason at the time.

Coach
To answer your own question, try to define “our way of life” in indisputable terms. I‘ve seen many attempts at this, but all have failed. Vague phrases like “a fair go” are sweet until you come to apply them in specific, real-life situations. Then the nasty arguments begin. If you want behaviour policed, you must first develop hard-headed, precisely worded laws. Flinging unexplained half-notions about cancer and cane toads does nothing but confuse the issues.

Rainier
I‘m with you. In fact it might be a great idea for OLO to take up the call by some posters for a debate about “Australian identity”, “our way of life” and what the term “un-Australian” means. You can toss “racism” into the pile while you’re at it. People are glibly using these terms in public to an audience of nodding heads, but I suggest they’re all conning themselves.

Dear Ranier

What ... is Australian Culture/Identity ?

Pre-amble:
This can only be addressed in terms of the historic changes which occurred with White settlement and if it makes you happier to call it ‘invasion’ I am quite ok with that. The only thing your people can legitimately regret, is that you failed to unite and slaughter us all everytime more came. But then, if it was not the British, it would have been the Dutch or Japanese etc.

But, you learned the hard way that superior numbers and technology won the day for the ‘white devils’. Now, we all have to live with it, and seek as far as possible genuine reconciliation in the light of unchangeable historical fact.

ETHNICITY and HISTORY

(see ABS) but racially, we are predominantly British/Irish/Scottish/Welsh with their descendants. No other ethnic grouping even comes close.

LANGUAGE and CUSTOM

The Language and customs are largely those of the abovementioned groups.

ART.

The pioneering spirit and life, as captured by our Artists. The stories of Lawson and Patterson, the poetry of Dorothy McKella etc.

AUSTRALIAN by CONSTITUTION and connection in heritage by that Constitution to the UK.
Whereas the people of New South Wales, Vic ...etc , humbly relying on the blessing of Almighty God, have agreed to unite in one indissoluble Federal Commonwealth under the Crown of the United Kingdom.

INDIGENOUS and MINORITIES.
In recognition of the first Australians, we humbly seek to reconcile, and forge a nation of people who can move on from the past, and seek a united future.
In appreciation of those from other races who came here for a new life , not to change our culture but to share in it, we welcome you, and seek to draw you into a future with us, which can be fulfilling and rewarding, in freedom and safety.

EG. The Receptionist of my gym is Armenian, The manager is married to a Turk.
Turks committed genocide against the Armenians, here, they live in peace. If a “Turk” came here to be ‘Turk’ they would hate Armenians and vice versa. Think about it.