"The fact that we are communicating in a North Germanic language originating in England." Well not really. The English language is a mixture of several Germanic languages plus French Latin Greek and Celtic.

The British culture was a mix of many cultures, it was multicultural as a result of invasions. And many of our indigenous people are not communicating in English. Were do you all place them?

It all depends upon your definition of multicultural. Even within the Anglo Saxon group we have different cultures, according to social class education, religion. Open your eyes and look at the various cultures within the peer group. Some like a night with their friends at a pub, others would not even walk inside one. Some prefer theatre or opera and buy paintings. And the different groups tend not to intermarry and even dress and speak English differently!

Even in the convict days the society was heavily divided between free settlers, convicts, soldiers and aborigines. The anti MC people are saying we now stick only with certain approved existing cultures and all others should be banned. Not many however would revert to the old style cooking, or give up the outdoor cafes.

“It all depends upon your definition of multicultural.” – Quite so.

Culture, In its symbolic form, is based on arbitrarily assigned meanings that are shared by a society – it has it shared ideals, values or rules for living. The ideals of purity and preservation, however, have licensed a great deal of mischief in the past century, but they have never had much to do with lived culture.

The Greeks referred to those who did not speak their language as barbarians, that is stammerers, as if they did not speak at all. But a few more mature Greeks, like the Stoics, noticed that although the barbarians used different words, they referred to the same thoughts.
If multiculturalism, however, is defined as "preserving culture" and resisting the so called "cultural imperialism", where the fear is that the values and images of Western mass culture, like some invasive weed, are threatening to choke out the world's native flora, it becomes mere political ideology.

Whilst culture is important, it is a shared diversity that is more important in the context of pluralism and the current globalisation occurring, where we can all freely have choice (some clearly, don’t have this).

Homo sum: humani nil a me alienum puto; "I am human: nothing human is alien to me."

Paul,
Besides the usual ill thought out world history and mythology you trot out (its not the first time such pathetic revelation have been throw up as defence to me) I did agree with one thing your stated and that was this-

"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."

As an Indigenous person to this country I totally agree. And the history certainly attests to this.

But does this mean I hate white people? Of course not.

But so many white people do not have to think of being a race. Why?

Well mostly because you don't have to as you live a privilidged life where only people who are not whit have to think of being a 'race' on a daily basis.

Multicultual is not about white people standing at the centre deciding the virtues of other cultures or races at the parameters.

As for calling me a racist well thats your call.

Count how many times in your life you've experience racism and then get back to me and see if we tally up the same.

I'll beat you by a country mile easy. Not something I am proud of but this proves that racism is a white problem, not a non white problem.

Multicultural means everything and anyone - unless you happen to be of Scots descent. We don't count. We have no culture. We have no claim to any sort of anything apparently. (Gee even the Irish get St Patrick's Day!)
That is the problem with multiculturalism...it recognises some things but not others. It says some things are important and others are not.
Why is Greek or Vietnamese culture more important than Scots culture? Why do they get funds and we do not? Why does St Patrick's Day get reported but St Andrew's Day or St David's day do not rate a mention?
There is nothing 'multicultural' about 'multiculturalism'. It is just the reverse. It encourages people to be separate, to cling to the past, to build enclaves.
I would much prefer to see a 'diversity of cultures' in which everyone shared and some lesser known events, perhaps a Hindu festival or somesuch, had equal status with the well known ones.

Rainier said: "Your appaling knowledge of labour history is one thing, your blindness to your own ethnicity as a 'white person' is quite another.( and yes they are inherently linked)"

So a Scot from Glasgow, a Georgian from Tblisi and a Brazilian of German descent from Santa Catarina all belong to the same ethnicity?

I'm well aware of my ethnic heritage, and let me assure you, the colour of my skin is incidental and immaterial. It seems only CJ Morgan and yourself are obsessed with concepts of 'race' and 'whiteness'.

You've basically admitted that you're a racist, and by failing to condemn your vile rants, CJ Morgan has demonstrated his abject hypocrisy on such matters. How disgraceful.

Poor Dresdener seems to be becoming more embittered by the day. Now he's pursuing his 'ethnic cleansing' fantasy by picking on one of this forum's few Aboriginal participants. Fortunately, Rainier's more than capable of sticking up for himself.

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.".

Morgan, in response to Rainier: "Hear, hear. Let's have less fear and more mutual respect."

Dresdener: "How disgraceful".

Yup. Truly disgraceful.