To those who claim that Australia is multicultural: I will believe you when the following occurs:

When the first Sharia divorce takes place in Australia.

When under age (ie, under the age of consent to sex - currently 16 in most places) marriage is allowed on cultural grounds.

When it is accepted in a court that woman's evidence is worth less than a man's.

When we don't elect representatives for parliament based on geographical electorates and instead elect them on the basis of what religious or ethnic group we belong to.

When the residents of a particular area can declare that area to be kosher or halal, and not let shops in that area sell any food not in the particular category that they chose.

When different groups are given very widespread powers to enforce their cultural values on their members with the right to punish being granted by the government to the groups.

When members of a particular ethnic or cultural group can specifically and publicly advertise for employees from that group and only that group.

Multiculturalism is about 'protecting' and fostering difference. It is about letting people in cultural groups maintain their distinctiveness and not letting people escape from that.

For instance, if it is a cultural imperative that people only marry people within their own culture, true multiculturalism is about the government enforcing that.

True multiculturalism is about preserving culture – no matter what the cost to the individuals who belong to that culture.

It is not about food, or language, or dancing, or music: It is about the value of the individual being balanced against the perceived value of their culture of origin.

In the west we value the individual, and the individual’s right to choose. That is the basis of our culture. Other cultures do not share this value, placing other aspects of the culture above that of the individual members.

So, make your choice: the right of the individual, or the right of ‘community leaders’ to control the individuals in their particular culture. Multiculturalism or individuals making their own decisions?

Hamlet,
I can see where you are coming from on your definition, and this was the definition that new cultural arrivals in the 1970's believed Whitlam meant. Such a definition breeds tribalism and fosters the same hostilities as found in Tribal Middle Eastern countries; as we witness in Iraq with Sunni and Shiite Muslims.

Democracy cannot function in the same environment as tribalism and we must difuse tribalism in Australia if we are to retain our core values. We share common secular needs and this must be the basis of Government.

The Australian, Richard Kerbaj, January 11, 2006
Ruddock upset Keysar Trad

Philip Ruddock has outraged the Muslim community on one of Islam's holiest days by telling crowds gathered to pray at a mosque that they must "uphold the laws of the country".

The federal Attorney-General caused the furore during a speech he was invited to give as Muslims celebrated the first day of the Eid al-Adha, the celebration of sacrifice, at the Lakemba Mosque in Sydney's west.

"I think it is important to acknowledge that when you are Australian, as all Australians, you have a responsibility to uphold the laws of this country," Mr Ruddock told the devotees at the state's largest mosque. "If we are able to live in a tolerant society, we have to offer tolerance to others."

The comments, on the day the nation's 300,000-strong Muslim community begins the Eid festival, were attacked by Keysar Trad, founder of the Islamic Friendship Association of Australia, who claimed Mr Ruddock's remarks revealed an underlying "contempt" for Muslims. "He doesn't have as much respect for Australians of a Muslim background as he should," Mr Trad said.

Mr Ruddock last night defended his comments, saying he made the remarks after two speakers, including Lebanese Muslim Association president Ahmad Kamaledine, made political references in their speeches. ...."

At http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/common/story_page/0,5744,17787765%255E2702,00.html

Does Mr Trad feel Muslims in Australian can act indifferent to Australian Law? Mr Ruddock is the Australian representative of our laws as Attorney-General so saying such is within his responsibility.

Speaking of Keyser Tread, please read this speech by him.

"our ideology is the best salvation for the people of Australia, and the people of the world in general. Yes, we are a threat to the culture of drunkenness, paedophilia, and mostly we are a big threat to the culture of ELITISM."

"In a way, they feel safe because of the quantity of water which surrounds this country, so they feel fortified behind this great body, it gives them a feeling of security. But the reality is, the land belongs to God, not to them, and if those foreigners, whom they fear as migrants are not permitted to enter as migrants, they will come as settlers, in numbers so large that they will not be able to process them, hold them, or stop them. What will they do then? If these foreigners who are restraining themselves, because they see a legal hope, that they can come to this vast mainly uninhabited land for whatever reason, are told that there is no longer a legal way to come here, what will they do?"

Sounds like the answer to Keysers question is Jihad on Australia.

http://www.islam.org.au/articles/16/RACISM.HTM

This violent and hate ridden speech was around 1996/7, now Keyser is a well known spokesman for moderate islam... Thats as real as pauline hanson working towards landrights for Aboriginals.

Please pass this link and inform your friends

meredith,
I have included the next part of his speech as it demonstrates his views of Australian Law and people.

"What will a starving person do when he wants food?

They will no longer respect these laws which were drafted in a cocoon away from the reality that the land of Australia does not belong to white European man. In fact, if the original inhabitants had their way, or if we want to employ Pauline Hanson justice, then white man should pack his bags and leave this country, for your people Pauline, have been the worst of guests!

The criminal dregs of white society colonised this country, and now, they only take the select choice of other societies, and the descendants of these criminal dregs tell us that they are better than us. And because we are not elitists, we tolerate them. Yet they want us to assimilate, perhaps they will only become satisfied when we each die our hair red, wear blue/green contact lenses, and operate a fish and chips shop, otherwise, we would not be truly assimilating, would we?

"As for those whose souls the angels took while still they were wronging themselves - the angels said, "in what were you engaged?" They said, "We were weak in the land." They said: "was not Allah's earth spacious, so that you might have emigrated in it?" So for those, their abode is hell, and it is a bad destination." [S4:V97]

Yes Philo,

Just ugly as can be that Trad speech, here are some current islamist opinions of Mr Ruddocks speech.

http://forums.muslimvillage.net/index.php?s=722de719c376e45031d5baafd17a6df0&showtopic=18924

note a posters nickname "Taliban Princess" ... just not nice at all.

I commend Danny for his article. The challenge faced on Cronulla beach has bee simmering for the past 10 to 12 years as groups of young men from the Lakemba area have descended upon the beach. They don't come to enjoy the surf! It seems that they come to "oggle" the girts in their brief costumes. They don't see their own wthnic girls clad like this so come for the thrills. They've been abusive with their language and their comments over the years, abusive with their physical aggression. Having attacked the lifesavers, the "locals plus" decided enough is enough. Personally I hate the word "multiculturalism". It, along with othjer "-isms" is an offensive word to me. Let's all be Aussies together and live as brothers and sisters in harmony. Yes, a fanciful dream to some, but I believe this can be achieved.