Thor, I see you persist with your misguided opinions despite my trying to guide you in the rational direction. As a recent law graduate myself, I have seen your type day in, day out. Love the fact they are a law student, but consistently fail to apply the logic and reasoning that their degree is meant to be teaching them to their everyday life. (You will notice that one of your abusive posts on the last Cronulla thread was removed).

Relative to your point on the riots, unless you saw something different to me, I saw gangs of thugs attacking any people who looked remotely Middle Eastern. They didn’t sit them down and query their involvement in any assaults, threats of rape, shootings etc etc etc. A young girl had her headscarf ripped from her head for simply wearing it. Seems fairly clear to me. Now I don’t know how racist those who were involved would actually be one-on-one when they don’t have their mates to hide behind, but if you attack a person solely on the basis of their resemblance to a particular race, it seems to be a racist act to me.

I love the point about islanders being at the riots, protesting as well, and therefore it could not be racist. I am still giggling at that one. Many people have gone on about Lebanese and other ethnic gangs – do you all have one eye, or have you seen gangs of pacific islanders causing trouble in Sydney’s South and West? If you haven’t, I suggest you pay places like Claymore and Mt Druitt a visit. Now I don’t think every Pacific Islander is a thug, despite my brother being hospitalised by a gang of Islander youths, and I would expect everyone to apply the same logic to ALL people. Ask yourself a question Thor – if someone of your race and/or ethnicity committed a crime, would you like to be judged as the same by others, simply because you belong to that race/ethnicity?

Rainier & jkenno,

(part one)

What ever led you to assume that being critical of members of ethnic or religious groups outside of the one to which oneself identifies, equates to racism? Why can’t it just be criticism, plain and simple, where critical reason is the judge?

Unless you crazily think that only Anglos can be racist and intolerant, why do you consider it hostile to discuss the intolerance, bigotry, and racism of non-Anglos? If you pay attention you’ll notice that this is precisely what the posters are critical of.

Or would you believe it to be some kind of front, a chance alignment between their racism and the empirically verifiable nature of everything they just so happen to say? If so, please enlighten us as to how you might?

Rather than read ethnicity and religion into everything, and alway assume that inter-cultural criticism necessarily entails a generalisation-to-the-whole (which is what many Muslims do with hysterical notions like “Islamophobia”), why can’t you let us simply all be HUMAN BEINGS!

Or would this render Salam impotent in some manner when confronted by THE FULL FORCE OF CRITICAL REASON?

Is THAT why the “law of inequality,” i.e. “multiculturalism” exists? Is it because TRUE EQUALITY, truly being accepted into the fold, entails that minorities not only have the benefits that come with Australian citizenship, but also that they be EQUALLY SUBJECTED TO THE SAME LEVEL OF CRITICISM that the “hosts” subject themselves to? Non-Anglos actually ARE human too, you know!

Tell me, what is actually immoral in criticising another religion or culture? What is unhealthy in it? ANSWER you nihilistic cowards! (and why is Redneck wrong in saying that a true Muslim desires the actualisation of the Caliphate, Sharia law, etc., and is therefore a Nazi?).

Your cowardly embarrassment over the other posters only indicates how you care more about what the Other thinks of you than of whether you’re right or wrong.

Wouldn't you criticise the Nazis? (Oh, speaking of Nazis, Hamas has just been elected! Tell me, Chomsky, would it have been “wrong” to “deter democracy” there a little?).

Immodest Salam,

You say: “It is hard to pinpoint exactly what our Australian flag does represent these days,” and that we “need to take a deep hard look at who we really are.” But unless by “we” you’re excluding Anglos then I reckon the best results would come by way of our Muslim diaspora undergoing a Reformation. Where’s your belated Luther?

It makes me sick when, on the one hand, I hear an ultra-conservative, nihilistic and insular Muslim sound all pro-transformation when they’re in a country they will never feel at home in until it becomes a republic or changes its flag (SO RUDE!!), yet on the other, in regards to their True “homeland,” carry on like the farthest of right-winged nationalists the world has ever seen!

