I thought it may be interesting to get away
from elections and politicans for a while -
and I got this idea from - other threads
that discussed the pros and cons of
the diversity of our nation.

I thought I'd take a somewhat different approach
to the topic.

Here goes...

Instead of having a mix of cultures in our cities - what
if we were to separate them?
That is - zone our cities and towns based on
religion, customs, cultures, languages and dress practice?

That is, all people in designated towns would be the
same religion, speak the same language, practice
the same customs and travel to common business and
industrial centres to work.

Such towns would be set up in geographic and climatic
regions - best suited to the origins of the people.

Tourism would be localised and limited within our
shores.

Your pros and cons for this idea?

Foxy,

It's been done before. They were called ghettos

An interesting idea Foxy.

My guess is that this could gradually happen anyway as people tend to gravitate to where they feel most comfortable, that is where like minded people are. We can all identify the parts of our major cities that are Chinese, Vietnamese, Jewish etc. I once was reading about an international survey where thousands of people across thirty countries were asked if they would rather live in a MC country or a monocultural country. All but one country had a majority choosing the monocultural country. Seems people like to be with people like themselves. Self evident I feel. There are a few politically correct left wingers which don't like this idea and feel the need to push everyone in together into one big happy family.

Also I have to tell you I read a book last year about health economics and equality which demonstrated people actually live longer and more productive lives when they live in monocultural egalitarian societies. After all we are only animals.

Kind of links in with gated communities idea in the US. I heard on the radio recently that they were begining to start here in Australia although I don't know of any.

A very thought provoking topic. Thanks Foxy.

Foxy

What puzzles me is how people leave home for a better life and then want to impose the stuffed life they had at home on others. How many women would seriously want to live like they do in Saudi Arabia or Iran. For that matter how many untouchables would want to live in India if given a choice or how many socialist would really choose to live in Russia or the Ukraine.

Very droll, Foxy.

Dear Shadow Minister,

I wasn't suggesting ghettos or the ghetto
mentality. We already have that.
What I was suggesting was creating a wide
variety of communities of like-minded people.

In the United States there are not only gated communities -
of like-minded people -
as Ozzie pointed out - but entire suburbs where Chinese, Latino,
Jewish, communities have selected to live.
The suburb of Glendale in Los Angeles,
for example, was known as the suburb where only
White - Anglo Saxons - lived. Others were not welcomed.

The Amish communities on the East Coast of the US are
communities of - a certain select life-style. Salt-Lake
City in Utah - is a Mormon City.

Solvang near Los Angeles - is a Dutch Community.

In Melbourne for example, there are aged-care facilities
that cater only to their own ethnic group - like the Chinese,
the Greek, and others.

I wanted to see what other posters thought of taking this
one step further in Australia by taking these communities
out of a mixed cultural environment and putting them
in a town entirely typical of their culture.

For example - you go to Paris, Saigon, Berlin - you're
a tourist in a community of like-people.
So why not have that environment here?

Near Adelaide - the township of Hahndorf - is German.
And it is a great tourist destination.

Dear Ozzie,

Thanks for your comments.

It will be interesting to see what others have to say on
the subject.

Dear runner,

Then they should not bring their baggage with them.
They should blend in with the rest of their chosen
community. It is their choice. If they want to
escape the Indian caste-system - I am sure that
a town inhabited by Indians in Australia would not
have a caste-system. Neither would a Russian village
have the poverty that they had in Russia - that's
why they came here to have a better life - but still
be able to maintain their ethnicity.

Dear CJ,

I'm glad you approve.

Would you like to reserve your space?

Hi Foxy. An interesting concept, but I believe it already happens to some extent doesn't it? In Perth anyway, they have whole suburbs mainly inhabited by Vietnamese, Italians , Chinese or Middle-Eastern people.

I don't really think this is a good idea in any case, because haven't many of these people left behind their original countries because they were looking for a better/safer life here in Australia?

We should all try to live in harmony to a certain extent so we don't have an 'us and them' situation.
I certainly don't want us to go the way of the United States who have had just as many, if not more, race integration problems than many other countries.

