Boaz_David,
Did you see article in todays 'The Australian' regarding a change in Labor's Multicultural Policy.

They are beginning to wake up and are following Blair's lead and that gives me some heart, at last. I think it is being watered down a bit to appease the hardliners. Time will tell!

In my early years, my next door neighbours had a chinese father and caucasian mother. I spent most of my early life in their house.

I can remember their grandfather would come around selling strange and different vegetables from the back of a van which may have been pulled by a horse.

This was before trendy words appeared.

I remember one time I wasn't allowed to play with them and I didn't want to go with my parents. It was just as well because when we got back most of the kids had been stung by a very large number of bees.

I got use to the media telling us how racially prejudice Australians were. But boy did I get a shock of my life when I went overseas.

Many of the countries I visited made Australia look and sound extremely moderate.

Now having worked with people of different cultures I realise how true this is compared to many, many other countries. Arrogance is not just an anglo-saxon thing, I have met people from different cultures who are arrogant as well.

I think that obviously's comments in this thread are "except"-ional :)

Brain drain - Recruitment - I was referring to Boaz's drawing young obviously into his web

Sneeky..and Brainy.. "Obviously" has an independant spirit :) and I have failed to recruit him into a world wide network so far...

Brainy.. you doubt my motives sometimes ? care to elaborate.. I'm pretty thick skinned and if you detect something of importance please impart it, as I value your considered viewpoint and I'd rather learn from a word of your wisdom than from a hundred of C.J. blows :)
(I hope you know the proverb)

I want to re-state.. MULTICULTURALISM =RACISM. The ONLY time in our social/immigration landscape where due leaway and consideration towards foreign cultures should be given is first generation migrants.
We have every moral right to expect migrants to adjust to and assimilate to our culture, as long as this is pointed out prior to them applying for a visa.

MCism promotes 'Them/Us' and I abhor that. I want ALL of us to be 'us'. Can anyone seriously imagine the Warfies chanting 'THE WORKERS.. DIVIDED.. WILL NEVER BE DEFEATED'... nah.. no matter how many times I try it... I'm simply not convinced.

If MCism is our best response to cultures which are fundamentally INcompatible, then we are lamentably stuuuuupid weak and deserve everything we get.
I for one am not prepared on the social level to accept this. I am and will continue to make points even on the streets about this.

I have a planned demo to stand on the steps of St Pauls Cathedral with a sign from the Quran stating "Christians..cursed by Allah"
(Surah 9.30)
Which will then lead to either half bricks being thrown at me or perhaps some serious discussions about true discipleship and its cost. (or both)
Including obligatory handout leading to a web site.
Namby Pamby Christianity will take us nowhere, just as namby pamby immigration policy WILL take us somewhere... and its a bad place.
And for anyone who things such innovative methods are beyond God and 'silly', read Hosea chapter 1.

"Beware of practicing your piety before men in order to be seen by them; for then you will have no reward from your Father who is in heaven." - MATTHEW 6:1