Oh dear!I thought my line on pepper was quite a good one - this certainly is a tough crowd -

I stand by my point of view - and I also agree we have plenty of contact with the rest of the world through globalisation - so multicullturalism is far from a revolutionary concept - just globalisation on a micro scale.

And as for billions of dollars wasted - I am comfortable with what we expend on supporting new comers because I have benefited from exposure to them - and the allegation of waste is really unsubstantiated - and you accuse me of rhetoric - gee willikers! or should I use the iconic Crikey!

We started calling the feature of living along side other cultures multiculturalism in the 70's - it was however there long before that as a fact of life - we lived multi culturally with Italians and Greeks the English and the Irish Macedonians Serbs - the tag came later.

And tolerating something causes division and disharmony - I do not get that - or maybe you confuse tolerance with putting up with - because you dont like it or them - I am confused on that point

Cant see the link between multicultaralism and the balance of paments myself. Are you saying that a population of 20mill - without multiculturalism or a high immigrant population - would be faring any better? - how so? - would it be wiser? - or maybe the blame can be laid squarely at the feet of the cost of multilingual pamphlets or a high demand for chick peas, ochra and coriander

And as for cultures changing sure they do - but what is wrong with exposing them to other influences - I see that as a good thing. Why do we accept that the rather linear approach to change that monoculturalism brings about - monocultures have a tendency to be rather backward - it is from the mix that comes the progress.

Pete, you obviously don't know what the policy of Muliculturalism is.
You certainly don't provide any substantial reasons or examples of why it is important and should be supported by us.

Empty rhetoric is hardly facts... mind you over 30 years that's all pro-Multicultis have provided.

Pete

you wrote:

"We started calling the feature of living along side other cultures multiculturalism in the 70's - it was however there long before that as a fact of life - we lived multi culturally with Italians and Greeks the English and the Irish Macedonians Serbs - the tag came later."

unquote.

Yes we did, and sometimes not as smoothly as anyone looking back now would have preferred, there were some rough edges to smooth.

However I would argue that the groups that you have nominated, Italians, Greeks English, Irish Macedonians, Serbs.. are all part of a greater European culture anyway, with traditions and values steeped in classic European outlook on life.

The period up to 'multiculturalism' in Australia was essentially a type of micro-multiculturalism, if I can use that term, not the macro that we have now. Compare the basic underying world view of Europe with those of, for instance, the Subcontinent, Sub Saharan Africa and the Middle East, then consider China, with its cultural basis of Confusionism, which today is even submerging Maoism and communism.

These are very different world views to those of Europe. Those world views being reflected in attitudes towards authority and relationships between people, both inside and outside the family. Even the idea, and value, of 'the individual' varies greatly from culture to culture.

Whilst 'The Clash of Civilisations' ideas of Huntington may be open to criticism, the basic idea is the same. Do we need a localised 'clash of civlisations' in our cities?

And besides, I can remember eating curry (not just peppered foods) around 1962 or earlier..

Ok, Banjo, T800, Hamlet, David_Boaz, easytimes and the rest of the misguided assimilationists (a rather respectful term considering some of your comments and views)…

Now that you have expressed most of your fears and anxieties we should start from the beginning.

quiz: How much do you know about the development of Australia’s multicultural policies?

http://www.multiculturalaustralia.edu.au/activities/quizzes/05multi_policy.htm

Be brave enough to take the test and feel free to admit if you fail miserably.

There are some tests about the Australian history on this site as well.

Good luck!

Thanks for the compliment - t800 - srtictly speaking rhetoric is defined as effective use of language -

My post of the 12th around 9-50 was factual and ably supported by my post of the same day around Noon.

And I am aware of the policy - I live the policy - multiculturalism flows through my veins like tax payer funded brandy through those of our politicians or like Iraquis blood through the gutters of Bagdhad! Dont know what the policy is? Tish Tosh! I resided in Brunswick - home to the mullahs, the Greeks the Italians, the Sudanese - Franco Cotzo the purveyor of fine furniture - my Multicultural credentials are second to none - may be Al Grasby pips me by the width of a tie!

If empty rhetoric is all multi culturalists have it must be mighty powerful suff to have arrested the social agenda for so long and to the betterment of this mighty mighty nation -

the support you deny us is therefore redundant, superfluous to requirements, not needed, we are doing very nicely without it thank you very much

- you may however clamour outside to your hearts content - should you get hungry we will feeed you should you get thirsty we will offer you drink - you'll come around - people always do.

I got 83% on your biased one sided test.

Cut straight to the chase SKhan why European Australians need the 3rd world masses flocking to our country?
With all the negative social baggage these people bring I just can’t see the argument for it.

I don’t expect you to ever concede the point Mr Khan because multiculturalism is intrinsic to you but all I am saying is that main stream Australians are getting sick and tired of arrogant foreigners telling us what’s good for us before the ink on their citizenship papers have dried.
It may sounding surprising to you Mr Khan but there is a heck of a lot more to being an Australian then just having a piece of paper saying that you are now a citizen of this nation.

From the feeble arguments for multiculturalism I can conclude that the benefits of multiculturalism are well…… multiculturalism itself. What I mean is that you are missing out on it in the same way as anyone who does not own an iguana is missing out on the enlightening experience of owning an iguana. Ask any iguana owner and they will tell you it’s the best thing that ever happened to them. Ask any ethnic minority on their thoughts on MC and you will get the same response.
As for me well I don’t want or need an iguana and I can’t see any reason at all for ever having one.