I cannot let Anansi’s “I'm rather disappointed that remarks like this are left on a forum like this” go without one last comment.

It is clear that anyone who would be disappointed that my remarks are “left on” OLO does not have the slightest inkling of what freedom of speech is all about. I have never hinted that the people who constantly ridicule me and others with similar views should have their remarks deleted. Australia is a democracy, and this site is a democratic one. This is fortunate for people like Anansi who believe their own spin on everything, and who also believe the minority of Australians on OLO who pander to them.

I could just as easily say that I am disappointed that insulting remarks and whinging about my country are not removed. But, thankfully, we have most people not born in Australia who know which side their bread is buttered on; and, it is good for rude immigrants to get reactions which might set them on the track for a better life in their adopted country. OLO gives them the opportunity to test out their feelings in safety. Some of the things said about Australia and Australians would earn them a smack in the mouth if said in person. Not that I approve of violence, but malcontents who bash Australia and Australians should take more notice of what is said here (honestly and safely) than they should of manufactured slogans and “Australian” beliefs and ethics spouted by politicians and loud-mouthed minorities.

The ‘easy-going’ nature of Australians is one of the many myths about us and, as things get tougher, the lunatic immigration and ‘refugee’ policies of governments will come under the scrutiny of people a lot nastier than the girls around here think I am.

Col Rouge,

My, you were upset weren't you? Do you feel better after getting all that bile out of your system? I tend to think that when people throw abuse about they are angry at having been caught with a compromising opinion.

Now then, the basis for assuming that you never post any comments about British ethnic gangs is that you simply don't. And never have. Yet you are happy to comment negatively about 'ethnic gangs' from other national backgrounds. Why is that so?

Perhaps you could mount a reasoned argument why you find it necessary to mention ethnicity at all when the issue is gang behaviour?

I am optimistic that you will provide an authentic response in the light of your comment later in your post: " When I make statements such as yours [another poster], I tend to support them with data."

ColR, why do you suppose that the members of the ethnic gangs that you referred to are in any way shape or form related to the issue of refugees, whether arriving here via the humanitarian quota system or as boat people?

You cite no references to support that argument.

Why isn't it likely that their parents arrived here as persons with much needed skills in the ordinary lot of immigrants who have made no claim to refugee status? You know, the ones that Australia chose because it was decided they were the desired kind of immigrants?

During a very quick search here is one reference from me:

"And the adult children of non-English speaking immigrants outperform all others in their peer group in education and professional qualification. Incidentally, their children, the third generation, return to the national average."
http://www.crc.nsw.gov.au/Projects__and__Activities/symposia/2004_symposium/documents/keynote_address

Mr Right, hope getting that anger off your chest made you feel better.

As to opinions, how would you react if I made insulting comments re your mother's child rearing skills resulting in a poor outcome regarding your good self to support my argument and negate yours?

You'd be rightfully furious, because it has nothing to do with your opinions re refugees.

I'm actually very interested why there are people who have such negative feelings towards refugees.

I have never been a refugee, but my parents were after WWII. (Not to Australia, but to Europe) So, the plight of refugees is not an abstract thing to me, it is a real thing that happens to real people like you and me. My parents and grand-parents were ordinary people with ordinary hopes and dreams who got caught in the turmoil created outside their sphere of control or influence.

It’s strange how some people believe that anyone who disagrees with them is “angry”, Anansi. Do you have trouble with anger?

As a great-grandfather, I take responsibility for what I am. It’s a bit late to start blaming my mother.

You are “… actually very interested why there are people who have such negative feelings towards refugees”.

Pull my other leg, Anansi. It’s got bells on it

I've been mostly offline for a few days. Interesting to see how the discussion about Australia's failure to provide asylum for bona fide refugees has been diverted by the odious xenophobes who've apparently found a soapbox from which to spit their hateful venom.

Alf Garnett: << My final words to all are: illegals should be turned straight around; all immigration, including any refugees, to Australia should cease. >>

Unfortunately they weren't Leigh's "final words". However, they do betray the utter futility of arguing with the hateful old goose on this issue.

Victor Meldrew: << By trying to evade migration services they have proved their bad character, making them “unsuitable for settlement”. >>

So there's no such thing as a bona fide refugee who makes it to Australian shores, according to this particularly awful product of our immigration program. They should therefore all be returned to their countries of origin to be murdered.

Atl least franklin and Yabby have made rational arguments, although not on the topic of the original article.

Full marks to Spikey, Anansi and Romany for persisting, but I couldn't be bothered arguing with such obdurately heartless bastards as Mr Right and Col Rouge. I'm just delighted that I don't think I know anyone who is quite as nasty towards less fortunate human beings as they are - or perhaps I do, and they hide timorously behind anonymity in order to spew their bile as these miserable excuses for humanity do.

Bastards like these aren't game enough to own the odious filth that they excrete anonymously in online forums. Unfortunately, OLO seems to provide a soapbox for them - best to point out their most obvious crap, provide some facts, then leave them alone to wallow in their awfulness, I reckon.

Spikey “I tend to think that when people throw abuse about they are angry at having been caught with a compromising opinion.”

So, I guess that explains your usual vitriol.

Because nothing I have written compromises anything else I have written …

Anansi “ColR, why do you suppose that the members of the ethnic gangs that you referred to are in any way shape or form related to the issue of refugees, whether arriving here via the humanitarian quota system or as boat people?”

Well we do not have a very deep history of migration between the Horn of Africa and Australia, nor much with Vietnam or a hundred other places, such a short history is all that is needed to conclude the relationship between either direct migration or first generation children of migrants (refugee or otherwise).

Regarding the one reference (and one swallow does not make a summer) you managed, between attending to the needs of your children to drag out I offer this to counter and confirm the “baggage” which some ethnic minorities bring with them..

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21164506-2,00.html


Mr Right – not sure who you were before you reinvented yourself but agree with your sentiment too… (probably the wisdom and healthy skepticism which comes with the years needed to qualify as a great-grandfather : - ) )
Of most interest to me was however, your comment “I take responsibility for what I am”

All I can respond with is “likewise”.. .

It is a shame those who like to maraud train stations, car parks and city streets, in gangs to attack law abiding citizens and steal or just to intimidate do not hold similar decent values but then, if they did, it would mean all the do-gooders would have nothing to fret over, to fill their otherwise worthless lives.

And I claim no copyright to the epithet handed to our resident ‘moron’, feel free to adopt it for your own use (enough of us and he might get the message).

Speak of the devil, I see the moron has managed to find his way out from under his stone