Paul.L says “a racist is a person who prejudges another based upon his/her racial background.” Exactly – and this is what is being demonstrated here by TarynW and Co.

Paul L will call some people racist if they do not conform to “his truth”, while others will call him racist if they do not conform to “their truth.”

So who is right Paul, and what is “truth”?

How do you expect to earn respect by calling people who have a different point of view, morons?

Many people still don’t get it. To overcome the serious problems we (society) face, we have to acknowledge each other’s differences and work together to overcome them.

It is NOT about you/me, us/them, Christian/Muslim, east/west, etc. Until humanity converges, with respect for each other, the world will continue to spiral down to conflict and destabilisation.

And please Paul, an argument can not be valid if based on false premise, as TarynW, and now you, have shown.

Actually my youngest daughter now 11, when she was 8 years old, wrote at school that we needed to focus on our similarities and not our differences if we wanted Peace in the world. The teacher was so impressed that she showed it to me. I think that maybe my daughter has a point!

Jolanda your youngest daughter is probably a beautiful child the thought is.
Reality is different, QXA thinks the thread may be a Freudian slip on my part, just maybe I am a racist?
Well not true, sadly I am however a non believer, I think no God exists.
And that religions of every type have divided us for long enough, that just maybe without them we could be one.
Go back a month before the racist? riots, did any of the bashings and threats start as racist? toward whites?
Better let us look at to day the Muslim lifeguards a better way.
But do not overlook racism while always evil can come from some within minority's too.
And why are we locked on Muslims?
Every day I must confront racism , and let me assure you to day it was not white or Muslim based.
If only we lived in the world Jolanda daughter wants it would be great, I have no wish to insult anyone but it takes two to divide giving ground if you are right so you will not appear racist is no answer.
I do hold concerns about some in every race but without religion we would be one in no time at all.
So maybe our problem is bigotry in the name of God any God

Belly the thing is that we are all racists to a degree. It is part of our survival instinct to protect and prefer our own. The focus should be how we treat people, not what we think of them as our thoughts should be our own.

The other problem is that there is no distinction between favouritism and racism and so the line is blurred. Often an act of favouratism are interpreted as an act of racism! It seems that we are not allowed to prefer.

I am married to a Lebanese and we live in the Shire. I don't blame Aussies for getting upset with the Muslims at the beach. They do have a tendency to arrive in crowds, to show no respect for anybody there, to be rude and to change the scenery in ways that disturbs people. Does that mean I am racist? Or am I just expressing my view and my concern for the Shire? My husband went to Bankstown recently and when he came back he was disturbed. Said it was disgusting. Is he a racist?

It isn't just Muslims. My sister was yesterday complaining about how disgusting Hurstville has become since it was taken over by Asians. The place is filthy and grubby. It used to be a clean and lovely place but no more. This really upsets her. Is she a racist? She doesn’t completely blame the Asians as the Council has to share some of the blame, but he streets are not garbage bins.

I just wish that our Government would educate people coming into this country so that they understand why Aussies get upset and help them change. When people come from Countries where there is war and where there are crowds they hold different standards and have different habits and attitudes. They should be encouraged and taught to change so as to show respect for Australia and other people.

Some good points Belly, you to Jolanda.

There are extremists in all religions; Islam does not have a monopoly in that respect … a certain OLO poster comes to mind.

Anyway, there are racists in all countries, including Oz.

It can be argued that all religious philosophies are good (and this is where we might differ, God or no God). It is the leaders of those religions that stuff things up.

The church elite manipulate their followers by fear and control, preying on the neuroses of the weak of heart and mind.

Our problem is bigotry, but in the name of the religious extremists, not religion per se.

Morgan
You are a prime example. People cant speak the truth and share their experiences without being called racist. No I am not racist but many Muslims are.
A family of Muslims three doors from my place are WONDERFUL people.
Their kids play with ours and often share sleep overs.

This family will tell you up front they dont go to a Mosque because they want to be Aussies and they are sick of hearing about how badly off muslims are here.
They told us they dont want more coming because they will only bring disunity to ths country.
I would think they know better than you.

We became friends after my two girls were physcally attacked and spat on walking to the beach after five Muslim teenagers set upon them.
They were spat on and called names like slut and hoar.
The police were to scared to even try to do anything about it when I contacted them.

The sergant I spoke to said the problem is Taryn even if we get them we will be branded racists and it could even start more trouble.

The girls were wearing modest two peice custumes for godness sake.

Not being unfair and judging everybody the same I once spoke to a Muslim Lady at a bus stop.

I said boy you must get really warm wearing that on days like today would you like some water as I also carry some with me.
She turned around and said
Get used to it - You will be wearing one soon !!
Now regardng the Campsie youth center they were rude enough to establish it without checking on the zone.

Its a residential zone. Many of the locals have complained about the parking and the nise which I am sure they wuld do regardless of which group set up.

Does this Muslim guy except that its hs fault for setting up without ding it legally? No

Hes hes screaming we are racist.
I am sick of them calling US racist when they cant follow our laws the same as everybody else.