Sorry foxy but you highlight the problem not the answer.
Multiculturalism will be a very different thing for a 20 year old than it is for a 60 year old.
I was born in 1945, my childhood was one that saw people from war torn nations come here.
Often referred to as refos, but we grew up, became a nation.
We excepted the change inter wed and my family proved it worked.
Mum was one of a big family her sister had 13, just one of 5 sisters mum had 16.
We wed and mingled.
The first wave of Asian war refugees saw fears emerge and lets be honest both sides of politics at ground level held those fears.
It is easy to highlight reasons we held those fears if we look today, BUT just as clear under the same rules more make us a better place to live.
Now today, would you expect any difference?35 year olds and younger see multi culturism as an Asian or Muslim thing, it never was meant to be.
And here I always will be in trouble.
But should I hide my concerns just so not to be disliked?
Muslims often, not always live separate lives more than any past group.
Often want changes in us, to fit a way of life we do not want.
A different god, culture lifestyle, and separation is not the answer ever.
Remember south Africa.
It is my view, always has been, multiculturalism can work, but while retaining other cultures so very many do, respect Australians right to ours too.
I have more to say.

People I respect in this forum may dislike my views as stated but while I look to the younger for our future I am young at heart.
Every day I deal with people from all country's, have every single day.
They enrich my life and my country.
Lebanese Muslims youth big tough men have taken me for a beer after work yes that is what I said.
But this may be what our past migration planners thought Multi cultures would be.
Early start today of soon, but my in box held yet again an e mail full of hate.
It came from a CHRISTIAN, loverly bloke, my mate, votes conservative, hates Labor hates unions, but my mate.
Spite filled anti Muslim/boat people/Labor.
He would never understand, his hatred is as bad as those he fears, yet at some level we must be aware.
Be aware hatred primitive hate is one day, do not believe it?
Watch this space bring us to war a war we will see more deaths in than any other separation is not an answer it threatens me.

Or what abour an Australia full of Australians.

Just think, the crime rate would be greatly reduced and one could safely walk the streets at night withour fear of being mugged as much as now.

But that's just a dream because my Australia, the country I was born in is all but a distant memory.

Wasn't this called "Apartheid" in South Africa ?

Dear Suze,

I'm not talking about suburbs, but separate
towns because suburban ethnic/cultural
concentrations have existed for decades.
It's the conflict that creates a problem at
the suburban borders that I'm trying to avoid.

Those that wish to live in homogenous societies,
as they do currently will continue to do so and
be absorbed into the local culture.
Those that want to maintain their differences
however, will be given a choice.

Dear Belly,

Thank You for being so open and honest and for
your hearfelt positive comments. This topic
was merely meant as a discussion to solicit
general opinions to develop different ways to
solving some of the problems in our society.

Dear rehctub,

Australia was always a nation of immigrants -
from early settlement. It might be a distant
memory to you - but in inner-city areas the
crime rate today is much the same as it was in
the 1940s/1950s according to police records.

As for an Australia full of Australians.
What exactly does that mean? Afterall aren't
people who become citizens - Australians - no
matter what their cultural background or origin?
As long as you have immigration - cultural diversity
will exist.

But this raises another issue of course and that is
- the size of growing cities which tend to become
stressed with continued expansion. An effort should
be made to de-centralize the cities into existing
or new smaller towns.

So it's actually a serious proposal, Foxy?

My apologies - I thought you were too intelligent and educated to put forward such a preposterous proposal. However, as we can see, the racists and xenophobes will undoubtedly love it.

Foxy I know you are only joking but that does not sound like multiculturalism and the risks of regional secession would be high.

I would doubt that those emigrating to Australia want to live in towns that replicate the places they wish to leave.

The only way multi-culturalism works is with integration and adoption of uniform laws and regulations, or a common purpose (freedom, democracy etc).

But we know you are being tongue in cheek. :)

Foxy,

As others have pointed out there are inherent risks in such an idea. Cultural ideas and prejudices can become fossilised in such communities.

