GEORGINA SAID:

"Multiculturalism requires that we embrace “our Australian-grown customs” and values, which include freedom, tolerance, inclusion, responsibility, mateship and “a fair go”."

Ok.. lets TEST this where the rubber meets the road.
Examples

1/ When intervied after the Cronulla events, a Muslim youth counsellor stated on national TV as follows:

a) Muslim youth regard themselves as superior to Aussies.
b) They detest western values.

2/ Marrickville Signage. The issue is current.. many businesses are only using 'ethnic' language on their signs.
Saed Kahn, a Marrickville Councilor said regarding the push to enforce English/Ethnic languge on all signs "a bad idea and possibly illegal"

So.. where is 'tolerance and fair go' in ideas of 'racial/religious superiority and linguistic discrimination against the majority of the population ?

I contend, that emphasis on diversity not only creates social barriers and racial tension but it is PROVED to do so.

Georgina, that statistic you quoted about '45% of Australians born overseas, or has at least one parent so' is very tricky and deceptive.

It masks the fact that still, the predominant ethno/cultural background of 70% of Australians is British. (in the wider UK sense)
as MOST of those born overseas are from the UK.

I have a simple test for you ... are u happy with the idea of marrying an Aussie of English background and adopting the name Smith or Jones or something ? That is our 'culture' you know :)
Or.. lets say you keep your own surname.. no biggy. but your children ? they will still be Smiths or Jones's.......rather than Dimopoulos. Or would you insist on 'Jones-Dimopoulos' ?

Now.. here is the REAL test, if you objected, would it be due to an sense of Greek Racial or cultural superiority ? :)

My Anglo cousin is married to an Italian bloke, and she took his name.

Gheko

You say we should embrace difference etc...

Would you feel comfortable if I crammed your life back to the understanding of a baby ? You would have an adult body, but the understanding of a kid. That is the reality for someone who does not understand 'language'.

Now..when ur a toddler its ok, because you have a few years to learn.
But when you are an adult....and you have already formed your identity, it can be a cruel crushing dehumanizing blow of huge proportions.

"Embrace Difference" is a slogun. Would you embrace it if it socially marginalized your chidren ?

The whole idea of a common language is so a society can function efficiently.

Lets ask.. does it "diminish" a migrant who does not speak much English to have a sign in English as well as his own langauge ?

Why would a person NOT want to make his products or services known to the general populace UNLESS he has some specific reasons.

1/ He wishes to discriminate against them and not do business with non 'his' ethnicity.
2/ He is not interested in 'EMBRACING' the host culture which graciously gave him a place to live.

Tolerance
Acceptance
Fair go
Embracing...

are TWO way streets.
It was good enough for me to learn Indonesian and Malay and a tribal language.. so I could preach in them, (rather than use English and be interpreted, taking twice as long) and its good enough for migrants to come here and learn to use our language. Note..'our' language..
Its called 'good manners' and 'embracing'.

I can feel just as much at home in Malaysia as here.. because I embraced....wait for it... sit down first.. ok..here it is... "THEIR" cultures. *hint-hint*

*do for others as you would like them to do for you*

FG

Jerzy Zubrzycki.

“United in diversity” That makes as much sense as “Divided in being the same”

PLEASE ANYONE: Can someone tell me the benefits for European Australians of multiculturalism I am dying to be let in on the worlds biggest secret!

Oh and shutup Mercurius the only thing you are contributing is your ignorance. Everyone can see that multiculturalism takes away from the host culture waters it down and rapes it.

Boaz's sermon on monoculturalism has been effectively answered at http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=164#3466 . I really couldn't be bothered flogging this particular dead horse again.

Good comment, Gecko, yep, we do get used to non-Anglos, sometimes more than our own breed. As an oldie who grew in the wheatbelt, we had all types working on wheatstacks just across from the weatherboard school. Us kids used to call the Italians and darker Greeks or Slavs dings or dagos. But never the Swedes or Norwegians.

So it was all about colour, the darker the less acceptable. But no one ever got angry with us kids, even the Afghan camel-team drivers.

In old age, how pleasurable it is to see and feel the benefits of time and change, paying full respect to sport and mixed marriages, and especially to our famous Australian Afghan poet and writer - sorry but forget his name.