Ifran

I do not agree with the white australia policy nor do I agree with multiculturalism.

I do not agree with assimilation, nor do I agree with segregation.

In the middle of these two periods we had integration policy.
Still room for cultural difference and we would still encounter the same problems and the same joys from immigration except we would not have the identity problem we have now.

Others also seem to think that multiculturalism is another word for immigration. The US had centuries of immigration under a melting pot policy, not assimiliation, not segregation (well exception there, but not immigration as such). So all immigrants feel a right to be called American. I hear over and over again protests by immigrants "i was born here, I am Australian' so obviously many immigrants, muslim included do not agree with multiculturalism.

Many many countries have benefits from a multitude of cultures without multicutural policy. Singapore for eg has one police force and you better behave, no cultural difference excuse is going to get you out of out water there. No ethnic leader will stand up for you and of course freedom of press is not workable under such conditions.

An earlier poster suggested we do not have a multiculture as such, almost true. We don't really. It is a farce. We have western and aboriginal culture. Why do we deny this? Majority of people that come to Australia do so for a better westernised life. Why we pretend to be some rich tapestry of different cultures is over romancing reality. All it does is give young kids identity issues which leads to, strange enough, the American gangsta culture. Seems whenever someone is missing a cultural identity they adopt American. I guess it is so all encompassing. Why can't we learn from that and do our own thing, all of us together mixing it up for a new and improved culture.

The term multicultural has different meanings depending upon who's defining. Whitlam gave impression to new settlers that the term means: bring your own culture as practied in your own homeland and practise it here.

If you note who controls the agenda in the Department of Multicultural Affairs in Victoria you'll note it's a haven for Muslims; the only religion defined is "Islam in Australia." They're the body making recommendations to the Brack's Government on vilification laws etc. They're the ones producing the "Harmony" programme for State schools; as an endeavour to educate Australians on understanding Islam. They're the body spying on persons suspected of vilififying Islam.

Whitlam has sanctioned the agenda of evangelising Muslims in Australia to promote and protect Islam as a culturally acceptable part of being a Multicultural Australia. All people are free to share their beliefs, but when the Government of Victoria under Brack's protects and supports a religious multicultural agenda; then it's time for the secularist to become concerned. Christians must be secularists when it comes to administering power in State affairs.

Hindu, Buddaists, Christians etc, have no agenda to remove public vilification of their religion. The reason is, Islam is founded upon strict blasphemy laws, and free expression if it offends is against the laws of Allah. They imprison or stone to death such persons. Persons like the two Daniels left the countries of their birth because death threats had been issued upon them by Muslims.

Vilification of persons and religion happens every day on this Forum. It is the best tool to hone character and communication skills, as one searches for foundational reasons for one's belief. The Alchemist presents very strong arguments against religion that under the terms of the Victorian law, as interpreded by Judge Higgins, is seen as violation. However we love the Alchemist, because he identifies some basic truths that the ignorant and brainwashed religious ignore. Though he supports primitive religion because it has strong links to the nature of the Universe, Christians can learn from this because too often they imagine the natural world as evil so can be abused.

Irfan,

Your knowledge of Australian history need to be finetuned a little.
The White Australia Policy was dismantled from 1949 to 1966 by the Menzies and Holt Governments. Malcolm Fraser in 1977 legislated the formation of the Australian Institue of Multicultural Affairs and the first official Multicultural policy in Australia.

Contrary to your misconception Multiculturalism wasn't 'around' nor did it have anything to do with the abolition of the White Australia Policy. As you can see it was forward thinking liberals who instigated those particularly inspired advances.

Danny would also have probably been welcomed here long before multiculturalism was formed...oddly enough under the liberal inspired Colombo Plan.

I don't think you understand who's biting who's hand. But mine's bitten often...too bloody often.

The theory and practice of multicultutralism.

