Modern multicuturalism is forcing the world into mono-culture while the right wings of politics are encouraging differences even those using the wrong levers.

It is the caucasian Australian that is being told to pull their heads in while people moving in are allowed to do things that we would be attacked for.

Ronnie,

You appear to be pushing multiculturalism as some untouchable moral highroad, like some of our politicians, who are most likely craving for the ethnic vote. Had you properly read my posts, you would see that I pointed out that no system is necessarily better than another. I concluded that we should try to make what we have work. I needn’t point out the benefits of multiculturalism, as you are only too happy to do so. However, based on my personal observations there are examples of monocultures that have worked extremely well. I draw your attention to Japan and South Korea (some northern European countries may be others examples, but I have not been there, so I cannot say for sure). Both are highly homogenous societies in which everything from etiquette to infrastructure function extremely well. In Australia, thanks to multiculturalism, what is our etiquette? What is one to expect of others? I have no idea what expect of them, as I have experienced everything from unexpected politeness to sheer rudeness. Should we shake hands, or will I get punched in the face? And our infrastructure: what more need I ask than have you ever used Sydney’s rail system, or the airport? This is what I mean by a chaotic society.

You also confuse the definition of culture in this context. An on-line dictionary gives this definition: “the sum total of ways of living built up by a group of human beings and transmitted from one generation to another”. Your examples to discredit monocultures are very poor. The Soviet Union was far from a monoculture, it was made up of many different countries, each with their own distinct culture. Indeed it was the cultural diversity of the Soviet Union that ultimately destroyed it. Political systems and religions, like the Catholic Church, are just part of what makes cultures. Communism would have to have endured for centuries to materially change the underlying cultures within the Soviet Union. In fact, the arguments presented by others in favour of multiculturalism are so pathetic that they make me laugh.

BOAZ_David

Quote:
“On the point of ‘evidence’ for the Muslim youth Counselor and the claims he made, it was on National TV. I saw it and heard it, from his mouth (as did the whole of viewing Australia), and reported it faithfully in my post. He interacts with large numbers of Muslim youth, so he does speak with some authority.”

Unquote:

Very simple. How about you provide real info like…
Who?
When?
Where?
And What?

Quote:
“I would not dare to assume you are against the non racist facilitation of harmonious interaction and communication between ethnic groups... are u?”

Unquote:

Good idea not to assume anything otherwise!
In fact I brought the idea of cross-cultural celebrations to Marrickville council 2.5 years ago.

Here is an example of a cross-cultural event this Saturday in Marrickville- yes my idea in action!

....Marrickville Council is celebrating its relationship with its six sister cities on Saturday 28 October with a Multicultural Evening at the Sydney Portuguese Community Club.

Council has relationships with Bethlehem, Palestine; Funchal, Portugal; Keelung, Taiwan; Kos, Greece; Larnaca, Cyprus; and Safita, Syria.

The Multicultural Evening will feature displays from each of these sister cities, and performances from local cultural groups....

See..., there would be a lot less fear and hate around if the likes of you and Benjamin got out of your holes more often.

Instead wasting your life online and constantly writing hateful messages to feed your darkest instincts, come and join me in Marrickville.......... and may be you and your supremacist friends might get it into your heads that we as a nation are not about colour, race and religion!

Saeed.... quite a bit of passion there I see -well done.

Its quote notable how your perspective is shaped by your own 'ethnicity'... actually.. more accurately by the fact that you see Australia probably as a 'rich mosaic of diverse cultures'. Sure..it is in some areas like yours.
I don't have any problem with your multicultural celebration. I went to one myself a while back. I along with many others in cross cultural marraiges had an evening together. Viet, Philippino, Malay (Muslim) Chinese, Dayak, and even the odd caucasian.
While it was an enjoyable night, there were some worrying examples of 'cultural supremacy' evident, mainly from the Philippino and Chinese. They seemed to be of the opinion that there is no such thing as 'Australian' culture.

On the Who what where when thing.. I can't scrounge up the archive, I just know what I saw and heard.. I'm not blind or deaf.

