Reading the official literature one might think that prior to the impost of multiculturalism, people skulked within their homes too afraid to celebrate Chaitra Vishu or Rosh Hashanah or, even, a Sunday BBQ. But a little research soon puts a lie to that, contrary to popular delusion there was wog cuisine and even cultural celebrations.

Okay, Okay, not with the same level of irrational exuberance as OZ 2009. But mind you, if you juxtapose enlighten MC 1980 OZ with even more enlighten MC 2000-&-now OZ the former doesn’t look too flash either.

The latest in a long list of MC improvements comes with the voguish slogan “diversity” , apparently, merely having a spread of bods from diverse ethnic backgrounds will help “rebuild the economy, cure cancer and put an end to the highschool drop outs”

And Okay, there are a few anomalies with MC like …
Preaching selection on merit and ending up implementing policies which practically mandate selection on the basis of ethnic affiliation, to satisfy some govt statistician .

Or preaching tolerance and ending up with -special indigenous rights- and protection from satanic verses & images for the more militant identities.

And to top it all off, if current trends continue most ethnics will lose their ancestral culture within a generation or two, but then, we have the 257 ‘temporary’ visa which is bound to replenish stock.

But all that aside,we need to see the big picture.

If it wasn’t for MC we wouldn’t be duplicating govt brochures into twelve dozen different languages–a real boon for translators, not to mention the paper and print merchants.

If it wasn’t for MC we wouldn’t have those ,incessant, studies that invariably find that this or that group is inadequately represented: systematic discrimination! –a real boon for a lot of unreal academics.

If it wasn’t for MC we wouldn’t have all those, ingenious, marketing campaigns “educating’ us about the virtues ‘diversity’, or those choreographed responses to sorry days –payola, to keep the marketing industry afloat between elections.

You see…MC is actually a very clever part of the govts economic stimulus package.

Horus,

The place or the exclamation neither is relevant to your post.
Boy have you missed the point of MC.
It’s not about fear of celebrating ones religions, festivals, temporary visa, special needs, Profits or Govt revenues.
Your topic has simply jumbled up 6 *different* topic/issues and I would say unrealistically/unreasonably so.

In order
No one is or should be afraid to practice their religion but due to an undercurrent of racism in this (and most countries) people are afraid to.
Most racism is based on fear as discussed last night on Q&A (by both sides) by ignorance and resentment.

The festivals are to engage everyone in order to promote tolerance for what is reality in this country is that we are one multiethnic nation and have always been so. WAS(P or C) isn’t a viable option it clearly engenders disharmony and paternalism.(stolen Generation, the imbalance of life expectancy between mainstream and those left behind). Festivals are a means of education.

The profit angle is simply Capitalism at play… the same could be levelled at every sporting event or festival that gains govt funds… not everyone likes sport or is catholic or agree with commonwealth talk fests . Do we stop them (institute of sport, world catholic youth whatzis ?

Govt revenues… pleeease! A red herring.

Temporary Visas…that’s our way of dealing with odd issues under our UNCR treaty as a global citizen. Not MC.

Special needs …again not MC but our priorities of govt as endorsed by the *majority* of the people. Separated dept/issue all together.
An issue of each to their needs.

So in essence your opposition to MC is exactly what I’m curious?

You say: “This country is (a) multiethnic nation”.
So is every other country on the face of the earth.
But, only a handful have adopted MC as their state ideology.

You say it’s about tolerance.
MC is at best, an inefficient way of fostering tolerance, and it may even be counterproductive.
The tolerance & harmony in modern Australia is more likely to be the product of prosperity rather than anything to do with MC.

A sound approach likely to maintain such tolerance would be to shun trading in ethnic labels.Ethnic labeling legitimizes networking through ethnicity ; polarizes people: people who normal would have little interest in such artificially-sustained-identities latch onto such as convenient vehicles to further careers or excuse personal inadequacies.

You also mentioned in passing the “stolen generation”.
The "stolen generation” is a good example of how seeing the basic measure as ethnicity , and linking issues to ethnicity , may alienate other identities and do, not, one, iota, towards solving underlying problems.

