I am surprised at Bruce dividing up our nation Labeling Conservatives Racist and the Socialists apparently enlightened ?
Secondly his adoration of Whitlam , I can only surmise he must have been OS post '72 , somewhere that had no communications possibly or perhaps the only History he knows is that written by Whitlam . Goughs history is best forgotten , I don't refer to the dismissal , just his arrogance for the position he inadvertently placed our Aboriginal people in ; then failing to advocate reversing his mistakes after his dismissal. No other race in Oz suffered such pain .

Bruce mistakes Conservatism if he defines their actions as Racist , he simply can't see their actions as wise , responsible and timely.

Whitlam and Rudd share the same radical "Grand Gesture" impulses that have the capacity to hurt people ; excitement is not a fiduciary tool and will not repay debt .

Bruce, I'm gonna have to disagree with you on this one. I tend to agree with most of your pieces, but here I don't.

As a nation, I don't think Australia's any different to other western countries really. I don't think we're more or less racist, as CJ points out.

I'd go further though - I don't think we're more or less racist than other western countries, nor other countries for that matter.

The racism of India's class structure's been pointed out repeatedly, but in fact, you can look at almost any nation and see examples of racism in their history.

On practical measures, Australia accepts a higher migrant intake than most countries. We're reasonably multicultural too - I know it's more fashionable to point out how very anglo-saxon most of Australia is and I guess that's a fair point, but travel to some genuinely monocultural countries and you really do see a difference.

So, sure, you can call Australia racist. What I'd like to hear, are examples of less-racist countries. I bet I can give you examples of their racism too. Even the netherlands and Britain are changing.

So I really don't accept that Australia's so very bad these days. Sure, we've got some shameful history that I don't gloss over. But so does everybody.

Banjo, generalisations from very limited evidence are the root of prejudices; and when they are generalisations about a race, they are racist.

Certainly there have been Lebanese persons who have behaved badly, some criminally, and at times evilly. But do you know enough of them, or have a statistical case on the basis of research or the like for objection to the lot of them? Or most of them? I have taught a number of Lebaese, Islamic Christian and atheist, and those have mostly been typical students; mostly thoughtful of others, interested in ideas, challenged but polite when their values and beliefs are questioned. It does not follow that Lebanese in general are like that, either.

I've been trying to work out, so far ineffectually, what the parts of our culture are that you object to governments changing. I have some. It has been part of our culture that people are held to be not guilty until they have been proven to be so, beyond reasonable doubt. It has been up to the prosecution to prove the case against them, not for them to prove their innocence. Those charged have been entitled to see the evidence against them, to know who their accusers are, and to challenge the evidence. Where the prosecution knows of evidence which will aid the defence, it is required to reveal it.

Both the Howard Government and the NSW Government have been gradually whittling those rights away--with the vehement support of some of the regular writers to this blog.
I invite you to join me in objecting to these changes to our culture.

Antonios Symeonakis, thank you. I generally read OLP. I write from time to time--but I try to limit myself to topics where I have some knowledge to contribute. And when governments propose what I consider to be bad legislation, I generally abandon OLP entirely, while I try to get the legislation withdrawn or modified.

>> Quite plainly, the culture of the country I had come to had much that required to be changed. (I had a clear obligation to argue for change, and did so.) I am glad that most of these things have been changed--Australian culture has in these respects improved. It can be improved further. << (ozbib)

Perhaps something like this some imams, and other Muslim zealots, would like to be able to say after they had lived in Australia for a couple of decades.

These were certainly not my sentiments when I came to Australia in 1968 as a refugee: I was overwhelmed by its tolerance towards, and acceptance of, newcomers (there was no equivalent of the term “new Australian” in other countries that received migrants or refugees at those times), as well as by its “free world” atmosphere (I can still remember how my first visit to the university bookshop made me feel like a child in a candy shop).

Therefore I wanted to use my different cultural background as a contribution, hopefully enrichment, to what I saw as a privilege of becoming part of, and not to strive for changes before learning what made this free and tolerant country tick.

I am sure that today, as in 1968, there are (Muslim) migrants to Australia, who want to contribute with what is positive in their background culture, rather than change things that do not fit their prejudices, be they ideological or religious.

Osbib,
I reject entirely your insinuation that my assesment of Lebanese muslims is racist. My opinion that we should no longer issue permanent residentcy visas to 'Lebs' is based entirely on the conduct of this group over the last 20-30 years. I might add that there are just a few other groups that I have reached the same conclusion about, again based on their conduct here. I believe their conduct is cultural as it is handed down from one generation to the next.

My information, bringing me to this conclusion, is from mainly media reports, posts on forums like OLO, letters to editors, statements by former police officers, my own personal experiences and so on. These have numbered in their thousands over the years and are the basis of public opinion.

I have no doubt that the AFP and Immigration Dept has extensive files on the conduct of various groups we have allowed into our country. Reports would be made available to the Minister if requested. I also believe the Minister would have the power to instruct that permanent residentcy visas not be issued to a person or group if that is what he desired. The same power he has to regulate the number of immigrants. It is not a courtroom, it is government decree.

The Opposition would not object because there is an agreement between the major parties that they will not debate immigration matters.

The only reason, in my opinion, such action is not taken is because of the stupid ideology of 'non discriminatory' immigration.

It beggers belief that all cultures will get along with each other. 'Unity in diversity' has to be one of the biggest lies ever.

The latest attacks on students is just another example of anti-social and criminal behaviour by some groups.

"The White Australia policy “officially” died with the election of the Labor Whitlam government in 1972; but in reality it didn’t. Attitudes in the white macho middle class didn’t change. It was a badge of honour among the emotionally and intellectually beleaguered (and challenged) conservatives in the middle class to oppose anything the Whitlam government instituted."
Did this attitude change in the "white (non?) macho working class"? If so how do we explain the electoral support for Pauline Hanson from this very group?
Leftists have great difficulty in rationalizing working class support for such racist views as embodied in the "White Australia Policy" and the various Acts controlling indigenous Australians amongst the State governments. Better to blame conservatives who weren't in power.