Dear Boaz David,

It doesn't matter how long you have been here; it doesn't change where you come from. You've always got it in you. It's in the blood.
Can you bring an English bulldog out here and then say when it has pups that they're Australian terriers?

They'd have to be bulldogs.

So of course - we all have our heritage. However, we are all -
Australian - if that's what we feel in our hearts. And, that today -
dear Boaz is what this country is all about.

Oh, and by the way, I was born here - and my accent although not an ocker one - is definitely not a British one either - and I like you calling me 'mate' - that's a good start!

FOXY.. you first.. ur the easy one :)
the offspring of the British Bulldog.. was born in Australia... so he will be an "Aussie" bulldog... and his kids might be terriers or .. just plain terrors...
I want to direct your attention to the 2nd stanza of Dorothea McKella's poem "my country" and take the time to specifically contrast it with the first stanza. You can let me know what you find.

One important aspect of your post is that you DO recognize that people bring their baggage with them.
-Language. (English in 3 major varieties. 'English/Irish/Scottish'.
-Habits. (Shake hands when meet, (not rub noses) etc)

If such a 'cultural' texture takes hold... and without doubt it did, it is absolutely valid and correct to refer to the 'Australian' culture as reflecting those predominant ethno/cultural tributaries, but not any specific one. (But they are close enough to be regarded as one)

BOTHERATION.. ur the hard one :)

"My" Jesus ... is the one of Scripture mate. I'm afraid you cannot isolate particular segements of modern life and 'claim' Jesus for your side in regard to them.

Jesus of Scripture>> 'gave forgiveness to the repentant, and condemnation to the unrepentant'.

Examples:

A)'Woman caught in adultery' "Neither do I condemn you..go and sin NO MORE"

B) Religous leaders/scribes/lawyers

"Woe to you, scribes and Pharisees, hypocrites! For you tithe mint and dill and cummin, and have neglected the weightier provisions of the law: justice and mercy and faithfulness; but these are the things you should have done without neglecting the others.

From this, I conclude that if Jesus were an Immigration officer, he would ask the simple question "How many countries did you passby in order to get to Australia,...and why"?

The answer would reveal if they were genininely seeking safety for their lives or ... a better economic opportunity.(the latter totally disqualifying them from any 'refugee' status)

The only refugees coming here, should be
a) From Indonesia, PNG.. and Tasmania :)
b) Those allocated through the official program.

BOTHERATION continued.

typo "genuinely"

When Jesus said "Give unto Caesar that which is Caesars" he was alluding to the due process of government.

Due process of government regarding 'migrants' of all types (including those seeking a better life and fleeing from political/ethnic/religious persecution) is primarily the peace and good order in Australia. Any deviation from such a policy would inevitably lead (over time) to a weakening of our social/cultural fabric and cohesian (these are the words Arthur Callwell used in his defense of the White Australia policy) to the point of eventual anarchy.
I support Calwells objective, but I don't support it in relation to 'skin color'. I support it in relation to 'values'. (My wife is Asian)

Having said that, I support it in regard to skin color 'to a limited degree' (in conjunction with values)....not because of any special quality that skin color indicates, but simply in terms of maintaining a substantial and observable majority of people who 'feel' they are a part of a particular nation. (they will 'feel' it because they see most people are like themselves)

I urgently suggest to you, that any view to the contrary comes from those who deep down desire the freedom to re-shape the country in terms of a particular racial or cultural flavor different from that which now exists.

IMPORTANT CONCLUSION. I believe the government is responsible to control the numbers of migrants SUCH that no one minority ever becomes a 'significant' and possibly competitive minority.
If you wish to see the result of NOT following such an enlightened policy, I invite you to talk to Malaysian Chinese, (35%) and ask how they are treated by Malays (50%)
Here is one example.. enjoy. (the people being harrassed are chinese Uni Students. the "Harassers" are Malays.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0y__XwUi4Wo

Er, I don't suppose it's worth pointing out that our most recalcitrant godbotherer has just attempted to sidetrack this thread into another of his obsessions - i.e. his disdain for refugees. There's several other current threads discussing refugee-related issues, but Boaz wants to divert this thread into being another one - presumably as an effort to stop us talking about him.

Boazy, we're talking about the annoying habit that many godbotherers - particularly you - have of diverting any and every discussion into a venue for pushing their religious beliefs. If you can't stay on topic, please bugger off to the discussions where the topics you want to prattle on about are being discussed.

Dear Boaz David,

A bulldog is a bulldog, and a terrier is a terrier, is a terrier.
I won't argue with you anymore - we can agree to disagree. Each of us speaks from our own experiences, education, and point of view. Australia to you represents one thing, to me it represents something else. But that's the great thing about this country - we can think differently. And no matter what you or I think - things will take care of themselves with time. The only constant is afterall - change.

Thank you for drawing my attention to "My Country." (I studied Australian Literature at uni). That particular poem still manages to bring a lump to my throat - reading it.

Now, here's a little 'ditty' for you:

'Buying bread from a man in Brussels,
He was six foot four and full of muscles.
I said, "Do you speak-a my language?"
He just smiled and gave me a vegemite sandwich.'
Men at Work.

There is nothing more Australian than spending time in someone else's
country.

Dear Botheration,

I meant to thank you for your kind words and I apologise that we have side-tracked your thread a bit here. But, as you can see - it's really brought out a lot of different points of view. And that's a good thing.