(Last part - continued from part 1):

In my article, I have mentioned about the land of Arabia where female infants used to be buried alive. Does that mean that I am implying all Arabs are barbaric? By no means! I am simply trying to say that the principles Islam promotes may not be compatible with *some* social mores of a region – be it Arabia or Australia.

I believe I wouldn’t be inaccurate to state that the youth culture of alcoholism, gambling, pornography and drug addiction does exist in Australia. I think I did furnish a reference in my article to back my statement. However, to cite anther reference, drink driving is the factor in more than one-in-four cases of all fatal crashes in country areas in NSW. The Federal Government-funded study on pornography in Australia reveals that “[t]he amount of porn that's distributed suggests the idea of the porn consumer as deviant doesn't add up, otherwise you'd have to say large numbers of Australians are deviant.” (Amy Lawson, The Sun-Herald, July 27 2003). Almost 30,000 Australians participated in the 2004 National Drug Strategy household survey, conducted by the Australian Institute of Health & Welfare (AIHW), at the request of the Australian Government Department of Health. According to the survey, 38 percent of Australians (i.e. more than one-third of the populace) aged 14 years and over admitted using an illicit drug.

Personally, I do consider myself as an Australian, an insider, that is. In the past, I had made crtical remarks about customs practiced in Bangladesh where I was born and bred, as I always believed that self-criticism comes first. Naturally, I don’t think any differently when it comes to Australia. Hope I have gotten my message across clearer.

Nayeefa

The 'clash of cultures' is simply the politics of fear created by certain 'coalition of the killing' to justify their behaviour in the Middle East.

The level of potential conflict is the same as between Christian and secular Australians.

You were brave to publish your article. Don't let the muslim-bashers indicate that the majority of Australians are hostile, intolerant and ignorant. Some of us are really OK and just try to get along, like humans do.

Regards

How about answering a query Irfan,why did you and other Muslims come here? Did you come because you wanted a better life that Australia and AUSTRALIANS have provided and who, though far gone with alcoholism,gambling, pornography and the rest of the bad ways, need to learn by example from the moralistic,pious muslims.
You parade your piety, your women so overdressed in hijabs,veils,chaddors and all the rest of the stuff, as a desirable way to live. We find your ways stifling of any humanity, lacking in any art, literature or any of the things that make us human. You would force your sterile,rigid,unhumorous religion on us given the chance.
You would turn this prosperous, humane nation into something that follows the poor third world countries you left. We will not have it
,we do not want your ways, your religion or your traditions.
No matter how super moralistic you appear to be.We enjoy life too much to want to be like you people.

Mickjo,

Do not use the word 'we'

You do not speak for me, and you never will

Nayeefa, your point is made. Thanks for your attempt to discuss these issues.

If you are stuggling to understand why your comment "There is no doubt that there are some elements in Islam that stand in stark contrast to the Australian pop-culture of pornography, gambling, alcoholism, and drug addiction." has featured so heavily can I suggest that you turn it around and rewrite for personal review a version that goes something like

"There is no doubt that there are some elements in Australian culture that stand in stark contrast to the Islamic practices of (add stereotype images here used by the worst of your detractors)"

Most of the claims that your enemies make are true for some who would call themselves muslim, but I'm guessing that you might find the completed sentence as annoying as some of us found your original version.

I hope that does reads as a tip to help you check your phrasing rather than an attack.

Cheers
R0bert

mikijo, if you read my biography on my Online Opinion profile, you'll see I came here when I was 5 months old. I have yet to meet a 5 month old baby who can determine where they live. So I am here because this is where I grew up, went to kindy, went to school and went to university. This is where I have lived for most of my days.

And despite the designs of you and your fellow-travellors, this is where I intend to be buried (unless, of course, you want me to be burnt to a crisp in an oven just as your ideological colleagues did to the Jews in Europe 60 years ago).

Perhaps, mikijo, you can advise why you came here. And given that you hate Australia's multicultural status quo so much, what are you still doing here?