The culture of every society is unique,
containing combinations of norms and values that
are found nowhere else. For example Women in
traditional Arab societies must cover the entire
body and even the face; American women may expose
their faces but must keep their breasts and the
entire pelvic region concealed; women in many parts
of Africa may expose their breasts and buttocks but
not the genital region; women in Tierra del Fuego
may not expose their backs; and the Mundurcu of
Brazil proceed about their daily lives stark naked.
And as for Australian women - the range of cultural
variation is so immense ... it's a matter of personal
choice.

I think that part of the problem is that sometimes our
daily lives become so cluttered - we become shackled
with responsibility, bogged down with work, children,
family, the daily rituals and problems of our everyday
lives that we forget how to relate to other people.
Yet the wonder of this life is that people
(even the worst kind of people) can surprise you, when
you least expect it. As the old adage tells us -
"It's not who we meet along life's highway that matters,
it's how we treat them."

Foxy,
A couple of posts ago you quoted

Professor Zubrzycki a few decades ago summed
up the question, "Do we really want a multi-culture?"
in an article for, 'The Age,' newspaper in Melbourne.

The Professor said, "I believe that our goals should be to create
a society in which people of non-Anglo Australian origin
are given the opportunity, as individuals or groups, to
choose to preserve and develop their culture so that
these can become living elements in the diverse culture
of the total society, while at the same time they enjoy
equal access to the rights and opportunities that society
provides, and accept responsibilities towards it."

That makes sense. Unquote

I strongly disagree with the professor and you, as you agree with him.

There are many aspects of various cultures that we do not find acceptable here and I hope never will. The culinary habits of many in some cultures would not suit us, nor would the culture of honour killing, revenge killing, incest, peadophillia, bullfighting or cockfighting, for example.

There is not one single culture that I can think of that would be acceptable here without some modifacation. Our culture is unique.

Therefore it is up to the migrant to modify their culture enough to integrate into our society.

In relation to the burka, we barely tolerate it but I accept that and would far sooner our efforts were directed towards eliminating the suppression of women, forced marriages and FGM and a few other alien cultural practices.

One would imagine the citizenship swearing in process covers an immigrant and also his/her family and that individual should adopt the culture of Australia, passing on the new culture to their children who are raised and/or born in Australia.
To openly state you are Maltese, Iranian, Indian.... etc and the rules of society (not all legislative but accepted practice among the citizens) do not apply to you is a sign that you are not happy here and should head back to your preferred country.
That outspoken Muslim Cleric Mufti is a case in question that should be deported and never allowed to return. Anyone else who doesnt want to be Australian should follow.
The lady in the bus incident is not Australian and can be put on the next flight out of here. Give her place to someone willing to fit in.
Those Indian students protesting (or in effect squaring up against) their alleged persecutors should be sent home. The muslims and maori/islanders who were assaulting them should also be sent home. The white australian youths involved should be locked up and re-educated on community spirit.
No Australian should be living in fear. Time the government stepped up and took proactive steps to stamp out this kind of behaviour from all sides.

“There is not one single culture that I can think of that would be acceptable here without some modification. Our culture is unique.”

Banjo your personal culture seems to be unique. What is Australian culture? What religion is acceptable here? What practices based on heritage are allowed in your Australia?

Mutilating boys’ genitals is still acceptable here though aye. Rape, bullying, domestic violence, drugs, drunk driving, child abuse, are all still part of this culture same as other countries?

You didn’t have to legally use child car seats for kids under five when I got to NSW. I must say I was thrilled to see smoking areas at McDonalds and Hungry Jacks but you seem to have caught up there as well quite recently.

Not acceptable? Modification? Really Banjo remove your head from your butt. Aussie is a young country and I think far from sorting out what its identity is.

Dear Banjo,

How exactly do you define "Our Culture?"
and what do you see as its uniqueness?

Perhaps that will help me to understand your
exact take on things.

While this country is less diverse than the US,
its minority communities are a core part of
its national identity. The notion of an all-white
Australia is a fantasy and an anachronism.

You say that people of different cultural backgrounds
should adapt to "our," way of life. Banjo, that's
inevitably going to happen with time. It always has.

I fully agree with you when you point out that there are
certain aspects of other cultures that are being brought
into Australia that contravene our laws that people will
need to change - such as polygamy, female genital mutilation,
and so on. I don't think anyone will argue with you on
that score. However, we have to be careful in our way of
thinking not to divide this country into the two categories
of "Them and Us."

Jenny Tabakoff did an excellent article in 'The Age,'
newspaper sometime ago on the subject.

"Other people snore.
Other people have garlic breath.
Other people are overweight whereas we're cuddly.
Other people get drunk and put lamp shades on their heads;
we are the life and soul of the party.
Other people are rude when they don't stand up on buses;
we're dead tired so no one can expect us to. And so on..."

"Life can be defined as a long process of putting up with
Other People's irritating habits. Yet I'm constantly
amazed at how tolerant even the most intolerant people
are of their own foibles. The man who detests the way his
neighbour sucks air through his teeth will never be
upset by his own habit of cleaning his ear with the tip of
his little finger in public..."

Sounds hypocritical? Perhaps, Life is only tolerable
when we can look down on someone else.

Banjo
"There are many aspects of various cultures that we do not find acceptable here"
When you say "we " Who are you Banjo?" Do you mean you and your self or a group of people? If a group of people which one? the white supremassists? We, you and me, both are Australian citizens, we have exactly the same rights, your words have the same weight with mine.
Do not you know that according to the study 85% of australians agree with multicultural australia?
You and people like you, are a small minority in Australia, who do not understand that white australia is dead, that there is no way to bring back the white Australia, that you and people like you, have isolated from the main Australian body.
You Banjo belong in the past, your ideas have no future in Australia, you my good friend will have bigger and bigger and bigger problems with the New Australia. You are LUCKY because you are old enouph and you will not have the opportunity to see the other, the new australia in its maturity, the new australia which is born from the ashes of the dead white Australia and is founded on the migrants, europeans, asians or africans, cristians, muslims or atheists.
EVIVA TO MIGRANTS, CURSE TO RACISTS!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide