As I know Danny as a person, I can agree with this post and I know he has assimilated into Australia very well.

keith,
Since Australia was founded, more has been taught of the life and teachings of the lone man from Bethlehem than any of the great characters quoted. It has been this man's teachings that has formed our conscious attitudes. Ask how many have read Aristotle daily and then ask how many read the Bible daily and you will have the answer. I have the complete works of the these great men on my shelf, but the Bible is beside me on my desk for continual reading and reference.

Quote, "Hello hello what's all this Judeo Christian herritage all about. The only book I've ever read from the Hebrew lineage is ...The Bible...Anybody ever heard of Socretes, Plato, Sophocles, Homer, Aristophanes, Hippocrates, Aristotle, Archimedes, Ptolmny etc etc etc.
Greeks to a man. And the nature and character of Western civilisation probably owes them as much as it owes a little known bloke from Bethelem...

I once read a very interesting and, as I recall, related article by our canberra or sydney academic Chandran Kukathas entitled "Tolerating the Intolerable" I think.

I think of my father today and the NESB culture from which he came and all i can say is thank god his didn't colonise Australia. At least there are a few Aboriginal people left today.

rc - I am interested to know which culture it was that you refer to as a counter-example to the author's comments. It is not necessary to believe that Judeo-Christian cultures like ours are the best to realise that they are very very very good in comparison with many others.

brazuca - brilliant, lucid comments

I like the article. Noticed over the years lots of "just because I'm ...... you hold it against me" - whatever, and at those times the reasons given by the complainant were not valid at all - like the person complaining re lining up for the 1-15 seats on the plane.

We travel a lot and I find we make more of an effort to speak the language there, than many do here who have been here for 20 or more years. Its fun, who cares if you stumble (unless its to ask to sleep with his wife LOL) and communication takes place. And perhaps - therein lies one of the keys, at any rate, ie communication.

Sure : Here are 5 countries in Asia (or independent regions) where the majority of people are as well off as any Western democracy, and, in addition, where even the Western people who go there don't complain very much about the different cultural roots. Some of them quite enjoy it, although of course there are always dislikable things about any country. All of these countries also have a reasonable standard of living, and it seems reasonable to suggest that the people living in them are no worse off than any compareable country of Judeo-Christian heritage:

Japan
Korea
Taiwan
Singapore
Hong Kong

Time and time again the charge of racism is exploited by people of certain religious persuasions and those who are sympathetic when they hear their sacred beliefs spoken in a way they consider blasphemous or displeasing. By playing victim in labeling their opponents racist for expressing opinions contrary to their own, they seek to suppress debate on controversial aspects of their religion ensuring their position is authoratative. Such single minded defiance in exploiting race to stifle opposition must be exposed and condemned if we are to uphold religious and intellectual freedom in this country. Race and religion should not be confused even though there is often overlap. Racial identity cannot be chosen while religious identity can. This needs to be strongly emphasised in order to dispel the deplorable falsehoods of those who exploit the shame of being labeled a racist to protect their religious authority.

Is there a vast difference beween being patriotic or being racist.
We have seen wave after wave of immigrants since WW2 and most have fitted into their niche after a bit of a struggle.They have added to this country as well as taken from it.
There has been, until now, very little trouble .
But now we have Muslims who will not fit unless it is on their terms.
They demand privileges such as shops and pools given only to them. The Hindus,Swedes,Scots,Irish,Italians , all the rest of the many races have never made such demands. Nor have they threatened us with unspoken violence if their young men feel 'marginalised'.
The behaviour of some of the Muslims has been bad, yet we are 'racist' if we complain.
They claim this is a 'multicultural' country ----if it suits them----but they are and will always be a monoculture. Every thing has to suit them , it should be the other way round .
If they refuse to assimilate into Australian society they should go.
No culture should be allowed to cause such upset and division as these people have.
That is not racism, that is common sense.