PS: tut-tut! the official term is now “stolen generationS”( the plural form provides scope for sequels, à la ROCKY 1,2,3,4,5…)the govt is currently, madly, reprinting all documents relating to the issue, to accommodate ethnic ‘sensitivities' – [ ten demerit points will be recorded against your MC membership card]

Horus,
Sorry there are no *facts* here just impressions/opinions.
There inlies perhaps why this topic has been ignored by others it isn't a discussion its a rale. As such all that can be meaningfully said has been. end
Cheers

Foxy,

I wonder how it is you think China won the 2008 olympics? Their committment to multiculturalism? I don't thinks so.

Phillip Addams is an absoluute KNOB. A PC loony-lefter if ever there was one.

Those of us opposed to multiculturalism aren't opposed to immigration. We just believe in the importance of assimilating new arrivals into OUR community. What is wrong with expecting people who WANT to come to our country to try and fit in with us? Rather than coming here and attempting to recreate home.

I mean, if you went to live in Saudi Arabia, would you expect them to change the law to allow you to drink alcohol?

Its simple. If you like drinking a lot, then you don't migrate somewhere they don't allow it. Immigrants coming here should be choosing to come here beacuse they want to live our way of life. If they want to live some other way, there are plenty of other places to go. Why choose to immigrate to a country where you can't assimilate with the locals?

This idea that cosmopolitan Australia was somehow invented by multiculturalism is NONSENSE. There are PLENTY of cosmopolitan monocultures around the world.

Just because we like African food doesn't mean we need to accept female genital mutilation etc.

Dear PaulL,

Ah yes, we as Australians are proud of our
country and its achievements. "The Australian
way of life," is highly valued and assumed by
us to be the best in the world. And Australia
is not just a land or a group of people but a
set of ideas. We believe in the ethos of
a "Fair Go for all." So of course we would
expect citizens of this country to obey the
rule of law. That is that everyone must abide
by the same uniform set of publicly posted rules.

People also in this country get to have a real say
in making those rules and choosing their own leaders.

People have the right to pursue their own lives
however they see fit, so long as they obey the
country's laws and don't hurt others.

The benefits of freedom, democracy and the rule of
law belong to all Australians, regardless of how they
look, what they believe in or any other arbitrary criteria.

Embracing anything blindly always carries risks. The urge
to marshall unity can slide into unquestioning obedience:
'my country right or wrong.' As Australians we've always
questioned things - which has been healthy.

We should never under-estimate the greatness of our
accomplishment in building a tolerant, inclusive and
diverse society of which we can all be proud. This
accomplishment has not occurred by accident. It's built
on Australia's traditional values and active government
policies for managing diversity in the interests of all
us Australians.

We now have a civil society that strengthens us as we
redefine our role within the South-East Asia and
Pacific region and the world. An Australian society
marked by positive acceptance of diverse people and ideas,
a society which for the most part believes that diversity
enriches our national life.

You're welcome of course to believe other wise...

Cheers.

cont'd

Evan Elpus put it rather well when he wrote:

"I've just seen "Pride and Prejudice,"
but feel no great compunction,
To swan around a vicarage, with tea
and cakes for luncheon.
Though buying oil from Saudis,
We decline to put their robes on,
And as for German influence,
Do you wear lederhosen?

And Kiwis are our cousins,
(Or something of that kidney),
But which of us would say,
"Tum Funn hud fush un Sundey,"

...If Graumann's Chinese Theatre
has a cast of NIxon's nose,
And parts of Dolly Parton are inflatable by hose,

Then who are we, and who am I,
To get all snide and stroppy?
I only plead, Australia Fair!
Advance - don't look and copy!"

Adamski’s adventures in Multiculcha-land

Adamski: [having just finished his weekly radio show]
Arh Autumn “SEASON of mists and mellow fruitfulness … "my favorite season.I think, I might just dropped into Luigi’s café for a quick cuppa before heading out... Aaah… the joys of a multicultural metropolis.

[enters a small café nearby]

Oh, the ambiance is just wonderful; … the Murano lights .. the sausages hanging from the rafters … the essence of freshly percolating coffee, hmmm! and, and that lingering aroma of just cooked Italian dishes.

