sorry, guys, islam is not the problem. stupidity, ignorance, parochialism, and exploitation of the fear of strangers: that's the problem.

australia's only real worry? step over to a mirror.

The only dangerous game being played is pretending that Islam is peaceful. This is the 1930s all over again. For 10 years Churchill spoke out against the Nazis but the BBC wouldnt broadcast his speaches. They said that his words would antagonize the Nazis. Well, we known how well appeasement worked up to 1-Sept-1939.

Chamberlain would be proud of Mr. Holden. He blames everybody but Muslims for Muslims' problems. Mr Holden, have you read the hadith? You you known about the evil deeds done by Mohammad? Do you care? Remember, Muslims love the man and consider him a moral example. That should tell you all you need to know

Understand that the massive immigration of Muslims to the West is a new phenomena. Prior to the 1960s when immigrants came from Muslim countries, it was mostly Christians escaping the evils and discrimination they suffered under Islam and Sharia. Now Muslim come and they bring their hate, intolerance with them.

In case you haven't followed current events, it is not the West attacking Muslim citizens, it is Muslim citizens attacking the countries in which they live, in the name of Islam.

Worse yet, there is nothing we can do. Dialogue wont change anything. Islam teaches alienation and hate. You will notice other immigrant communities don't have this problem. Ask why. Think. What can it be?

Muslims will be Muslims and will do what their dear prophet did: murder, plunder, torture, rape, beat their wives and wait til the time is right to attack and subdue the infidels. That is the story in the hadith (Islamic traditions). That is how Mohammad conquered Arabia. Remember, Muslims always say "Praise be unto him" after this man's name. Muslim immigration is just a slow jihad. Even after the Iraq war is over nothing will change, Muslims will find another excuse to hate and attack - and people like Mr Holden will blame it on us and call for more dialogue.

Things are going to get worse, and be sure that Muslims will start it. They cannot be honest about Islam or their dear leader.

Kactuz

All I can say is Australia does not need immigrants. I'm sick of being subjected to all the propaganda about multiculturalism. Every time I turn on the ABC there is more MC propaganda ( no informed unbiased debate). Most people from other countries are simply more primitive than Australians. Look around the world, the only places people want to migrant to are the white anglo countries. Are there any advanced countries from non white cultures?, the only exception I think is Japan. Why is this? I believe it is concerned with the evolution of man. Man is still evolving. Over thousands of years different cultures have been responsible for building different countries and civilisations. Now most migrants are trying to get into advanced western countries, but still want to bring their primitive backward cultures with them. And the ABC and the rest of the media heavily promote how these primitive cultures are somehow meant to advance and enrich my country.
Whoever it was that suggested Greek and Italians have assimilated is clearly mistaken. Only a few months ago there were thousands of Greeks in the streets waving their flags. Clearly many of them must have been born here. I think this was concerned with a soccer match. Why are these people born in Australia waving a foreign flag. GO home, get out of my country.
Why can't people grow up, except difference, and people live in the countries where they belong, if its broken fix it, don't just bludge of someone else's country. I feel 99% confident in believing that unless this happens there will be big trouble in the next 20 years.

>>If you keep smearing a race, nationality or social class the members will come together and collectively strike back as one.>>

There is no such thing as a "race" of Muslims.

There is no Muslim "nationality."

Muslims do not form a "social class."

Islam is a system of beliefs.

I would like posters here to give me ONE REASON why Islam should be immune from analysis, critique, satire, expressions of contempt, denigration or scorn.

Remember that any reason you give must apply equally to capitalism, Christianity, Fascism, Marxism, Nazism, Scientology and socialism to name but a few.

If you want to say "You should not talk that way about Muslims" you also have to be prepared to say "You should not talk that way about Americans, capitalists, Christians, Communists, imperialists, Jews, Nazis, Sikhs, toffs, socialists, Zionists or proponents of intelligent design."

No adult in Australia is compelled to be a Muslim anymore than they are compelled to be a supporter of the Liberal Party. If an adult in Australia CHOOSES to be a Muslim he or she must expect to be judged in the same manner, and according to the SAME RULES, as somebody who CHOOSES to adhere to the tenets of any other ideology or religion.

Islam is NOT a "no go" area any more than any other ideology or religion.

Do some people use an attack on Islam as a cover for their racism?

Yes.

Do some people attack Israel as a cover for their anti-Semitism?

Yes.

Does that mean Israel should be immune from criticism?

Are critics, satirists and pundits generally under any compunction to be "fair?"

The answer is that they are not.

Demos,

what a great contribution to the argument, Well thought through and backed up by evidence. Please allow me to reply in kind. Australia’s only real worry is people like you who insist on pretending that terrorists do not pose any threat to us.

You and your ilk have created ghettoes in our major cities, where many migrants never have to learn English or understand Australian values. You allowed these people to bring their home country here and the problems that we are having at the moment are a direct consequence. Multiculturalism, like self determination for the Aborigines, is a monumental failure of policy of the left.

When these deranged psychopaths finally let off a dirty bomb or a biological weapon somewhere, you’ll no doubt finally wake up. I hope you won’t still be pretending that we have more to fear from anti terror laws. You and your fellow soft lefties concern for poor Dr Haneef and David Hicks dwarfs any concern you have shown for the victims of terror. This is typical of the soft left, concern for the perpetrator instead of the victim. This fits in nicely with your theory that we in the West deserve the terrorist atrocities we suffer

Justoneperson

Lets keep in perspective that we are talking about this century, wrongs done in past centuries are not relevant. If you are calling the coalition invasions of Afghanistan and Iraq, terrorism, then you are just another sorry apologists for the Islamic Fundamentalists. Terrorism is about achieving your aims through creating enough fear in the minds of your enemies that they capitulate. The islamo fascists do this by killing as many people as they can. Don’t be under any misapprehension; the amount of killing they have done has been limited by their capabilities. If they had a nuclear weapon they would set it off tomorrow.

As for the British, they at least accept the equality of the sexes and they also don’t make death threats when their religious icons are teased. In fact, in what way do they hold different values to us?

A most peculiar point of view which seems to be that by doing nothing to identify and curb militant islamists in our own country we, in some way, add to our security. Is the writer on the planet? We have an ever expanding world-wide Islamist jihad in place as I write, with corresponding atrocities almost every hour. Whether this state of affairs is arguably justified is irrelevent - it is the fact that is of concern. This dreadful business has taken on a life of its own and draws sustenance from followers of the (alleged) written word of allah. Whether all muslims are jihadists is also irrelevent - enough of them are to fully justify the application of the most Draconian laws available. Haneef fully deserved to be jailed and eventually thrown out of the country - guilt by association in the current climate of mindless and random violence is good enough for me. Ask the victims (and the families of the dead) of the London bombings. Perhaps the young lady who lost both legs would have a comment to make. One also wonders , if the situation was reversed and a suspected christian bomber was picked up in Pakistan, how the matter would be handled over there. I suspect that Haneef had the better deal of the two. We should let no more Muslims into the country, and keep a very tight rein on those already here. Our own egalitarianism will very likely be our downfall. To hell with bleeding hearts, Paddington coffee lounge lefties, and Sunday morning christians - the well-being of my family, my kind, and myself is uppermost in my mind.