I don't have a problem with multiculturalism. How can I, when I come from a very multicultural family myself? I came to Australia from England 44 years ago and immediately felt very much at home with friendly Aussies from a whole variety of racial backgrounds.

What I don't like is having other peoples' religious/superstitious beliefs [sometimes masquerading as culture] forced onto me and others, whether it be some of the more recent imports, or the 'traditional' Catholic or Protestant extremism.

I see female genital mutilation as a sign that the men of such cultures have low self esteem and feel incapable of having a faithful wife without subjecting her to extreme control. I see the forced wearing of a burka or suchlike in the same way.

I most certainly agree that prospective migrants should be told, in no uncertain manner, what is and is not generally acceptable in Australia. The Dutch govt has produced a film showing that, in Holland, gay relationships and nude bathing at defined beaches, for example, are acceptable. Well, these things are not illegal in Australia either, but can anyone imagine our extremist Christian controlled govt having either the guts or common sense to do likewise?

I agree that female genital mutilation is barbaric in the extreme and any adults involved in it in Australia should be severely penalised and deported. And I would let these athletes stay here, on these grounds.

I understand that male circumcision is not only accepted in Australia, but also subsidised by Medicare. What other unnecessary medical procedure, done for religious reasons and/or because it allegedly improves a person's appearance, is paid for by the taxpayers?

For those interested, there are organisations opposed to unnecessary circumcision, both male and female.

http://www.circinfo.org/

FrankGol. Am somewhat aurprized that you seek to know the difference between the terms multiracial and multicultural. Rather than interesting I would think the distinction was obvious.

Multiracial refers to the physical characteristics of those in our community and we are quite varied and from differing ancestry.

On the other hand to say we are a multicultural society suggests that we allow numberous unfettered cultures in our community. This is not correct and I consider the term multiculturalism a misnomer. We have restraints on the practice of aspects of many other cultures.

The subject of this thread, FGM, is a good example as it is against the law here, but practiced in many other cultures. Other examples are many such as cockfighting, polygymy, child marriages, consumption of some foods and so the list could go on, and on. As well some of the aspects of our culture would not be acceptable in some other cultures.

I do not wish to diverge from the threads subject, so I will say again the we should ensure that prospective migrants are fully aware of our restrictions on certain cultural practices including FGM

Hey Maximus!

"What?"

They're expecting an answer.

"An answer to what?"

They think you're a dork with your head stuck up your own dark place.

"Well is that right?"

Yep.

"Don't they know about the 2 posts in 24 hours rule on OLO?"

Whether they do or not they're after blood - your blood.

"Well let me tell you, they're welcome to it. I've got more than I need anyway."

But seriously folks, isn't this just lovely? Over 2000 African girls being brutalised every day and some people here are more intereted in me.

Well, whatever...

Recently, I was being interviewed. A young woman, gen Xer, asked me "How did I manage relationships?"

I was aghast. My immediate interpretation of the question was "How did I manipulate relationships" - something of which I do not do. I'd never even think about it.

My answer was simple, "I don't! If people like me, then great. If they don't, then that's their problem."

However, I do thank the good Jane Caro for raising the matter of some of my favourite women writers - "What about women like Germaine Greer? Or Anne Coulter or Pauline Hansen or Janet Albrechtson or Miranda Devine?", she writes.

Indeed!

Let me tell you Jane, you know your good women. Greer is my role model, my mentor and inspiration. It is her tactics I employ. I hold Greer in the very highest esteem as my role model gutter fighter.

Coulter I couldn't care less about.

Hansen, she's nice. Besides, back in about 2000, she got voted in as one of the hottest 100 babes in Aussie FHM mag. Respect. Too bad she got hooked up with that scum who were her party faithful.

Albrechtson - what a woman - respect!

Miranda? Oh gosh. A truly lovely and beautiful woman with whom I have exchanged occassional opinions over time. I hold Miranda in the very highest esteem indeed. BUT DON"T TELL MY WIFE!

Any more questions folks?

Or, why don't we all get back to the thread. I'm really not that interesting or important. But female genital mutilation is.

i wld just like to correct some statements by 'coach'...

==There is no comparison between FGM and male circumcision except for the ritualistic aspect.==

i wld direct you to http://www.childbirthsolutions.com/articles/issues/fgc/index.php , in particular the description of Type I FGM, or Sunna Circumcision. Sunna is the removal of the clitoral hood (altho it sometimes involves the tip of the clitoris, which fact weakens this widely used classification). whatever, many examples of FGM involve removal of the female prepuce alone, & this is a _less_ radical procedure than male circumcision, but is otherwise _directly comparable_.

==FGM is far more barbaric and MUCH more painful and takes weeks or months to heal as it is often performed with a kitchen knife, a can lid, or a piece of broken glass, without sterilisation or anaesthesia. Infection often occurs and is very frequently deadly.==

this is true insofar as you are talking about clitoridectomy &/or infibulation, but the term FGM is commonly employed to include sunna, which is a relatively trivial, tho still invasive, procedure. otoh, male genital mutilation in a traditional setting just as frequently involves primitive instruments & poor infection control, & just as frequently results in illness, serious injury or death. there are active efforts in south africa to outlaw bush circumcision. some cultures inflict mutilations on boys beyond removal of the foreskin. subincision is usually -but not always- performed in adulthood. other radical forms of circumcision performed in childhood include removal of _all_ the skin from the penis, & even from the inner thighs.

contd...

==The sole purpose is protecting the family honour by making intercourse impossible – presenting a “stitched-closed” virgin bride to so demanding men. The husband then has the pleasure to cut her open with a knife on their wedding night… then sends her away to be stitched up again after he had "his" pleasure met.==

this is kind of patronising. these traditions of genital cutting have evolved over a very long time (witness the fact of male circumcision among australian aboriginals). in terms of reproductive fitness, the 'benefits' of unfettered sexual freedom are not as obvious for women as they are for men. at _some_ level, the protection of a woman's 'virtue' is also a benefit, & evidence for that is the complicity of women in the tradition. that the 'purpose' of genital cutting is more complex is evidenced by the variety of forms it takes. i do agree that it _seems_ barbaric, & believe it should be strongly discouraged.

there are strong motives for circumcised men to trivialize &/or valorize male circumcision, just as there are for genitally cut women to defend & perpetuate fgm. there are also many genitally mutilated adults of _both_ sexes who feel a visceral sense of violation when they realize that their god given body has been edited on their behalf. it is especially galling to be confronted after the fact with rationalizations that are ridiculous and offensive.

splitting hairs over exactly how much tissue is amputated from where & whether it is was part of a penis or a vulva all seems pretty academic to me.

Maximus, I admire that if you learn that what you’ve written is wrong you accept it and admit that you were wrong without making excuses. Real men AND real women do this :-) and I fail to see how it is a gender issue so FYI 'interested' not 'intereted', 'Pauline Hanson' not 'Pauline Hansen' and 'Janet Albrechtsen' not 'Janet Albrechtson' (although these last two errors were originally made by ena also). No excuses now you manly man you… ;-)