[Meanwhile in the kitchen]
Tommy: Hey boys it’s that Journo again. His reviews can make or break us. What’s that smell, Banjo get your frigin meat pie out of the frigin microwave!
Banjo: It’s my break boss!
Tommy: Well eat it outside for F### sake, we’re spost to be a posh Italian joint, not Harry’s de Wheels.And Mombasa turn that F### rap off, and put on that Italian K-tel CD I bought.

Tommy: pleease fellas play it up a bit … make it authentic
[He goes to Adamski, in the background 'O sole mio’ plays ]
Tommy( pretending to be Italian)Arh Signor Adamski buona sera!
Adamski: Luigi you know I like it here soooo much it makes me feel like I’m back in Venice that little pizzeria just by the famous leaning tower –hmmmm! it brings back memories.

Tommy: Signor when my pappa came here he look around, he find no Italian food.
Adamksi: That was in the bad old days before multiculturism!
Tommy: Si signor he say to mumma , mumma what this country need it a little multicultcha, he open restaurant.Since then the whooole family been still makin genuin Italian cookin.
Mumma she make the meal and pappa he maintain the traditional wood fire, Carlo, my brother, he prepare ingredients.
Adamski: And you know what so good about it Luigi, you’ve succeeded in transplanted a little part of Italy here, and we are so, so enriched for it .

Adamski: But I must ask …what is that lingering aroma I smell coming from the kitchen

It’s meat something …but, I just can’t place it?
Tommy: Oh signor that’s pie…ah, ah … piepansoti! piepansoti!
Adamski: Piepansoti I have never tried that – I must try that some other time.
Tonight, I can't stay long I have a cocktail party to attend later.
But… I just could go past without partaking once again in your fine Caffè Ristretto
Tommy: Si signor, at you service, I will have my mumma make it for you.

[He returns to the kitchen]
Mombassa: What’s he want man ?
Tommy: F###### if I know, he said something in Italian.What did he have last time?
Mombassa: Coffee man ! The coffee special, he probably wants it again.
Tommy : How did you make it last time?
Nguyen : Heck I can’t remember.
Tommy: Where’s our Woman’s Weekly recipe book .
Nguyen : Mohammed took it home.
Tommy: Mohammed where that F###…
Mohammed: My wife, she is still reading it, she has a big cooking to do for Ramadan tomorrow.
Tommy: What the F### this is not a lending library.
Mombassa: Its not an Italian restaurant either man!
Tommy: Okay we need to improvise what’d you give him last time?
Nguyen Something like…two parts Bushels… three parts noname… Vietnamese mint… can’t remember the rest.
Tommy: Run it !

[Tommy returns to Adamski’s table]
Tommy: Signor Luigi is so sorry but we out of Caffè Ristretto, been busy, and brother Carlo no order.But I have mumma make you the house special. It local recipe from my home town, Lasagna
Adamski: Hmmm…I’ll give it a try.

[He goes to the kitchen and return with a cup of steaming coffee]
Tommy: Here signor, bon appétit!
Adamaski : Oh...I thought bon appétit was French?
Tommy: Oh Lasagna very close to French border, we multilingual there.
Adamski: Luigi …you are a marvel!

[Adamski: [ exiting] Hmmm that was satisfying …nothing like genuine Italian coffee … you know people like Luigi ,their struggle to preserve traditional culture , their triumph over WASP bigotry …an inspiration! … I must have him on my show one day! .

Don't give up your day job, Horus. Your puerile attempt at comedy scriptwriting has already been done far more successfully by Paul Fenech and the 'Fat Pizza' team. They were actually funny sometimes, and unlike you managed to avoid xenophobic hatred.

Perhaps you could submit your creative effforts where the readership is both stupid and racist, and is unlikely to have watched SBS? Perhaps Stormfront would be interested, or maybe someone like Tim Blair or Andrew Bolt?

Dear Horus,

Eva Sallis wrote in her article, "Australians All," :

"Prejudice creates what it fears, because through prejudice
young people's prospects are curtailed. A volatile part
of our community is living in deep alienation, unable to
belong, and another volatile part is living back in the
irretrievable past with a fantasy of an all-white Australia.

If contemporary Australians are to live at ease with ourselves,
we need more education, less fear mongering, and not least,
greater honesty about the culture of racism that is so
damaging us."

