"although I forsee some social tension when local women find out that black men tend to have larger penises"-moblet, you think so hah, but race is but mere fictious, they cannot possbly have larger penises any more that i can have a larger brain, you racist man!

Rainier,
I understand the 'underlying logic' you see. I'm antibigot (can't really say anti-racist 'cos I've painted myself into a corner by denouncing that 'race', other than the Human Race, exists!) by Nature, not exactly by choice.

My Father was one of the most bigoted man i ever knew. He believed that nothing was as good as the particular culture he came from before emigrating to Aus when I was a child, and he would denigrate almost everything Australian (Mainly because of the ignorance of young Aussie males he taught as Apprentices, constantly poking 'racial' type abuse at him. He learned through this to hate Australians and died of Cancer with the desire still strong to go back 'home'. Even after 30 years here.) I fight my own battles but it does help one's spirit to know others are fighting it with you.

I don't believe Banjo is as bad as you seem to think - but as long as you're sure of your ground and it's not based entirely upon misunderstandings? it's your battle I guess?

We do all have different starting points. Even though we all live in the 'same' Australia.

Everyone,
I think there would be far less antipathy in this thread were it not for the events of 9/11 and two Asian wars resultant from it.

Anti-Muslim hysteria has reached the point in here where some seem to believe Multiculturalism=Pro-Islam (WRONG!)

Islam is a religion practiced in different country's. It is not A culture per se. The vast majority of Muslims do not agree with one another (take the 8 year long Iran/Iraq war) on a great many things even their religion or laws.

And I am NOT Muslim, nor do I hold preference for their beliefs in the slightest. I am anti-bigot, anti-hypocrite (although occasionally capable of lapsing into one) and mostly anti-stupidity.

I believe it to be hypocrisy to say we believe in a tolerant, fair, society for all and then try to prevent a specific 'type' of people from coming into our country to live under our laws.

Onya Brainy.... even though there is a 'drain' you still have some grey matter left old son :)

Err curiosity has the better of me now.... from which country /culture did ur dad come ?

Keep up the good work, your heart is showing through and this is a good thing.

If 9/11 was the reason we are concerned about the impact of Islam, then God help us, because it would mean we are trying to catch the horse after it bolted out the gate. Its also suggestive of knee jerk reaction rather than calculated policy.

Islam is just one of a number of trends that should be monitored and controlled.
cheers all

Wouldn't it be more accurate to say Militant Islam is what we should keep an eye on? Or for that matter any creed which seeks to convert others to their cause, whether by force or coercion?

The road to hell is paved with good intentions. It matters not which deity inspired them.

Braindrain,

I’m sure you’re father was a good man who simply could not cope with living in this redneck wonderland.
But I think that he did cope and he raised a son who obviously understands this wonderland for the better. My own father lived the same story.

That the were generous in their outlook of imparting knowledge and a different world view to people who would have otherwise not have had that experience must have been totally frustrating to them both.

This is a very pubescent nation compared to many others and the term multicultural merely describes was it is and the values we all know are vital to a multi-cultural society that we will pass on to our children.

The racists here on OLO don’t fear future change as they often continue to argue against.

They fear walking out their front doors and trying to understand where they live now.

They don’t have the social or cultural skills required and are too proud to learn them.

I say let them rot in their xenophobic paranoia indoors. We don’t need them, but they certainly need us.

PS.
Don’t tell Boaz David about your fathers’ background- he thinks non-whiteness is an exotic vulnerability that’s crying out for his Christian missionary/nationalist intervention and advice. He’s still trying to work out why this isn’t his role in life

A lot of interesting views and a thoroughly worthwhile deabate despite some name callimg.

But argue as you wish, Australia does at the moment have many cultures. Each will learn to co-exist in time perhaps we will end up with one culture, only time will tell.

Here and now in my lifetime we have many differences. You can all accept and revel in the variations or sit and winge. I know what I am doing.