Multiculturalism is what brought us pretty much every item of food, clothing, political system and technology we use today. An active, evolving culture comprised of the best of what's on offer.

Australian governments from the 50's to the 90's practiced it, some actively promoted it, and we all benefited from it. It is only in the past 5 years or so I've witnessed the emergence of a redneck element who have no idea how fortunate Australia is, happy to have a dig at anything they find "confronting", and revelling in their new-found licence to practice a little ethnic self-superiority.

Go back to Cronulla, you lot.

Now Now Bennie. Do not racially stereotype the people of Cronulla and imply they are rednecks, because that would make you a bigot.

Your post is worriesome. I think there needs to be a differentiation between 'racism' and 'racial oppression'. The former can be perfectly legitimate, whilst the latter is always wrong. Racism has become an umbrella term to entrap those who don't hold certain political beliefs.

Think about this quote from Abraham Lincoln: A house divided against itself cannot stand. Multiculturalism is definitley a house divided against itself, divided and conquered (by nihilist rats).

Bennie says:
"Multiculturalism is what brought us pretty much every item of food, clothing, political system and technology we use today. An active, evolving culture comprised of the best of what's on offer"

Crap!

Any open, liberal innovative monocultural society would have done just as good or better.I don’t see Japan promoting multiculturalism but they haven’t missed out on any of the technology, food, clothing etc.

Multiculturalism has been a costly & divisive plaything of wantabes with limited talent

Fair point about Cronulla, angel.

Seems we need to define what MC it is. For some OLOers it's a chance to sink the slipper in to anyone who doesn't embrace Aussie culture. I see it as an effective way to get on, learn about other cultures, & get a little more tolerant of those who think differently. It doesn't bother me if someone doesn't learn to speak the lingo in 4 years. Why would it?

MC has become entwined with political overtones since the current government decided not to continue the policy of the previous government. Not itself a bad thing but it's become a tool for promoting the 'aussie battler' syndrome. MC is hardly a house divided (I believe it can give us exactly the opposite), it's only divisive when it suits someone with an axe to grind. It's also what we need to prevent becoming boringly homogenous. Like Japan.

Bernie
'MC has become entwined with political overtones since the current government decided not to continue the policy of the previous government.'
Quite eroneous. The Multicultural policy of Australia has been endorsed by all federal Governments since Malcolm Frazer introduced and championed it in the late 70's.
Have a read of the policy sometime, it can be found in the website of the relevant department.

Keith

All you pro-Multiculturalists should do us all a favour and read: The Origins of Multiculturalism in Australian Politics 1945-1975 by Mark Lopez. you might learn something and come away with a bit more respect for the dissenters you keep vilifying.

A bit of reading here might not hurt you either. http://jimball.com.au/Multi_C.htm

The policy has been changed several times by the government since it came in un-voted for... in attempts to try and make it more palatable to the wider community. Most of whom don't know what it really is or what Assimilation or Integration are.

For those who think food or cultural appreciation are the big successes of Multiculti... go to a restaurant, read a book or travel overseas. We don't need this divisive policy for those things.