Easy being so open-to-change in Oz, concerned for the Indigenous people even! But in regards to having your homeland adapt to modernity, thereby placing its culture and religious practice under constant review (as we Anglos have to do, right?), that’s just blasphemous to even consider! Isn’t that all that’s happening in the Islamic world? Hizbut tahir’s hysteria of “Islamophobia” is nothing short of the utmost nihilistic herd-instinct fleeing the full responsibility of being human. Muslims flee the un-grounding effect of modernity like crying babies to mummy! Whimps! Can’t confront the abyss!

Given that terrorist/race-hate experts consider the measly 500 “white-supremacists” in Australia to be utterly disorganised and thus innocuous (no doubt reflective of their cultural roots in the European Enlightenment), can we say the same of the 10,000 subscribers to sheik Omran’s newsletter, or those who attend sheik Feiz’s lectures on Anglo sluts?

And what of those like you, Salam, who write nothing of such bigots? Unless your next post is a serious consideration of the reasons why you ought to be critical of your own community, or why it is important that Islam undergo a Reformation, then you are incapable of critical thought.

Whimp

Jolanda,

I don't think it wise to introduce a law against burning the flag for anyone. It is a regressive step.

I have great sympathy for the aboriginal plight and whilst I don't agree with burning someone's flag, it's not something I would generally do ... it didn't offend me.

Afterall I believe the aborigine has been treated most unfairly since we arrived on their shores and if that is the worst action, that gentleman took, then it is very mild in comparison to what others do around the world.

When something like that happens the media always run to the RSL for comment. I have total respect for our returned servicemen, many of whom also were treated badly by our Governments over the years. Some of the old timers have said to me in the past that our soldiers didn't fight for the flag... they fought for their country, the British Empire and their families. I believe they also fought for the freedom to express yourself symbolically. The burning of a flag is pure symbolism.

The strength of our democracy which was so valiantly saved and protected by our war veterens is that someone can burn the flag and we can accept it as a form of protest.

Yes, Salam has chosen a few words that reflect her ideology and interpretation of events, which is her right and really does not detract from an article supportive of celebrating Australia Day.
The Australia Day that Salam celebrates is one that focuses on a country that accepts people with different cultural backgrounds.
As a journalist Salam understands the power of words and the choice of some are curious. Some could suggest undertones that are not immediately apparent so I understand the comments made in some posts. For example, not all would share her view that the events at Cronulla were 'unjustified events'. Those who rioted may well have felt justified in their actions by preceding events. Unfortunate but true. Those who reacted to the Cronulla riots would say the same - preceding events justified their actions. Unfortunate but true.
Salam also describes the incidents as having a racial origin, but are they? Is an attack on churches (Tongan, Chinese and Fijian) of racial origin or an example of religious intolerance? Is an attack on a lifesaver the act of a racist or a bully? Is an attack on innocent bystanders racist or criminal behaviour? Is sporting a slogan 'I grew here, you flew here - Go Home' truely expressing racism or frustration and would you call it racism if this was a slogan sprouted by an Aboriginal?
Your use of the word indigenous is also curious. It assumes that only those born in Australia pre 1788 can claim to be native to the country (and presumably their offspring, even if no longer full blood but affected by non indigenous genes). Time for a dictionary moment....
In conclusion, Salam, there is a huge difference in the following: 'a day off and get drunk' and 'a day off or get drunk'. Think about it....

The most pathetic aspect of modern 'conservatism' (at least its manifestation on this forum) is that its dominated by trembling, cowards. Here's their arguments summarised-

1. Muslims will impose Sharia law on Australia if the government doesn't pass laws to protect us from them

2. lefties and Muslims will take over our beaches and suburbs and hold giant flag-burning parties if the government doesn't pass laws to protect us from them

3. Muslims and other dark-skinned folk will pollute our glorious whiteness if the government doesn't pass laws to protect us from them.

What i want to know is when did we get so frightened? Are these issues really that big deal? Isn't our flag strong enough to survive a few burnings? Isn't our society strong enough to tolerate a few lunatic fundamentalists in our midst? Better yet, to just have a good laugh at them?

Thank God Australia Day's over, so the soul-searching and patriotic breast-beating can quiten down a bit.