Danny does his argument a disservice when he recommends us to love our neighbour as ourselves - from my understanding that biblical addage comes with out qualification - it does not say love thy neighbour as long as he looks acts and behaves like you;
Who the hell is the arbiter on assimilation - how Aussie must any one become before we accept them - what are the bench marks?

I know Boaz has attempted to articulate some - and good on him for that - but even then they are arbitrary - And I suspect born out of a singular point in time like so much of the vehemence written here and based on unreasonable fear - terrorism, Islamism etc - when we have visited these issues time and time again and invariably common sense has prevailed.

It does nt help that political opportunism has fuled these fears and political cowardice on the part of the ALP has let it go unchecked.

I have a sneeking suspicion that very few people see multiculturalism as an issue - while so many of us maintain racsim isnt a real problem in this vast brown land how could it?

Every time there is a nerve exposed with any racial over tones - and there is bound to be from time to time - those who rail again MC ism, stand up to be counted.

As I have said before the first mistake we made with the notion of many cultures one community is giving the concept a name in stead of accepting as simply the way we are.

A very good article Danny, and spot-on comments from Brazuca.

For years I suffered from the playing of the racist card over my attempts to highlight the problems with continuous population growth and the need for population stabilisation if we are going to live sustainably in Australia, a subject that is completely separate from any semblance of racism.

So I agree wholeheartedly agree that this term is chronically misused

Thanks Danny.Had your skin been a lot paler,many would be screaming racist.Not many are against the notion of many cultures entering Australia, however it is about people coming here under our terms i.e of law,respect and working together to improve this country.

People should be encouraged to keep their languages,traditions beliefs etc,however they must also learn about and respect the culture that affords them so much prosperity.

A good grasp of English is an absolute necessity to both intergrate both culturally and economically.

There is nothing wrong with the word" Multiculturalism" however the concept has been perverted by the politically correct to gain power through minority groups at the ballot boxes.The left have had a very simple attitude,if you are not for MC then you must be a racist.It's a bit like the question ,"Do you still beat your wife?"

If more people were honest like Danny Nalliah,we would not have these festering racial and religious tensions.

Thanks Danny, although you will not get any Big Wet Kisses and Cuddles any more from the apparatchiks and the Recruiters of NEW Imperialists army, that in it self is not bad. 5th column imperial hubris dealt another truthful blow, but it is not enough.
An excellent article, but understated none the less.
Danny, do you know of Howard Bloom?
http://www.howardbloom.net/lucifer/

Arjay, again a good post.

How much of this debate has been tied up with the difference between what is refered to elsewhere as Hard and Soft multiculturalism?
How many of the opponents are fighting against hard multiculturalism and how many of the defenders fighting for soft multiculturalism?

R0bert

SNEEKY... yes, I did try to articulate some things which may appear 'arbitrary'.. on the surface, but in fact I generally look at these things through a lenz of anthropology.
While not a scholar in that field, I do have a fairly acute sense of cultural awareness due to life experience and some intensive training.

Identifying those 'characteristics' which could fairly be termed "Australian Identity" is not an impossible task, and as with most cultures will show up in the literature, poetry art, stories and exploits of our pioneering forebears.

On the issue of 'LOVE OUR NEIGHBOUR' being unconditional, the same principle is also expressed as "Do for your neighbour as you would have him do for you" and "Love your neighbour as yourself". But lets bear in mind, that this is a principle of the kingdom of God, yet, apart from that, it also makes good sense. Of course we are not going to go through a checklist of cultural obedience before we lend them our shovel.

To love our migrant neighbour means we would pick him up from his bleeding and bruised condition on the side of the road after an attack rather than walk past him. (Parable of the good Samaritan) Also that we would lend him our stuff, and help him in any way we would help our long standing 'neighbours' but it sure does not mean we suddenly try to act in terms of his/her culture. We just act as we are.. and thats the point here, and its also all we 'patriots' are asking.

I just shake my head in dismay and bewilderment that the emergency services have a handbook of 'cultural appropriateness' in dealing with our multiplicity of religions etc. Why not just have 'our' standard way, reflecting our culture, and give all migrants a handbook of 'what to expect'.

Irfs attack actually demonstrates the thing he accuses Kevin and Danny of 'laziness' I think Irf is just 'irked' by the fact that a bloke with the same skin color as him is standing up for the predominant culture :)