I recall many years ago that Italian immigrants were extremely strict with their daughters,
bringing their 'old world' ideas with them. To insist that a daughter be accompanied by a brother was not uncommon.

On returning to his beloved Italy years later, an Italian friend came back to Australia horrified, stating that Italy was not his Italy (of old) and that he would never return. So prevalent was this phenomenom that a study was made, the results being that immigrant groups feeling that they had to keep their culture alive, became static. In my friend's case he found that the Italy he remembered and loved had progressed with the times, absorbed new ideas. He and the Italian community in which he lived in Australia had become an anachronism.

Danielle,foxy

That is what has happened with Quebec in Canada. they have a country in a country. To formalise it would encourage disintegration of the country as an entity.

Israel is a toxic example of this. A lunatic minority has disproportionate power because of their balance of power position.

Having lived in the area I can say with confidence that Harndorf's German-ness is largely an profit oriented affectation these days. Very few of the merchant are of German extraction.

The Barossa Valley has more German influenced architecture than Harndorf. But many of the wineries are now corporately owned.

There are pockets of nationalities in Melbourne but they too move as the children grow up marry often outside their culture and move away. As they do but that doesn't mean cultural festival shouldn't happen or cultural clubs.

I would oppose the formalization of such towns ...I think Shadow is right they are Ghettos and as such I see more problems than benefits.

Dear Cambo,

South Africa was a totally different scenario.
There was no equality between the people and
it was forced segregation according to colour.

This is definitely not wht is being advocated in
this thread.

Dear CJ,

Continuing to think within the sphere never
escapes the pungent reality.

The most brilliant solutions often come out of the
most preposterous suggestions.

I'd be most interested in your thoughts.
Come on - play!

Dear Pelly,

This is merely a discussion - albeit possibly a
controversial one - but I thought - why not solicit
a whole gamit of ideas for solving some of the
existing problems (or not). I think it's always
interesting to discuss new topics - and not just
rehash - what's in the newspapers.

Why can't people create their own acceptable culture
in a new environment with regional influences?

Dear Danielle,

Cultural ideas and prejudices eventually change with
time in a new environment - if not with the older
generation - certainly with the younger. Because
people are exposed to different influences such as
politics, education, trade, travel, and so on.

I certainly can identify with the Italian who
travelled back to Italy - and found things had changed.
Many Lithuanians had the same problem when they travelled
back to their roots - after Lithuania re-gained her
Independence in 1990. Many were shocked at the changes.
It was a watershed moment for many. However, with time -
they are now building bridges and do value their communities
here in this country. Of course that's not to say they all
do - but many do.

Dear Examinator,

What is being proposed is to give like-minded people
the opportunity to live within their preferred community.
(Or not). It's a choice. I'm not advocating ghettos -
simply an alternative to what's currently available.

I've been to Quebec - and loved it!
We were made to feel very welcome - once
they discovered we spoke other languages.

Anyway, creative ideas come from lateral thinking.
And, as I told CJ - the most brilliant solutions come
out of the most preposterous suggestions...

Further thoughts?

Danielle
I had a similar encounter but in reverse.
I used to work as a labourer for some first generation Italian immigrants. Used to work and treat me like a dog. But they were extremely good tradesmen and I learned a few things. Anyway one day one of them brought a young relative to work with us who was over on a working holiday from Italy.
I always used to sit on my own at lunch because I coudnt stand the bosses arguing (in italian) and the iffy food they used to eat. Not to mention their copius consumption of homemade wine at every meal break.
This new guy came and sat with me instead of his relative and country men. Although he didnt speak much english i discovered he hated the bosses and called them peasants. He said people in Italy arent like that anymore and he said he was more like me than he was like the italians we worked for. He said all they did was fight about money and rip each other off. I wasnt fond of the italians I worked for but this guy absolutely hated them, even his own relative, and couldnt wait for the end of the week when he quit and took off for Sydney. He was stunned that such people still existed and begged me not to think that this was what his country was like.

