bushbred,

"we are by far the worst offenders",nonsense, I suggest you consult some history references yourself.



Of course the Western colonialists committed crimes against those they colonised, however ME societies were still in the Middle Ages when the first European imperialists arrived, whose fault is that? I'll quote some not so recent history, until the 18th century Eastern Europe was menaced by the Ottomans and Moslem slavers from North Africa raided as far as northern Europe, they were not suppressed until the 19th century. Some historians calculate that they took a million Europeans as slaves, interesting?

Smart-arse Westerner.

Bushbred,

Sniggering is something to be proud of now is it? I suppose it makes you feel superior, you poor old fool. I’ll bet the locals in Buntine cross the street when they see you coming.

I don't share your obsession with Obama, but I was very interested to read an article a couple of days ago about his connection with the Weathermen. He should be much more concerned about that than “flirting” with Hilary Clinton.

I couldn’t work out who this “Netanaya” was for a while, but I guessed you meant Netanyahu, leader of Likud. Your essays must have been a scream: like the ‘schoolboy howlers’, only yours would have been the ‘geriatric howlers’.

PS – ‘Weathermen’ has nothing to do with climate change.

We talk about Australia being a land of the "Fair
go" for all - but I'm starting to see - that some
of us are very selective in whom we give a "Fair
Go" to. Right? Newcomers to this land have always
found it tough in the beginning. Especially newcomers
who came from - different linguistic or ethnically distinct
groups. But with time, and the entry of these groups
into the mainstream - prejudice somehow became eroded.
Take groups like the Greek and Italian communities, then
of course there was the hostility against the Vietnamese.
Now - its the turn of anyone of Middle Eastern background.

As Eva Sallis points out in her article,"Australians All,"
first published in 'The New York Times, Dec. 2005,
updated Nov. 2006, and I quote: "Like America, we have new
anti-terrorism legislation, first passed in 2002, then
significantly strengthened last year. It is legislation that
inevitably validates broader community mistrust of Arab and
Muslim Australians. Australians are often fearful of
terrorism and terrorists, and fearful of the threat of
invasion from the north, yet the government has done
nothing substantive to allay these fears and to increase
knowledge and appreciation of Australians of Middle Eastern
background..."

What we need is not to tar everyone with the same brush.
Not to blame the majority for the actions of a small
minority. We have to remember that it is a small
minority of fundamentalists that perform acts of violence.
We need more education and definitely less fear mongering...
And we need to remember- this is Australia, a country
that believes in giving everyone a "Fair Go!"

The media and talkback radio jocks - should remember that
ethos also. After all it's only:

1) A small number of Mulsims who are terrorists.
2) And priests who have committed sexual abuse.
3) And men/women who abuse their wives/husbands.

We who live in a civilized society should realize that the
poor behaviour of a few does in no way accurately reflect
the character of the many.

Bushbred

You need to study other history books besides those of the smart-arse westerners. Study the history books of the smart-arse easterners and you will find that more Muslims have been killed by Muslims than anyone else during the last 1450 years. Do you know that this is still going on? All a Muslim has to do is call the other a heretic or sympathiser and the divisiveness and killing starts. And in case you don't know, this doctrine is called Jihad.

Foxy

I agree with most of what you say, but the doctrine of Jihad expounded by Muhammed (who Muslims elevate to holiness) has nothing to do with a "far go". That is why those who choose to follow Muhammed's teachings will always be viewed with suspicion and scorn in a country that offers a "far go". They alienate themselves.

Dear Bassam,

Thank You for at least agreeing with something
of what I'm saying.

Of course we can't change the views of fundamentalists
in any religion, not only Muslim. The point that I was
trying to make however was, - not to judge all Muslims
by the actions of the extremists. Imagine how difficult
it must be to have to live defensively - when the rest
of the Australian community is highly prejudiced against
you. You wouldn't be able to cope very well or identify
yourself in all that negative space that is being created
around you. You would become alienated from the mainstream,
and that could end up being a disaster for all concerned.

We've got a lot of work to do in this country, and I
certainly don't have all the answers, but I do feel that
hatred or fear mongering doesn't help.

It damages us all. And I know we can all do better.

You are no historian, Bassam, otherwise you would not preach that we should make war on the Islamists because of their religous beliefs.

Not many of us are in love with Islamists, Bassam, but like a university lecturer you must try as much as you can to stay middle of the road.

The way the world is at present, hatred from us Westerners these days will not get us anywhere much.

In fact, a few admittances to the Islamics what rotten mongrels we've also been even in recent history, not to even mention our practices during colonialism, not very much different to the way the Romans carried on.