Is the issue really multiculturalism, assimilation or integration? Or is it the culture of self-hate and self-apology for our Australian culture that is pervading our educational institutions, media and government bodies and seeping out into mainstream.

Can we really expect new immigrants to jump on board our Aussie culture, when it is being continually denigrated by people who have too much power and publicity and influence on public policy.

Howard recognises this and is determined to claw back respectability for being an Aussie.

You can have different cultures with their various foods,dress and beliefs,but we all must be competent in the English language,have a common core set of values and obey the rule of law.

Too often multiculturalism has implied that immigrants can be an island and just take from the society that affords them such wealth without being respectful of the history that has made us such a prosperous and free society.It is the left which has perverted the word and we need to find another term to reflect this diversity,yet express unity.

Well how can you say that people can have different "beliefs" but still obey by the same set of "core" values? Where do you draw the line between an accepted belief and something that is apparently core to being Australian?

For that matter, what do you believe to be "core" Australian values? We are always talking about being Aussie, but in practical terms, what values does that entail?

It is interesting that both of these authors work in the immigration (or more specifically refugee) industry. Self serving, sheltered in safe well paid jobs and loathing of the bulk of the Australian population. These authors are likely to be sheltered from the side effects of high immigration such as the higher cost of living. And these types of snobbish parasites have a lot of power in our society. How sad.

"So where does that lead us - integration or segregation?"

I've had a gutful of this. So put me down for segregation. Eugenia and Vanessa et al, you keep pushing this line of resistance, and segregation is exactly what I will vote and campaign for.

Although separation would be a better option than segregation (which implies you are still in Australia).

All this talk is useless, demography is destiny. It's like Arnold Schwarzenegger telling millions of Californian hispanics to "turn awf Sparnish tellivisharn so you can learn English". Or like complaining that Mohammed will be the most popular boys name in Britain in 2007. It all means diddly squat when, as Melanie Phillips says: "if there is no longer an overarching culture, there is nothing into which minorities can integrate". And so we are at that point - the head is talking, but the body is growing in another direction.

So let's turn off immigration and "invite" everyone left in Australia to assimilate or leave. Lest the head be eaten by the body.

It is heartening to see American is waking up from their open-border insanity and openly calling for a halt to immigration:

http://abandonskip.blogspot.com/2007/05/immigration-usa.html

Judging from the posts from those who clamor for assimilation and doing away with multiculturalism there wouldn't be many who have immigrated to this country from a different culture.

If you were you would know that just to manage in the first few years doesn't leave much time for 'taking over' anything. By the time you are on your feet, emotionally and psychologically, you like what Australia has to offer thank you very much.

Australia is not France or Britain or any European country. Australia is a country made up largely from immigrants. Therefore Australia has a culture that is evolving and developing faster than in countries with a centuries set culture. That is what makes Australia so dynamic.

There is no such thing as a 'culture' that is unchanging anywhere in the world anyway. Australia is lucky in that it is much more flexible than most nations.

It is an inherent self-doubt and 'chip' on the shoulder from multiple generation Australians that they think that newcomers want to make fundamental changes. Newcomers came here for a better life, not more of the same from their 'old' country.

I've said it before. When I first arrived here, I was told: 'In Rome do as the Romans do; in Australia you do not talk about religion, politics and sex.' We are now, that is changing culture. Change does not mean it has to be for the worse.