GZ Tan, don't blame Muslims for creating the society they want. It's their right under multiculturalism. The culture with the most representatives rules. Australia had an opportunity to create a genuine multiracial society but, chose to govern by culture instead. Now Australia has competing cultures and no genuine Australian society. Each enclave unto itself. Muslims and Islam might be our only hope of reversing the nihilism running rampant in Australia. The dictates of Islam might be the impetus needed to change some of the laws and we may finally get around to living together as a society, rather than manufacturing, social engineering society by political trend.

Bon appetite, Yvonne: "The 'Anglo-saxon' culture has a critical role to play, the role of a sandwich maker "-rather of a vegetable spread as a religions-obsessed too big effect leaves sandwich-making up to own gods.

I am very sorry-which " 'Anglo-saxon' culture"? -mentality and culture of the UK-biologically-linked differ between Anglo-sphere countries, depending on political systems and surroundings. And paedophilia, incest and over-saturated interest to all sexual are recently common worldwide.

aqvarivs, Islam and multiculturalism are contradiction in terms.

Multiculturalism is based upon the ideals of free-speech, freedom of religion, freedom to choose one’s religion, secularism, freedom of thought, tolerance, respect and cross-fertilisation of the best from every culture.

But these ideas are foreign to Islamic teaching. First, you (assume a non-Muslim) can eat all types of Muslim food but they can't eat yours because it is not halal. Then you need separate utensils for eating and cooking because you non-Muslims are declared unclean by their "God".

Koran in the fifth Surah and verse 51, specifically teach Muslims to be hostile towards Christians and Jews, .."take not Jews and Christians for your friends and protectors..."

A Muslim book for kids in the UK teach that "…Christians and Jews as pigs and monkeys".The Director of the school was given the opportunity to condemn the book but she does not intend to do so because she is a Muslim. http://www.bbc.co.uk/blogs/newsnight/2007/02/tuesday_6_february_2007.html

You, a non-Muslim is welcome by the Muslims to convert to Islam but when a born-Muslim leaves his/her religion, he/she must be put to death or be disowned by his/her family. So multiculturalism in a non-Muslim majority society becomes determined by the narrowest and most prejudiced practices of Islam.

The Muslim can criticise other religions and political systems but non-Muslims can't say anything bad about Islam or else it will send the Muslim world running amuck destroying buildings, properties, etc. or cutting off heads of Christian girls like they do in Indonesia.

Islam has to reinvent itself to fit this modern world, otherwise they are best left to themselves.

Philip Tang, "Multiculturalism is based upon the ideals of free-speech, freedom of religion, freedom to choose one’s religion, secularism, freedom of thought, tolerance, respect and cross-fertilisation of the best from every culture."

Philip, "Multiculturalism is a philosophy that is sometimes construed as ideology advocating that modern society should at least embrace and include distinct cultural groups with equal cultural and political status. (Wikipedia)"

It is this observable and manufactured social and political schism that ensures that the majority culture rules. White Anglo-Saxon "British" culture once ruled as a majority culture in Australia. Not any longer. The majority of those people have chosen socialism or nihilism or feminism and would prefer not to reproduce. It's really become too much trouble for the poor wretches to cope with it all. Australia must have migrants to keep the machine running because the originators have bailed on their society. It's as simple as that. If the originators had taken up the responsibility to maintain their own society migrants would not be needed and multiculturalism would not be an aspect of governing. People would and could still migrate to Australia but, they wouldn't be NEEDED to maintain the machine, so such a high value wouldn't be assigned to each culture. Most certainly not equal social and political status as under multiculturalism. "British culture" once dominated. Now we are waiting to see who's will be the new dominate culture. There are two you can exclude form this cultural race. Aboriginal and Anglo-Saxon. Feel free to cheer on your own. It's your cultural right.

Yvonne..glad to know I warm your heart sometimes :)

But I grab a bone and POINT it at that scallywag CJ Morgan (who is now cursed) who will find a 'racist' behind every rock and under every green tree.. like the Israelites of old had their idols.

I tell a simple story of human interaction and he finds racism in me, - Unnnnnbelievvvable.

I hope CJ goes for a walk around Dandenong some time, and he would quickly be aware that there are many very noticably different races there, and that speaking about this reality of life is nothing to do with racism.

The core issue of 'Multiculturalism' and the most offensive is the TERM itself.
a) It is not needed.
b) It suggests the predomimant culture is now just 'one of many' rather than what it really is. (Our Culture)

If we ever have to explain who 'our' is or apologise for it, then we may as well pack our bags and goto antarctica.

What IS needed is that we teach people in our society to love each other as ourselves ! That includes respecting their culture and THEY respecting ours. It also includes migrants being taught that when there is a clash of culture, the prevailing one must prevail .... this (for the umpteen zillionth time) is plain good manners.

We need emphasis on CITIZENSHIP not 'multiculturalism'

Good Citizens:
-Care about others.
-Respect others.
-Are due respect from others.
-Do not treat people of a different race or cultural background in a demeaning way. (But if needed, they do helpfully point out that you don't 'bow' or rub noses in greeting others in Australia, you shake hands)
-They will even help those with limited English to improve by explaining how we use some words or giving hints about correct grammar to convey correct meaning.

SO.. "Multi-Culture-alism OUT..and 'CITIZENSHIP' IN.

BOAZ_David

You are so predictably arrogant and blinkered on this topic.

You define 'Multiculturalism' in a specific manner i.e. as offensive, then condemn it - as offensive. Your own circular argument is not only dishonest, it is unhelpful to those really interested in the debate. Please find out the difference between a descriptive definition, a prescriptive definition and a programmatic definition. (Any standard text on clear thinking will help.)

For you, a philosophy that you label as 'Multiculturalism' somehow "suggests the predomimant culture is now just 'one of many' rather than what it really is. (Our Culture) If we ever have to explain who 'our' is or apologise for it, then we may as well pack our bags and go to antarctica."

An old legal trick - ask a double-barreled question or describe something as two things - and then ask the defendant whether they agree or disagree. Yet you know full well that an explanation of 'our' is quite different from an aplogy for 'our'.

Then comes your sleazy appeal to 'plain good manners'. What used to be called 'might is right' is morphed into a false THEM/US dichotomy.

Speaking of false dichotomies: since when has CITIZENSHIP been the opposite of 'multiculturalism'

Finally David (although I am not optimistic that you will get it) your claim that "in greeting others in Australia, you shake hands" may well be true for you but for many of us a warm bearhug is infinitely better. Please stop telling OTHERS (your put-down) how WE conduct ourselves in Australia.