You hurt my feeling Ranier you – you- you- nasty person.
How about you buy me a beer then ?
It does get lonely in the real world- I’m not permitted to enter the gates of Utopia. Reality has this affliction with me Ranier, It is something I can’t explain!
But with Reality ,it eventually catches up: It hits real hard.
It is something you need to embrace.

A Pot of Light beer thank.

To Rainier,

First of all, this forum provides the opportunity to exchange ideas, visions and opinions from people all around Australia. Our nation is based on ideas and passion! And I am glad to see that one single post from this writer could draw out so many praises and criticisms, which in fact are all opinions. I deeply appreciate you all for your comments.

This reader suggests all of you to read the Australian Citizenship Discussion Paper available from the DIMA website and the speech addressed to the FECCA Conference by Andrew Robb. Who determines what an adequate knowledge of Australia is? Who can define Australia’s culture? With regards to the citizenship test, this writer would like to see new citizens attend free and compulsory courses on Australia that offer a basic insight into the country, and that are not subject to pass or fail tests.

This country has given many individuals a second chance, there are no restrictions, no barriers, if you are committed to that path, and this country provides all the utilities and opportunities to do so. And I will be damned to have an English citizenship test or a society with a 19th century mind frame destroy the very foundations of multiculturalism, which has made our nation what it is today, a nation that opens doors and provides people from all backgrounds to embrace life and allowing them to reach their lifelong potential and dreams.

All, I'm really glad you have come to terms with yourself. Its the first step to self realisation and true enlightenment. Sorry, but I don't drink alcohol. How about a cup of tea? Earl Grey? English Breakfast? White with two?

Yung Yong, my sentiments exactly. When one considers the linguistic and cultural diversity of Indigenous people before invasion (around 300 different languages) multiculturalism here in this land is much older than many realize or care to acknowledge.

Multicultural has a history and many here want to deny this history ever existed, to deny that multicultualism emergence as a direct response to the evils of mono-culturalist/ethno nationalist thinking such as that which Hitler espoused.

I'd rather be in the company of someone who spoke very little english but who appreciated and understood diversity than someone who speaks excellent english with a narrow view of the world around us.

Your explicit rudeness and nicknaming me in your messages, Col Rouge, allow a simple response: you are racist English pig and I hope your co-mates, Anglo-pigs “not understanding “ my posts will not complain too, as they are unable already to understand my writing, according to their stupid redneck racist Anglo-blabbing.

Your place is near Saddam Hussein and others of Nuremberg International WWII Marshal Court accused, which is recently proven in South Africa and Zimbabwe.

No citizenship test will help you and your Englo-bandit retirees sucking Australian resources while barking as wild dogs on robbed by you non-Anglos worldwide and in this colony definitely to share this fate.

And those who do not understand non-your accent could follow advice provided to your neo-nazi PM: take a suit case and off to England.

Dear Yung

"Who" determines what an adequate knowledge of Australia is?

Now this is a crucial question and cannot be diminished or underestimated because in reality it goes to the very heart of this whole debate.

It also touches on the current power,cultural and racial/ethnic relationship of the various groups within our community. Which of course leads us back to our history post white settlement.
In all societies, those who make the rules, not just the essential nature of a rule, but its extent and influence, are those with the power. Now I can imagine dear Ranier suddenly becoming focused here and mouthing the words "Yeah right.. 'white' structural racism" or something similar, and to a degree he would be totally correct.

This being a correct or accurate assessment of the situation does nothing to reduce its reality. What can change is the 'racist' element, and this can be transformed into a more equitable and just flavor to that power status quo.

But regarding the 'who' of your questions, it is clearly those with the historical and cultural momentum and inevitably the power. He who holds the reins, guides the horse.

I sense that most people who criticize such a situation, do so from a standpoint of jealousy (why should THEY run the show rather than 'us') or ethno/cultural supremacism.

There are also the 'ideological' supremacists, such as Marxists who may comprise a number of ethnicities. (but once they have power, you just watch the 'blood/genes is/are thicker than ideas' syndrome roll on)

There are also the 'economic' supremacists, such as the Labor/Coalition struggle.

Having probably raised more questions than I have answered, let me simply conclude with that one point, those who have the power, will make the rules about how we structure any citizenship test. Such things are not etched in stone, and in the on-going power struggle, I'm sure modifications will occur if there is a change_in_government.

FINAL POINT. I won't miss an opportunity to rant against the concept of the UN ever_ever_EVER telling us how to shape our immmigration policy. NEVER !

Yung Yong,
Glad to see you are reading the posts. I still think you are trying to relate citizenshi test to white Aust policy simply to attraact attention, and now you have brought up multiculturalism to further attract comment.

I contend that we are multi-racial and not multicultural and I have no objection to that. We have our own unique basic culture and migrants have to adapt to that. I defy anyone to define any nations culture, here on OLO, and do a credible job of it.

I welcome people from all backgrounds.
I do not expect much of migrants. Merely that they discard any hatreds their culture carries, live to our laws and some may have to alter their attitude to females. Other than this their culinary habits, religion and so on are their business. Oh, I consider those that do not allow inter-marriage to be racist.

There may not be that many who abuse our citizenship, but we cannot allow it to go on. If the proposed citizenship provisions do not stop any abuse then it will have to be looked at again. Its a sad case that a few make it harder for the many.

If we cut the funds for multiculturalism, that money could be used for free English classes in evenings or Saturday mornings. Much more productive.