Wikipedia has a fairly good article about “multiculturalism” here:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Multiculturalism

The term sounds nice. The problem is, however, that there is an unspoken understanding that the concepts of “mutual respect” and “tolerance for cultural differences” do not apply to any culture originating in Western European or derived from Judeo-Christian heritage.

As implemented by governments and NGOs, multiculturalism is a one way street. By definition, at least according to the multiculturalists, non-western cultures are pure, unique and exploited by Westerners. Under this dogma these are, in fact, superior, even if some of their practices are barbaric and some of their customs revolting. Also, under the doctrime of Multiculuralism, any criticism of Non-Western cultures is considered ‘racism,’ even if it has nothing to do with race matters.

Oh yes, Multiculturalism only applies to Western Nations. It is unthinkable that any liberal, politically correct multiculturalist would ask a non-Western nation to respect Western ideals and customs. As I said, it is a one way street.

Under Multiculturalism, the values of non-Western cultures supercede any of those of Western cultures. It appears that the highest value of any non-Western culture is the right not to be offended. Thus the ideal of “free speech” must bow to the the sensitivities of non-western cultures and therefore must be limited.

Of course, the most sensitive of all non-western practices is the ideology of Islam. No matter what Islam teaches or what Muslims do, it is never their fault. If they kill, it is because they were provoked. If they riot it is because they government didn’t do enough for them. If they want to silence you, it is because what you say hurts their feelings.

Thus we have in so many places (Australia, England, Demark, etc…) an effort to ban free speech, so not to offend Muslims. See
http://www.newspaperindex.com/blog/2005/12/10/un-to-investigate-jyllands-posten-racism/
or here:
http://forum.newspaperindex.com/viewtopic.php?t=6

A Muslim’s right not to be offended is more important that your right of free speech. Galileo would turn in his grave. And kiss your bacon goodbye.

This is what they are teaching in our schools.

John Kactuz

Well written Danny. Im a white Aussie,as far back in the generations as you can go.My high school was predominantly Italians and Greeks and I got teased for being a "skip".Later, I was with a Sri lankan guy who hung out with only Sri Lankans. Him and all his friends bagged out white Australians & complained that everyone was racist.In that 3years,I had more racism hurled at me from them,they never got it from me or my friends.Ive been brought up Australian-to love all cultures and people-groups.Ive never been racist, not even in my heart, let alone in actions or words.Im offended when people complain that white people are racist.Neither I or my friends have been racist.It is a throw in the face when you are loving and welcoming to all people -because they are people- and they throw it in your face, calling you racist.Even if one "white" person is rude or racist, should you then rule out the entire race?That's not fair on average Aussies like me. I was used for a visa,I was teased in school by immigrants but I still love people of a different race.People need to grow up a little -if one fat person offends you, do you assume all fat people are butt-heads?No, you think,gee that person was rude.So the next time you see a fat person,you are still friendly.If one Muslim or one Christian or one Buddhist treats you badly,do you write off that whole religion?Saying all.....are horrible?Of course not. Grow up Australia,Im in my early 20s and sick of seeing people older than me fight over stupid things.God(whoever you believe Him to be) made us all, and loves all the same, regardless of skin colour

Thank you Danny Nalliah for posting this. I believe in what you are doing.

In response to some of the other posts about racism - I believe that racism is a form of disparaging another person because they are different. If you watch children they will tease, bully and taunt someone who looks different, thinks differently, or does not conform to the way the group taunting thinks they should be. I was a white person living in a black society when I was a child. I was the different one. When my family returned to the U.S. we moved to a small village. I was new, I did not sound like the other children. I was the different one. Racism is a grown-up word for the way we treat people who are different whether they be the same colour as we are or are of a different colour. Consider the racism in India - the caste system among one of the people groups who live there is a form of racism within that people group.
We need to consider each other and as the American Indians say 'walk a mile in their shoes' before we judge them. Multiculturalism is an attempt to allow us to do this - but if we have evil in our hearts then it becomes corrupt.
Janet