Now.. getting back to the 'PRINCIPLE' I advocated, which is.. respect for the host culture by newer arrivals. Without a sense of cultural normalcy, "everyone will do what is right in his own eyes" (Joshua 1:8) and their will be chaos.

The guideline should be:

When an a clash of custom arises, the newcomer should acquiesce to the culture of the host. Shake hands...not rub noses, that kind of thing. Its common courtesy.

My other primary mantra is that emphasizing difference leads to conflict.
Here is a classic example from todays paper:

"An Australian employee of CHC Helicopters Australia was badly injured when youths attacked him at Dili's airport on Wednesday.

Rumours have spread in Dili that Australians have been taking sides in the conflict, which Australian commanders deny."
http://www.theage.com.au/news/world/dili-gangs-turn-on-australian-forces/2006/10/26/1161749254467.html

"Difference"...works unTIL... sufficient cultural clash occurs and we get a 'Cronulla'.....Its not about 'supremacy' though you would love it to be :) ..its about human nature.

Robg. I read your post and disagreed with most of your assertions. I not only think multiculturalism is inevitable (as you do) and already always was in place but also think it is the best and safest society long term.

For me history records the failures of monoculturalism. I think Soviet Union failed to become a monoculture because the diversity couldn’t be oppressed. Your argument is a little confused Robg. Don’t you see that the many cultures of the Soviet is what saved it from communism in the long term?

A peasant farmer has a different mindset and history and therefore culture to a communist and thus the peasant’s culture is too grounded to be consumed by a necessarily monocultural society like a communist one. Thus better to have a multicultural society that allows for difference of ideology. Ideology being one of the vitals that informs ones cultural mores.

I have been to Japan. My interpreter was educated in the USA and he had a different set of cultural ideals than his fellows. I went walking around Osaka and I saw diversity. I was handed pamphletts by guys who were clearly not mainstreamers.

They also have a particularly vibrant punk culture which is hardly aspiring to fit in.

I felt very uncomfortable with the idea that servants bow lower and more than their superiors. They use the same bath water for a week too. I don’t know mate. My escort didn’t follow these behaviours.

I will agree that they seem more homogenous than Australia - but so what! Multiculturalism is about accommodating difference and psychology books will tell you that that is a sign of maturity. I think we are up to the challenge. I agree we have a situation and we must deal with it sensibly.

Australia’s etiquette is whatever you feel like. I love it.

How you are relating Sydney’s rail system to multiculturalism is beyond me Robg.

I think that unexpected politeness and rudeness you expereinces are probably an individual malady. Expect politeness and use good manners is all on can do. More to come Robg.

Mercurius – These people were running a business and the extent of their English was “sorry English no sorry” I don’t think they were over hear learning English, maybe French?

The problem with mc is not the individual (but it can be) a lot of the people I know who were not born in Australia are very nice people BUT once you put 100 or 1000 of these people together they become distant and arrogant as a group towards the host culture.

My Muslim friend who I worked with in London was a very nice bloke but we could never be friend outside work because of his religious dogma’s. I would say hey Moh I’m cooking some spaghetti bol do you want some and he would reply where did you buy it? I bought it at budgens (UK version of coles) he would reply sorry I cant eat it unless it has been bought at a special Arabic shop. Moh want a beer? No its against my religion. Well do you want to come down to the pub with us and drink orange juice or coke? No I don’t like being around people who are under the influence of drugs! He was more then happy to socialise as long as it was at a Turkish café or an Iraq restaurant.

The Muslim community failing to act with regards to sheik by sacking him is another big step back for them in Australia. Can you imagine what would happen if any “Australian” said some thing along the lines of what he said? They would be relieved from any position in society very quickly.

I now fully believe Kizer Trad is a pig of a man! After listening to him critics Australia over its efforts in helping in Lebanon watching an SBS doco about a Muslim school opening in Sydney and Trad doing little more then scratch himself during the singing of the national anthem and now watching him feebly try and defend that sheik comments! He is the head of the Muslim “friendship” association haven’t they got anyone any better?