The few Muslims I know, I like very much but that doesn't mean the Muslim community as a whole is not hostile and dangerous. It clearly is. I think we've only had a strong awareness of local Islam for a decade or so, yet we already have a chicken-and-egg-problem (eg Cronulla).

I don't think we're a nation of haters - ie of people who enjoy hating. However, I do believe we are literally Islamaphobic (afraid of Islam): and with good reason. It isn't hatred yet, but I think the fear will morph into hatred if we don't manage it. I've always heard that the best cure for fear is information - so, without rhapsodising, I'd agree with JHH that getting nearer to "the problem" is more likely to work than standing back and glaring at them. Get inquisitive, and all going well it will be reciprocated.

I'm not optimistic about this - the behaviour of Muslims in Europe is not very promising - but I still think we should give it a go.

Great post pegasus. Agree with your observations entirely.

In my experience, there are extremists in all circles - including those we might consider to be our own. Your appraisal of the author of this piece, is about right to me.

I also believe they [extremists] are generally small in number (whatever their 'background') - despite their abilty to raise the decibels. Like wasps, if you ignore them, eventually, they go away.

WHO.... ARE THE HATERS ?

Quran 9:30

SHAKIR: And the JEWS say: Uzair is the son of Allah; and the CHRISTIANS say: The Messiah is the son of Allah; these are the words of their mouths; they imitate the saying of those who disbelieved before; MAY ALLAH DESTROY THEM; how they are turned away!

HADITH bukhari Volume 4 Book 56 number 660

On his death-bed Allah's Apostle put a sheet over his-face and when he felt hot, he would remove it from his face. When in that state (of putting and removing the sheet) he said, "MAY ALLAH'S CURSE BE ON THE JEWS AND CHRISTIANS for they build places of worship at the graves of their prophets."

JESUS TAUGHT.

3"Blessed are the poor in spirit,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven.
4Blessed are those who mourn,
for they will be comforted.
5Blessed are the meek,
for they will inherit the earth.
6Blessed are those who hunger and thirst for righteousness,
for they will be filled.
7Blessed are the merciful,
for they will be shown mercy.
8Blessed are the pure in heart,
for they will see God.
9Blessed are the peacemakers,
for they will be called sons of God.
10Blessed are those who are persecuted because of righteousness,
for theirs is the kingdom of heaven

We could well be living in 1936 many refused to see that mad Nazi as a threat many in fact loved him.
Muslims hate us far more than we hate them.
But we are learning ,not yet to hate but maybe not to trust or believe many of them.
How many believe anything that Trad bloke says?
As his lips move you can see he is about to lie.
A world free of any and all religion that says some humans are lesser people would be a better world.

It used to be claimed that Australia rode on the sheep's back.
Would that be the same sheep who pass as citizens, the sheep which are herded by "leaders" and mass media to distrust Muslims, terrorists (whatever they are supposed to be), in fact ANYTHING which is not the norm?

Australians are conditioned into accepting competition as desirable.
It's important to the misguided culture have someone to fight, and to suffer from religious fervour in support of clash.

Richard Dawkins makes a profound proposal- "Imagine No Religion."
I wish!

To those posters on this thread that are critical of "Muslims"

Cannot you be a bit more specific and does your criticism have a purpose?

Mine is specific in that I am critical of Lebanese muslims and the purpose is to stop further immigration of this incompatable group.

Firstly we, in Aus, do not seem to have problems with muslims, other than the Leb variety. I have not seen or heard of many problems with other nationalities of muslims. so general criticism is unjustified, but more than enough evidence exists to show that Leb muslims will not integrate and many (not just a few) cause disharmony in the community. It also must be noted that we have no problems with the Lebanese people that are not muslim.

If anyone can show that we do have problems, in Aus, with muslims that are not Lebs, I would like to know. Reports from overseas show problems with other muslims nationalities and that is worth keeping tabs on.

As i said my purpose is to stop Leb muslim immigration so as not to compound the problems. This means lobbying my local MP and the Minister for Immigration each time a Leb muslim incident arises, which is quite often. Letters to local and major papers as well.
I does little to just have a bitch on OLO, and you wil not alter the opinion of the left anyway. Don't give OLO away, just use other avenues as well.

I do think a good case can be put to stop Leb muslim immigration but based on our local experience, not muslim immigration in general.

Some things to think about.