Of course, you are spot on F_H, the pope WAS taken out of context - unlike Coach - couldn't resist having a little fun though.

Humour is the best medicine.

Even though I do not follow any formal religion and people like Coach will ensure that I never do,

I wish you a happy ramadan.

Nayeefa,

Thank you for your apology, though unnecesary as you did not hurt my feelings. I have read your posts and it is from these that I have constructed my opinion. Unfortunatly your responce was only one sentance in length and hardly offered any explanation as to where my opinion of your post has been misguided. When you give evidence of statistics that demostrate australia has a youth drinking problem, drug problem, etc and then suggest that this "aussie pop culture" is in direct contrast to teachings of islam; then one does feel as though you look at this "supposed" aussie culture in a condensending manner.

I would love to see statistics of every muslim country about youth drinking, drugs, etc. Why do I get the feeling that such statistics do not exist / are hardly credible. What disturbs me more is that statistics or no statistics your perception of Aussie culture about abusing drugs, alcohol and sex is absolute nonesense. Like I said before and I re-itterate, how many Aussie friends do you have to make such a claim? Furthermore, why is drinking alcohol bad? Just because it is not apart of your culture why must it then be branded "evil". Either way you are entitiled to your beliefs and I wish you a great ramadan.

coach and others,

I think it is a bit dissapointing that this whole debate has turned into a battle of religions, when it really should be about defending what truely is "aussie culture". Being Australian I think it is quite offensive for Nayeefa or anytone else for that matter to suggest that aussie culture is one plagued with drugs, alcohol and sluts. I also believe that one shouldn't like nayeefa suggest that any cultural values that dont adhere to their own are wrong. Debate islam all you wish, but don't take the same "if its not christian or whatever religion I believe in, then it must be wrong" approach.

You missed gambling,kish.

Is undersigning to these values is a part of new visa / citizenship rules?

MichaelK

hahahaha how could I forget gambling! If muslims or any prejudice immigrants / ethnic minority have actually bothered to visit a casino, they would realise that many more asians gamble than aussies. I dont believe there is a question that insists you follow these "cultural norms" to fit into society. However there must be a clause that states:

"ethnic minorities must only assimilate with people of their own culture and in doing so must make prejudice conclucions about mainstreame aussie culture based on second rate media shows like A Current Affair and over dramatised stereotypes. By doing this, ethnic minorities can still be a minortiy yet feel as though their cultural values are superior to that of the majority giving them ample reason to never assimilate with the majority and have a chip on their shoulder again the majority"

Now naturally this above clause is not followed by all, but it is a common sentiment I have noticed amongst quite a number of ethnic minorities who I would like to think in todays array of cultures would regard themselves as apart of the "mixed majority" (i.e. Aussie). Unfortunatly they wouldn't lower themselves to be apart of the "majority". When you ask such people why they reside in Australia, they respond by pointing out that they "hate aussies but love the country". By no means am I directing this post to nafeeya or anyone else on this forum, its just an observation that I am getting rather sick of witnessing.

Nayeefa

you say:

"the Sharia Law is not a single ‘law’ to be found in any book; rather it is a concept which has been manifested in a variety of different ways and contexts. ..."

and later:

"I am not an expert on Sharia Law,..."

Can I suggest that you have indicated the core of a serious problem for us infidels.

You are obviously a peace loving person and presumably your sharia law is a peaceful concept.

But what about abu baku bashir,(apologies to abu for spelling) who hopes to introduce the most barbaric practices, which he claims to be sharia law, into the Indonesian legal system? Similarly the Saudi Immams.

Whose concept do we infidels believe?

Would like to integrate your peaceful version into the Australian legal system?

If you can sort this out and communicate it clearly to the rest of us, you will be doing a great service to your community.

Thanks for providing the topic.

Kish , I hardly believe that “must be a clause that states:

"ethnic minorities must only assimilate with people of their own culture and in doing so must make prejudice conclucions about mainstreame aussie culture based on second rate media shows like A Current Affair and over dramatised stereotypes”, because minorities are being effectively locked in ghettos by being denied employment outside “own communities”, by a “mainstream” majority.