I suspect relativism in Australia started out as a reaction to those, like Menzies, who overly romanticised our British past. Unfortunately, things are now just as foolishly at the stage where academics and journalists are almost embarrassed to say anything nice about our British heritage or the role it plays in our own national existence.

As is usually the case when two extreme contrary views are put, the truth lies somewhere in between. We should celebrate the greatness of our Anglo-Judeo-Christian culture in all it's forms, and not apologise for it's faults, but instead learn from them.

At the same time we can still be free to embrace the excellent features of other cultural traditions. This is what Multiculturalism, ought to be - an enriching addition to our cultural gene pool which in time enhances our nations evolution. Unfortunately, Multiculturalism in it's relativist form, whereby all cultures are considered equivalent and beyond critical review, is like evolution without selection - like breeding the Australian racehorse with any old nag - a 'devolving' process.

Kevin and Leigh,

“the reality is that Australia’s development as a nation and its legal, political institutions and language are Anglo-Celtic in origin and deeply influenced by our Judeo-Christian heritage.”

-- Anglo-Celtic transmutation of Roman Law
-- Judeo-Christian traditions
-- Greek philosophy
-- The Australian nation in Western society

Nation states are only 200 years old. Countries which were ruled became governed. Westerners had to make transitions not only the Aborigines. Even as recently WWI, The Crown engendered non-judgmental patriotism... The Cooee March.

Significant for the West was the rediscovering of Greek philosophy, which fueled the Enlightenment and the partial break with Theism. Only the West discovered Science via The Great Diverence. Australia needs an independent indentity, within the West, but not from the West. Social behaviour, not Races, which do not comply are threatening. Alas, types of social behaviour are often positively correlated with Race

Whilst I think the response to Kev's article has been largely positive and has brought out a good discussion, I think that one thing must be considered.

For all the talk of egalitarianism, freedom and individuality, it must be remembered that "anti-democratic forces" have often upheld Western civilisation and our traditions when democracies have failed. Charles de Gaulle is the perfect example of such a man, who saw culture and nation as an important grounding against the individualism that some strands of democracy create. In Australia, monarchy has been a bulkward against absolute power for democratic institutions... without Royal Assent, then Jack Lang and Gough Whitlam would have threatened our institutions by weakening our nation. Ours is a system where, ironically, intervention by the unelected rulers results in a democratic election, which generally turfs out the government.

The problem is, to simplify Western civilisation as just about democracy and freedom is to wrong it, for that allows cultural relativism. Western civilisation is based importantly around notions of society and culture which see space for the individuals within society, but the paramount importance of society. Switzerland is the perfect example of how notions of society, individual dignity (a result largely of a Christian belief in the individual worth of beings), and tolerance of others, can create a society with great longevity and success.

Cultural relativism has forever destroyed much of Europe. Aided by unchecked immigration, it has weakened the social capital, not because immigrants don't want to do good, but because the drop in the birth-rate and immigration have occured at a pace which has resulted in ethnic ghettos. Now, in England, it's impossible for a politician to describe Britishness without being berated for his lack of 'tolerance'. Immigration is not the primary problem, however, it is breaking of the continuity with the cultural history of Europe, in music, art, archtecture, the family, religion and political philosophy.

Western civilisation is not about choice and democracy... it is primarily culture and tradition, which often democracies uphold, and which often military and monarchy do.

What a yawn all this navel gazing is. Our history is as brutal as any other history but we refuse to face it. Read the aboriginal books where whites used the blacks as slaves, raped the women, murdered the men and so on. Judeo christian, what a sick joke that is.

Federation in 1901 allowed aborigines to be classified as flora and fauna and they didn't become humans until 1967. Our ancestors were still taking their half-breed children until 1972, it was not some dark lie.

We went willingly to two world wars for Britain and tens of thousands of the millions slaughtered never came back. Vietnam saw 3 million murdered at our hands with the US, Iraq x 2, Afghanistan and so on.

We sat on our hands while 183,000 East Timorese were murdered on our doorstep and now when the West Papuans are suffering the same fate.

Peaceful democracy? These white arm band views are ludicrous and no matter how many times we claim we are peaceful we keep bombing other people to bits. Always people who have never hurt us.

And Kevin, rewriting things will not have us as victors in Gallipolli.

Marilyn,just the first two lines in your posts always give you away. What a pity you have to live in such an evil country.
Once again John Howard has given the muslims another serve, much to their disgust and once again there comes the 'victim' wail of unfair, unfair.
The president of the Daawah Association[they have a lot of these things] Sufyaan Khalifa said, " This is not going to help Muslims, it will only cause more hatred." And,"We would like sincerely to understand what he means by 'Australian Values'"
If you do not understand the values of a country before you choose to migrate to that country, aren't you taking a very great risk?Simply walking blind into another country and not knowing anything about it sounds plain feckless.
Walking into another country, accepting the charity and benefits of that country then turning around and abusing it, threatening it with possible violence if your culture doesn't get privileges that other cultures do not will not win you any respect or wish that you prolong your stay here.
By not respecting our values, you should have citizenship stripped and be told to go. We only want migrants who will be good citizens who abide by our laws and who respect our traditions.

Marylin,

You are a shinning example of why relativist thinking, with it's complete lack of self-belief and self-worth, does nothing to advance our nation.

Your statement that "Our history is as brutal as any other history" also implies that every other history is as brutal as ours. So why do you condemn 'us' for our failures?

What about 'our' successes, do you ever celebrate those, or does it some how pain you to find that Australians aren't any worse, and sometimes better than the 'competition'?