“showing respect for each other’s culture, religion and race is a core universal value.

What facts do you base this statement on Frank Calma? Did a big finger write this in the sky or something?

Any long term observation of this world shows exactly the opposite. Showing respect for ones own culture, religion and race while having ambivalence or disdain for that of others is the norm.

This assertion is just wishful fantasy on your part. Would that it was true what a wonderful world it would be. But it isn’t true.

Yvonne said,
"I do not understand why there has been this persistant notion that multiculture is about hanging onto your previous culture. Or that it is against integration. Integration is inevitable. With each successive generation. Multiculture is not about denying Anglo saxon heritage."

This is not a notion. It is the way MC has been in practice. It may not be what was intended, but the way MC has pushed foreign national feelings has divided our community along nationalistic lines. Each national group vieing to be top dog and trying to get a larger slice of the government financial handout so as to promote their foreign nationality. This has relegated Aussie culture to that of almost non existance in some quaters.

MC has not given us 'unity in diversity'. For example, even after 2 or 3 generations here the Croats and Serbs still have violent clashes over things a century old. Other groups show hatred for other groups. Sunni and Shia Iraqis clashed at Auburn with cars and shops damaged and 2 people shot. Later shots were fired into many buildings. Leb muslims, again after 2-3 generations, get on with no one and it was the attempted Leb dominance at Cronulla beach that caused the 'so called' riot and the aftermarth. Don't forget the 60 racialy motivated gang rapes and the utter contempt shown to our courts when some were brought to account. Government may be slow to act, but you can bet ASIO has reams of reports on the above matters and more.

Obviously, changes are needed to promote community harmony and that is by way of integration and the promotion of the fact that citizens are Australian firstly. No one expects people to forget or discard their heritage but it will be the feeling that, irrespective, we are all Australian that will be the bond that joins us together.

Sadly, MC has failed to do this and is now being dismantled.

Forrest Gumpp

You want to hang on to your British culture, and as a multiculturalist I agree with you. But why should non-Anglos not be allowed to hang on to theirs?

Our oldest and most distinctive heritage is that of the Aborigines, should we all adopt their culture? If not why should we adopt that of Johnny come latelys like yours? And where do you place the Irish Catholic culture? Or the Jewish? They all arrived together on the First Fleet and each contributed in their own way. If the Jews had adopted the British views on education we would not have had so many intellectuals, or if we had all adopted British cuisine we would not have a great wine industry, or for that matter many tourists.

Muticulturalism does not have to mean separation, it means hanging on to what is good in your own culture and sharing it with others, so that we are all enriched.

Mr Calma has a fair point in saying is that we all should show respect for each other’s culture, religion and race.

If that is what multiculturalism is all about, plus sampling one another's food, fair enough.

Of course the problem is what happens when the cultures clash, as it it has done from time to time, and most recently and arguably most dangerously with the arrival of Muslims and their religion which is more than just a religion but also a political ideology.

There are tough issues here that will not be satisfied by sweet talk.

Until these issues are addressed and we have some answers I would go slow on talk of multiculturalism because as this thread demonstrates it is a devisive issue at this point in time.

Yvonne,
You said “I do not understand why there is this persistent notion that multiculturalism is about hanging on to your previous culture. Or that is against integration”

Multiculturalism replaced assimilation as the dominant policy for dealing with migrants. As self determination did for the aborigines. Two colossal failures. Of the countries with large ethnic minorities, almost all are having trouble. Britain, after opening its arms to migrants from all corners of the earth, now finds itself under attack by some of these very same people.

Assimilation had, as it basis, the idea that all Australians should eventually be indistinguishable. That is, everyone would in the end integrate.

Multiculturalism has given new migrants the permission not to attempt to integrate. Why would they when we tell them that their culture belongs here as much as ours does.

Don’t get me wrong, I am not anti-immigration at all. I don’t care what race, colour creed etc migrants are if they want to become Aussies. But migrants should want to be a part of our communities and not form ghettoes where they are isolated from the rest of us.

Your statements about Australia show that you are another of the ‘cultural cringe’ brigade who think that Australians are ‘uncultured’ yobs. How about you provide some evidence for this yvonee because I think its absolute bullsh#t. Its out and out bigotry in my opinion.

In fact its surprising that you haven’t emigrated to your favourite ‘cultured’ nation and left us in peace.

By the way, regarding the success of migrants, did it ever occur to you Yvonne that we are only selecting people for migration who are highly skilled and highly motivated.

David Palmer: "If that is what multiculturalism is all about, plus sampling one another's food, fair enough."

What a wonderfully Presbyterian view of multiculturalism. I note you don't mention dancing.

Just what we need - a Calvinist wingnut perspective. As if Brother Boazy et al weren't enough.