I think it is stupid the way people protest against new churches, mosques, schools and initiatives of other similar community-building organisations, and then wonder why the youth and others of their area end up resorting to drugs and all kinds of wild activity.

Or, Col, how about this for a wild, wacky idea.

There is a natural tendency for human beings to migrate away from harsh and restrictive regimes, and towards (relatively) free and open ones.

>>before Muslims start criticising the "tolerance" of the Christians in Australia to Muslim minorities, they might consider the tolerance displayed by Muslims to Christian minorities in countries in asia and the middle east.<<

I understand that this might be a bit "out there" as a theory, but hey, it might also shed a little light on why we see so few migrants headed the other way.

Of course, we could solve the problem ourselves, by turning our tolerance into bigotry, and become just like them.

Then they wouldn't bother to come at all.

That would be nice, wouldn't it?

John, two wrongs don't make a right. Brainwashing children with daft Bronze Age mythology is not going to improve societies in the long
run.

And Nusel's essay is little more than an attempt to blur the debate by dragging up the usual accusations of racism and phobia.

Rather, opposition to Mosques and other pieces of religious infrastucture should be seen as a POSITIVE. Finally, in the 21st century, the people are choosing science, reason, and humanism over anti-human clerical dogma.

We secularists have had more than a gut full of religious stupidity, hypocrisy and violent tribalism.

"opposition to Mosques and other pieces of religious infrastucture should be seen as a POSITIVE"

TR, if that's your logic then I assume you also oppose religious organisations? Organisations being, of course, human infrastructure?

I refer you to a quote from John Dickson:

"we should always be suspicious of an argument that cannot concede anything to the other side. It is naïve or dogmatic not to admit the great good done in Christ’s name throughout history (need I list them?!). Even today most non-Government welfare in this country is delivered through faith-based agencies. Create a list of all the organizations you know and do the maths. And, according to government figures, a disproportionate amount of philanthropic giving and volunteering is offered by those who regularly attend church."

I sometimes consider it unfortunate that society has to be shared with militant secularist fundamentalists such as yourself, TR.

You always need to consider both sides of the coin. Which is, unfortunatly, something militant fundamentalists are incapable of doing.

rstuart,

You say-"I can't recall any incident that gave me a reason to be afraid of Australian Muslims",I think that statement expresses what philosophers call a solopsistic view of knowledge. Presumably you wouldn't deny that WW1 happened just because you didn't experience it. As Trav said Islam, is not just another religion,its inventor was violent and aggressive,those atttitudes are core values of the belief and significantly,"there is no render unto Caesar" in Islamic ideology.If you're ignorant of Moslem imperialism I sugggest you visit the huge number of sites on the subject or read some history. You could indeed be correct that there is something unique about the "Australian" brand of Islam, however, where's your evidence? Indeed what are the odds?

There is a reluctance to admit that multiculturalism is not a great
success. We are reluctant to increase the problems with a markedly
incompatible group. It has to be said and there I have said it.

It has not been an unsullied success with those that came before.
With the Moslems and their "separateness" it becomes just too much.

Why should we bother ?