Today, as is evidenced by second and third generation descendants of European immigrants, integration comes easily for those who are born here and grow up here. Under your plan this may not be the case as children of immigrants would grow up ensconced in some cultural enclave and not as part of the general Australian community. Multiculturalism is always going to involve change, and difficulty but given time this land, this country gets inside people and makes them aussies. They dont really have a choice.

Good on you Foxy for raising the subject.

You wrote (Sunday, 7 February 2010 9:36:44 PM):

<< The suburb of Glendale in Los Angeles, for example, was known as the suburb where only
White - Anglo Saxons - lived. Others were not welcomed. >>

I’ve got a big problem with the ‘others were not welcomed’ bit. If that is a consequence of your suggested segregational philosophy, then I’m certainly not in favour of it.

However, it is reasonable to some extent to have people of similar backgrounds living in the same suburbs or towns if they choose to do so. For example: Ingham in north Queensland is a largely Italian sugarcane town. I don’t have any problem with that and I haven’t heard of any negative consequences in the 27 years that I’ve been living just down the road in Townsville.

If people choose to do it, then fine, but with three provisos:

1. they do choose, and are not pressured to do so,

2. people who are not of the dominant ethnic, religious or racial group are not negatively pressured or excluded from living in those communities if they choose to do so,

3. it doesn’t result in enclaves whereby people become insular and don’t have good communication with or a reasonable understanding of the greater Australian society.

This is an interesting concept Foxy and am able to comprehend your way of thinking. Just a query.

How though would these towns/states/communities benefit and/or learn from one another? There will always be a day or week when another person from another background/race/different religion/interests annoys, intimidates or goes against the grain of a fellow Aussie in a workplace environment, travelling, being married into an Australian family, etc.

For example, I shop around and choose a state or town that contains Aussies born and bred here, white, of christian or atheist background. Why would I do this when nine times out of ten, there will be some type of problem encountered with one or more fellow aussies residing in the same town or state as myself given we are all individuals with different backgrounds [ie childhood experiences/traumas/problems]for all of us [readily admitted or not].

From my life experiences, I have honestly witnessed the same nationalities ripping off each other [tradespeople of the same nationality are notorious in my state inflicting violence and thieving from one another], along with the fact that Australian born and bred crooks put my family through hell for 6 years based on fraud which cost close to a million back in 1995. They were just the Aussie middlemen. The company behind them were a famous 'old Australian' company. I have never encountered problems with other nationalities; in fact many of my close friends are from various countries. It is actually Australians born and raised here who have, on the odd occasion, behaved wrongly [towards me]and not people who originated from the middle east, Europe, the UK or elsewhere. Btw their hospitality [ie people originating from o/s]given to me over the years, in their homes, has been first class. the kindness generosity and warmth shown to me magnificent.

Foxy,

The term ghetto orignally meant the physical grouping of cultural minorities.

Later, due to discrimination they became associated with poverty. The original Jewish ghettos were generally reasonably wealthy.

Ghetto like suburbs already exist, but as people intermingle and children become integrated through the school system they tend to disperse.

I personnally do not favour this as it slows the integration of immigrants, and prevents other citizens from being exposed to the new cultures.

Dear mikk,

These towns will be part of the general
Australian community and the children
don't today necessarily live in the same
town as their parents. The point is people
will have a choice.

My experience has been that some (of course
not all) children
although born in Australia choose to return
and live in the country of their parents to
better understand their parents culture and
language.

Dear Ludwig,

I fully agree with your 3 provisos - and I have
stated all along - this is a matter of
individual choice.

Dear We Are Unique,

These communities would not be isolated.
They would communicate through the usual channels -
by trade, work, travel, much the same as we do
today by travelling to other countries, only
on a smaller scale. If you wanted to meet the
French today you'd go to France. In the future if
you wanted to meet Italians - you'd go to places
like - Ingham in North Queensland or Griffith in NSW.

Okay Foxy I will take the suggestion more seriously.