However, a closed mind is like a closed book,
just a piece of wood!

Cheers.

Foxy love,
You waste your time trying to reason with either PaulL or horus on THIS SUBJECT the subtlety and historical knowledge is beyond their bias. I remember Aust in the 50/early 60's (well some of it) and the conformism and compared to now viva la difference!
MC functionally doesn't do much that wasn't there originally… it just recognizes it.
I wonder how many happy unicultural countries they have actually been to I can't think of one...I've been to a few countries that are bitterly segregated. Take east LA if you don't speak Spanish or are black look out....now that's understanding/tolerance?
Miami Spanish areas are divided along origins i.e. 'mex', Latino is divided between Cuban and Puerto Rican and the divisions go on.(street signs are in Spanish in some areas)
France now there’s a case to avoid… (Gallic)arrogance personified. Racist superiority is virtually institutionalized, are they happier? And let’s not forget apartheid Sth Africa, Myanmar, Tibet, China, Russia, North Korea, and Israel.
MC may not be perfect but look at the alternatives.

The only real mono cultural nations are those with dictatorial governments and/or bitterly unhappy. To think those two ridicule Phillip Adams they should be as accomplished and do so much for Aus.
But let’s not get facts in the way of a rave.

Dear examinator,

Thanks.

Sadly, I'm beginning to see you're right.

I really expected more from someone with a pseudo
like "Horus," (Egyptian - solar deity).
But I guess this guy's got the
qualities of a goose, not an 'eagle.'
And I expected even more from Paul -
whose opinion I've respected in the past.

A pity.

Examinator,

You have the gall to suggest I'm missing the subtelty of the topic? Mate, we'd find your education lacking before you exposed any gaps in mine.

Foxy,

I'm not against immigration. I don't hate coloured people. My antipathy to multiculturalism is not like that at all.

I have friends of different cultures, one of my good mates is a punjabi sikh. I totally respect his culture and religion.

My point isn't that we should be excluding people based on race or culture. My point is that we should looking to welcome people who want to become a part of our community, wherever they come from. I don't expect that new arrivals should just shed all of their beliefs and practices, but it is only reasonable that those which come into conflict with ours, should be left behind.

By the way Examinator, most of Asia, larges swathes of Europe, most of Africa and South America are monocultures. The VAST majority of them are quite happy with what they've got.

Indeed multiculturalism virtually ONLY exists in westernised democracies. These democracies are facing growing problems from vocal minorities who are using multiculturalism to replicate the conditions which exist in their home countries, largely against the wishes of their hosts.

Being opposed to multiculturalism doesn't mean I want to ban the greek festival or Chinese new year. What I am opposed to is the idea that you could come to Australia and NEVER learn english. I am opposed to the idea that you could come to Australia but hate Australians and never mix with us. Essentially I am opposed to the idea that it is OK to transplant your home culture here in its entirety, even if it conflicts with our way of life, and never need to move outside it. I don't believe that makes for a healthy community.

Foxy,
No one is above criticism – not even St Phillip!

And, judging by your own comments about other posters from time to time, you seem to subscribe to that principle, also.

There are going to be times when we disagree on issues, that’s human nature; that's what OLO is all about –no hard feelings.

Cheers!

Dear Horus,

I don't think Philip Adams is a saint.
I don't know him that well.
I quoted from his article in The Age
because I thought it relevant to this
thread and it summed up the atittudes
of a generation during that period in time.

Dear Paul,

I understand your point of view, and appreciate
your explanation.

You may be interested in the past Australian Government's
stand on this issue. The following website may be of
interest to you:

http://www.immi.gov.au/media/publications/multicultural/issues97/macpape5.htm

I did a cut and past from this article in my previous post.

Cheers.

Foxy,

Virtually all of the benifts that accrue from multiculturalism can also flow from assimilation. It just leaves out the problems.

Dear Paul,

Yeah well...I'm beginning to see the light
of day, and not only hear what you're saying,
but finally getting it as well. (I think).

It was actually Antonios's post on examinator's
thread about defending Australia that shocked
the heck out of me. And made me realize how
naive I was in quite a few areas...

So there you go - you live and learn - right?
(And still die stupid, as Dad would say).