Vankleef.. I don't know where to begin with what's dodgy about that post.

1) "IN MY EYES, THESE LADIES MAKE THEMSELVES LOOK SO SILLY AND LOW CLASS"

If this issue were just about making impressions on people, might I suggest not using caps lock next time.

2) IF I WERE TO GO AROUND WEARING SAY: "BUCKETS" ON MY FEET, I'D BE STARED AT AS WELL. THAT WOULD BE QUITE LOGICAL. BY WEARING ONE'S "NATIONAL" COSTUME FOR EVERYDAY WEAR IS SO STUPID THAT IN THESE INSTANCES THE LADIES MUST EXPECT TO BE STARED AT AND LAUGHED AT. THESE COSTUMES SHOULD ONLY BE WORN IN THE HOME OR AT THEIR OWN CLUBS OR FUNCTIONS.

National costume? What nation might I ask?
Besides, if you want to talk stupid items of clothing, perhaps you can explain to me, the function of a tie. I've yet to figure out why they're worn, and they seem like a useless dangly bit - but perhaps it isn't my place to tell people they should only wear them in their own homes.

ARE THESE PEOPLE HARD OF HEARING OR BLIND OR DUMB

None of the above.

DON'T THEY KNOW THEY RESIDE IN AUSTRALIA?

I wasn't aware we had a national uniform.

DON'T GO AROUND WEARING MY LACE CAP AND MY WOODEN CLOGS EITHER, DO I? I WOULD IF I DID NOT WANT TO BE ACCEPTED INTO AUSSIE SOCIETY FOR THAT IS WHAT THEY ARE DOING AND IT IS PURELY THEIR OWN FAULT, NOT OURS!

Okay... but by that logic, I'm allowed to insult people with funny accents, those who eat foreign food, or people who dress in anything I don't consider 'normal' actually, pretty much any activity that isn't anglo-saxon sanctioned could be targeted.

"This is a secular state and we are right to be concerned about our democratic institutions and freedom."

=> Excuse me. Have some faith! Do you honestly believe that our democratic institutions are threatened by a piece of cloth? Have you completely lost the plot?

=> We are a secular country. We are not a country which stops people from expressing their faith so long as it doesn't involve breaking the law. How on earth does a Muslim or Jewish or Sikh woman wearing something on her head break the law?

"How appropriate would it be to always wear a headband with another country's flag, because that is what the scarf is intended to be.."

Then, you may find the following story interesting perhaps:

http://www.smh.com.au/news/National/Young-Muslim-women-wear-Aussie-hijab/2006/03/21/1142703347588.html

These are positive steps in multiculturalism. When people feel integrated into a national community, then we have the best chance to learn from each other's cultures, not by aggressive stances that say what others "must" do.

It is entirely disingenuous that people will somehow wish to become more "Australian" by force of dislike alone.

-- M. Randwick

Irfan,

If you cannot reason logically, please... the least you can do is show a little integrity in your posts.
Has anyone (other than yourself) suggested that: "... democratic institutions are threatened by a piece of cloth" ??

You asked: "How on earth does a Muslim or Jewish or Sikh woman wearing something on her head break the law?"
Simple - If there is a law prohibiting Muslim (or anyone) wearing something on the head, then wearing such thing on that person's head is breaking the law. But if there is no such law, then doing so is not breaking a law.

Next time think more carefully before you wantonly dish out stupid rhetoric !!

( Perhaps a BS lawyer is the type criminals need the most )

The headscarf is the symbol of victimhood,therefore the avenue through which minorities suppress the rights of the silent majority.

It is now a political tool of fear through which once an obsecure faith struggled for the slightest breath of recognition in Western Society.

Born from fear,chaos and violence,it will be our deathnell as we stive to placate this evil in the name of tolerance and understanding.

Any belief system that defies the laws of the universe in the name of it's imaginery god is a contradiction to all logic,which has raised the consciousness of our humanity beyond simplistic awe struck troglodytes.

We suckle at the comfort dummy of religion at our peril.Religion is the tool of suppression and power used by inadaquate men to hide their own ignorance and cowardice.

"These are positive steps in multiculturalism."

Multi-culturalism with Islam? First, you can eat all types of their food but they can't eat yours (assuming you are not a Muslim) 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 disown by his/her family. So multiculturalism in the Western world 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.

But when Arabic Muslims in Sudan commit genocide against their fellow black African Muslims, there is almost absolute silence from the Islamic world, especially the Arab countries.

Islam and multi-culturalism are contradiction in terms.