David Palmer: "Come to any number of Presbyterian (Baptist, Catholic, Pentecostal, etc, etc) congregations in the 'burbs and you will see real live multiculturalism at work across multiple ethnic groups and all under the Christian banner"

So multiculturalism's OK as long as it's Christian?

Cornflower - no worries :)

Dresdener: "To put it simply, European civilisation forms the indispensable basis of modern Australia"

No argument there. However, we've moved on a long way from there. The toothpaste's out of the tube, old chap.

Rainier: "Take my hand brother; let me lead you out of the darkness into the light! Don't be scared, my color is only skin deep.".

Hear, hear. Let's have less fear and more mutual respect.

LOL, Rainier, you demonstrate yet again that the last refuge of the cornered Leftie is an accusation of racism.

You are the only person here discussing race, Rainier. The rest of us are discussing culture.

I'll not deny that some people use "culture" as code for "race." But most don't. For myself, when I speak about "culture" I mean just that.

Chinese Confucian culture and Indian Hindu culture seem very compatible with mainstream Australian culture. Immigrants from these cultures, and their descendants, seem to prosper here. I personally would have no concerns if the number of immigrants from these sources were to rise. Neither Chinese nor Indians are white.

I do have a question mark in my mind about some other cultures. Not races. I'm not even sure what a "race" is.

rainier

Are you arguing that certain cultures and belief systems should be immune from critique, analysis, satire and scorn?

If so which ones? Choose from the following list (in alphabetical order).

Agnosticism, Atheism, Buddhism, Christianity (Catholic), Christianity (Orthodox), Christianity (Protestant), Fascism, Hinduism, Islam (Shia), Islam (Sunni), Judaism, Marxism, Nazism, Scientology, Sikhism, Socialism, Vegetarianism, Zionism, Zoroastrianism.

Feel free to add to the list.

These are not rhetorical questions rainier. I'm genuinely interested in your answers.

Let's try and avoid "yes but" or "no but" replies in which the "but" negates the original answer.

We either have free speech or we don't. (NOW THERE'S A CORE AUSTRALIAN VALUE!)

Rainier,

Without doubt you are a racist. I would be sacked on the spot if I made comments like yours but inserted the word ‘black’ or ‘yellow’ or ‘Muslim’ everywhere ‘white’ occurred. I invite everyone to reread Rainier’s posts with this change in mind.

Whilst there are some posters on OLO who want to end non white immigration, they are among a very small minority of those who oppose multiculturalism. The problems we face due to multiculturalism aren’t about race or ethnicity, they are about expectation. Multiculturalism encourages the ghettofication of our cities by not encouraging new migrants to engage with Australians and our culture. There are not expected to learn English, which is a major barrier to better understanding between new migrants and other Australians. We also tolerate bigotry and prejudice where it otherwise would not be tolerated. In short multiculturalism puts up barriers where bridges should be built

The fanciful and dangerous idea that anyone can come to Australia and live their life as though they were still in their home country is perpetuated by multiculturalism. It is a divisive policy that has brought nothing but trouble.

By the way Rainier, if you bothered to take a look at the monocultures of this world, you would note that they are virtually all non-white. Australia is among the most racially and ethnically mixed countries in the world.

As I and others have said before, we don’t care what colour, caste, religion or culture a person is. What should be important to those who wish to migrate to Australia is a willingness to become an Aussie and embrace our way of life.

Those who insist that opponents of multiculturalism are opponents of non-white immigration are either, like Rainier rabid racists or simpletons.

xoddam,

Please let's get the facts right about Australians and EEC nationals voting in the UK. see:

http://www.lothian-vjb.gov.uk/er_qualify_txt.htm

If you consider voting in scottish and local elections full voting rights good luck to you.

Forest Gump,

I completely sympathise with you on your attitude to our Constitution, but you have to remember that it is interpreted by our marvellous High Court.

Section 30 of the Constitution allows parliament to determine the qualifications to vote in commonwealth elections in any way it pleases, subject only to section 41.

The High Court has decided that the UK is now a foreign country, so that section 44 now disqualifies a dual UK-Australian citizen from standing for parliament. It doesn't disqualify a dual Greek-Australian citizen, because there is no way you can renounce Greek citzenship, and that would disqualify an inconvienient number of people.

The decision also has the ludicrous result that our constitution is now on force on foreign ships (see section 5 of the preamble).

The court has effectively repealed section 41, which guarantees a commonwealth vote if you have a state vote; has discovered implied clauses in the constitution, that have never been approved by the people in a referendum; and has interpreted many other sections in a manner totally favourable to the commonwealth.

I am surprised that there are still people advocating another referendum on a republic. Surely it would be easier and cheaper for the High Court to rule that the constutional provisions relating to the Queen are temproary provisions, and that there are implied provisions providing for a President elected by both Houses of Federal Parliament?

Until we get citizen initiated referendums, as operate in Switzerland, and can enact provisions into law in the teeth of the opposition of the entire political and legal elite, we can expect unusual interpretations to continue.

By the way, if such referendums were in force now I would love to vote in one that provided that wanks such as APEC must be held at the Woomera detention centre.

Didnt multiculturalism ultimately give a warm home to Chen Yonglins 1,000 spies?

No, we shouldnt go back to it. I dont even know if we can because of the terrorism problem. It's probably closing the door right now. National security may not permit the door to open again. In the beginning we werent ready for multiculturalism from a security point of view. So many different people, from so many cultures, all with their new religions (and often internal religious squabbles requiring police monitoring of potentially violent little groups) and neither ASIO or the Federal Police had clicked to the enormity of the problems. The NSW Police Force werent ready. September 11 hit and we still werent ready. Its time for Australia to become concerned with Australians. Black and white. Just us folk. *Why are Chen Yonglins 1,000 spies here? They are here because in Chinese classrooms during the 1980's there were maps on the walls that refered to Australia as NEW CHINA and NEW SOUTH CHINA. Time to look after ourselves...and prepare.