The big problem in this idea is segregation - even if voluntary - only serves to enhance and enlarge differences rather than solidify. Human beings are more alike than they are different. The differences sometimes appear greater because of cultural variation (dress, food, songs, religion, skin colour). These are peripheral to what makes us intrinsically human.

Separating races within one country is just creating a continent full of smaller nations (albeit not constitutionally).

If we are to become part of the global community, integration is the only way we can soften and file off some of the harder edges of our differences, particularly in relation to strong religious beliefs and how that might fit within a democratic society with a different legislative framework.

Integration as SM pointed out, in schools particularly, expose us to others who might at first appear different, but really are the same. Most of us want the same things. Love, peace, freedom and a safe place to raise families.

Cultures who have been part of Australian culture for many years, Italians, Greeks, Europoeans, Vietnamese and Chinese have integrated well. Newer immigrants will do the same over time. Integration is not an instant process, it takes a generation or two and language skills to truly become part of one diverse group, accepting the differences as well as the similarities.

Sorry foxy,
but I have to agree with Shadow on this one. Ludwig makes my concerns well. Having lived in two separate extremes of this I shudder at the thought of formalising them.

Prejudice, bothers me no end no matter what its intention or guise

Dear Shadow Minister,

What I am proposing is to take the ghettos out of
the cities and create new towns that will be respected
and be able to hold their own individuality within
the greater Australian community structure. That's
all it is. It's creating a natural "green belt," that's
impossible to introduce in the city structure.

I'm not suggesting isolationism - and integration will
happen naturally anyway - especially amongst the young
through inter-marriage, work-place relations, education,
and travel.

Sometimes people in retirement would prefer to live within
their own culture as is being demonstrated by Chinese,
Greek and other national retirement communities and nursing
homes.

I'm sure the Irish, Brits, Scots, and many others would love
to set up their quaint village societies in this country -
that they remember from their youth.
Now wouldn't that be a treat to visit? Look at the popularity
of "Sovereign Hill," in Ballarat, Victoria - which is
a re-constructed Museum - and charges a fee for access.
Everyone learns about the early mining days in Victoria.

Great post Foxy,

It's good to see you lefties are starting to realise the consequences of multiculturalism. Conservatives warned you that multiculturalism would eventually divide society and make it ungovernable (like the USA and Britain are now), but you called us racist and ignored what was happening right before your own eyes.

But there's no stopping multiculturalism now - so the future of Australia will be several tribes competing for control of the all-powerful State with nothing to bind these tribes together the way Christianity did in the past.

Dear Pelly,

Thank You so much for responding and for such
a fair-assessment.

My attempt was to solicit creative thoughts
and honest opinions.

I feel that we've received a good and interesting
discussion.

I'm grateful to all of the contributors.

Dear Examinator,

It's a good thing to have our prejudices challenged
from time to time - especially if we are forced to
broaden our outlooks. Many have done that for me
on OLO - even if I don't always care to admit it.
Only by being forced to re-examine our bias - do we
create the potential to learn and grow.

Dear TRUTHNOW78,

I feel that Australia is still evolving. Look how far
we've come since early settlement. Much has been
achieved - much will still be achieved. I remain
absolutely confident about our future - because as
I've said on other threads - we tend to get it right
in the end - in the over all scheme of things. Sure,
we make mistakes - but we at least we try to correct
them.

One thing that has come out of this thread has been
our genuine concern in building a better future for
future generations.

The Australian population is predicted to grow to 36 million.
New towns will spring up - and who knows what the origin
of these towns will be.

Foxy

Great idea to kick around but I have a few questions.

Will there be a huge wall between the jews/Isrealis and assorted Muslims?

Will we ban the use of Google in the Chinese area?

Do we ban porn and alcohol in all of the Aboriginal areas?

Will the English area be half full of Indians and Pakistanis (for authenticity)?

Where will the white Australians live and how quickly can Truthnow move there?

Dear benk,

Thank You for your questions - however have no fear -
Australia will be no different then it is today.
Except that there will be towns of certain
flavour and persuasion to choose to live in.

