rc,
"I assume when you live in these countries you assimilate and blend into the culture and lifestyle of these people and are well accepted as being Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese, Singaporian, and Chinese. Or are you always spoken of as being Australian. I would hope that migrant settlers to our country would consider themselves as firstly Australian before any of these races. If you lived permanently in Japan would you be Japanese?"

I'm not really sure what it means to "assimilate or blend into the culture and lifestyle". If you mean live within the bounds of the normal culture, then that would be true. Alternatively, it is very hard to think of what I could do in a place like Hong Kong that isn't also acceptable in Australia, or what I could do in Australia that also isn't acceptable in Hong Kong. Thus, at least for me, living a culturally acceptable lifestyle like the average person in Hong Kong isn't very much different than living a lifestyle like that in Australia.

As to whether different countries consider you as a member of their people after living their for long enough -- I think this differs on the country. There are certainly white people in Hong Kong that consider themselves Hong Kongkers, and Malays from Singapore that consider themselves Singaporean. Alternatively, as far as I'm aware, being Korean and Japanese is more based more on physical ethnic identity.

I don't see the identity acceptance as all-or-nothing issue and nor particularily to do with religion. Being o not fully Anglo, I doubt I could ever be considered French or Greek, even if I lived in those countries permanently, spoke the language without an accent etc. Thus, in that respect, those countries are more like Korea or Japan. The same is probably true for the first 20 or so years of my life in Australia. I very much doubt the average Australian would have considered me Australian despite being born in Australia, since physical ethnic identity (i.e., being white) was more important then (things are different now).

FH, hey mate:

'Love your neighbour' for you comes with 'only if he is Muslim' or 'until he Reverts'.

Just be honest,

Peace,(??)

Bwonryn,

>>…over the last decade we have seen a marked resurgence in Christian fundamentalism, and at the same time there has also been an increase in racial intolerance within the community. Are the two trends unrelated I wonder?<<

Yes. But this is not the complete picture. You need to add to the mix:

1. the increased manipulative insurgence of the Islamic community and their unbashful assault on our national values and connective social systems.
2. the relentless denigration of anything ‘christian’ mostly by people of your ilk for the past 5-6 decades.

rc - thanks for replying specifically. It is also interesting as I lived in one of them and spent much time in another on your list. I will give it some thought.

Assimilation...what does it mean ?

Its not a really hard concept.

If I goto my wifes people,

1/ I do not SAY "Thankyou" (they have no word for it) nor do they expect it... instead..I "DO" 'thankyou' at a later date by some friendly or kind act.

2/ I never flash over to so and so and ask him/her for a loan of their hoe, or shovel. I talk about the weather.. their family... various news... then, as a parting comment.. as if it didn't even matter..I ask if I can borrow their hoe or shovel.

3/ If I'm interested in a girl, romantically... I don't 'ask her out' I give a note to a close relative, indicating my interest, and find myself 'engaged' :)

4/ I NEVER ask anyone their 'NAME' directly. (related to taking of slaves in the past) I will ask another person his/her name.

5/ I'f Im continually given more rice and food etc, I don't get upset if I've already 'told' them "Im fulllllll" 50 times.. no, the next time they come to fill my plate, I put my HAND over it to prevent any more being served...

and so it goes on.

We in Australia, while we might not be fully conscious of all our tribal and cultural habits.. DO HAVE THEM, and just as we are expected to adapt reasonably to other cultures, we have the same expectation of migrants who come here to adapt to OUR ways.. thats what assimilation is. You don't have to stop being a Croation or a Serb or a Turk or a Greek or an Italian... you just have to learn simple cultural manners.

Perhaps one most obvious cultural habit we have is supporting the underdog, no matter who it is. We don't see our shock loss as an excuse to suddenly unleash tribal rage on supporters of the other team. (but some very ethnically based soccer teams do just that) so..SORRRRY... its just 'not on'.....shape up..and ASSIMILATE or ship out- no apologies.

Boaz,

For once I agree with with your comment.
Being Australian and looking after the community's interest and fellow Australians should come before any ethnicity or religion.

Coach,

None of the people I reached up to on OLO forums (or in my meigbourhood) is a muslim.
PS: I noticed as soon as Browyn, Scout or any poster mentioned 'christian fundies' you appear with a comment.
Is it possible you are taking it a little personal?

:-)

Peace,

warri warru - life expectancy of aboriginals was lower in 1788 than it was now. So were many other indicators.

Brazuca is right - you cannot have it both ways.

I have indigenous heritage but I am extremely thankful I grew up in an urban environment not out bush somewhere. The urban culture is much better than nomadic subsistence.

That is the problem with so-called multiculturalism - all cultures are treated as equal. What hogwash.

The Western traditions of common law, capitalism and democracy (all prosperous under Christian nations) are what our culture is based on. RC's Asian countries he mentions all have a combination of these things.(such as HK's strong ties to Britain, Japan's help from the US post war.)

Cultures are not successful by accident, they are successful because they have been beneficial - if Australia didn't have such a successful culture, people would not want to move here - they would choose India or Argentina or Mongolia.

t.u.s