What's being proposed will be
much the same as it is today - when certain
groups congregate in parts of suburbia or live
in rural areas because they like the environment
and the people.

The major cities will inevitably retain the mixture
they have today.

By the way - in our society there are no walls.
Except those that we create in our minds.

There are already examples of special interest towns
such as Nimbin in NSW, and Bryon Bay - artistic
communities - with their own life-styles - and people
move there that want that lifestyle.

What is being suggested - is in fact - nothing new.
Only more defined.

The 'multiculturalism' experiment was to avoid reification of tribalism. Nothing is worse than a ghetto-ised city, packs of youths prowling perimeters, defending territory. That is what already happens to some degree, would be institutionalised under your concept. It is rarely normal families - they just want to get on with the business of living - but the testosterone of their young males.
To a certain extent, our social experiment has worked, but there are problems emerging too, much of it related to tribalism. Proponents cite the successes of postwar Europeans. However, that phenomenon was more carefully stage managed. People were not dumped without language and cultural skills as they are now, were grateful for the opportunities, work where they mixed with locals and other immigrant groups, kids went to the same schools. They were not resentful and angry for having to leave home, as many are today. European migrants still tended to ghettoise in the first generation, but the second quickly spread into the community, unlike later groups, which largely prefer their own company.
The Lebanese, Vietnamese and Serb-Croatian waves were less skillfully handled and we have seen dangerous underclasses develop from those communities. We have made even less effort with later groups, using the cover of multiculturalism to renege on providing the pressure to assimilate and services that requires.
Perhaps its old fashioned, but the logic 'when in Rome, do as the Romans' remains an important maxim for social cohesion, and is forgotten under the easy rubric of multiculturalism. There is evidence showing most humans prefer to be around others who look like them, talk like them and share the same values. Racism is not unique to Anglos, but a universal factor, and if we are going to continue successfully integrate disparate peoples, allowing the formation of ghettos must stop.
Religious-based schooling is unproductive. The thin edge was the Protestant-Catholic system, but even these sibling faiths fostered unhealthy social division and we breath a sigh of relief this has faded. I shudder to think of the nest of vipers we are breeding in the ghettos of our suburbs now.

ps. The idea of city state ghettos is even worse - would lead to a whole new wave of barbarism.

Dear Dr Merlyn,

Thank You for your thought-provoking summary.

The whole idea of this proposal was to get away
from the problems caused by city ghettos -
which you have admitted is not a very disirable
scenario.

From my experience there are many people - who have
tried to blend in from early childhood for many
decades but - have been pushed back and rejected by
the locals forcing them back into their
cultural community groups - to maintain a normal
social life - where they are accepted.

It's all very well to blame people for not
assimilating - but we have to also ask - how much
is that the fault of the local culture - how much
does the local culture contribute towards their
isolationism and lack of acceptance. Acceptance has
to be a two-way street.

We live in a court of eight houses - of various
cultures and we have no difficulty co-existing with
our neighbours. But they have difficulty co-existing
with the local culture - where they don't feel
welcomed. Some of these people have lived here for
generations - but they still get asked - "Where did
you come from?" and "You speak English very well!"
despite the fact that these people were born here.

"What vipers are being bred amongst the ghettos of our
cities?" Perhaps the way to get rid of these so called
vipers in our midst - is to not de-value them as human
beings - but accept them as valued members of our society.
Give them a sense of self-pride - and more importantly
a sense of belonging not exclusion. Perhaps the problem
lies in our education system - where the prejudices
should be corrected.

Dear Foxy
The problem is not so much as with us not welcoming them, it is more them wanting to take advantage of our 'lay back' lifestyle and, wanting to then change our world to suit themselves.

Some clasic examples are the restrictions wanting to be placed on traditions like 'Santa' or, 'not celebrating birthdays' etc.

Now sure, if you come to our country and don't want 'Santa' in your lives, that's fine, but don't try to deny our kids of their rights.

The big problem is that of 'double standards', whereby, if we were to go to some of these countries and try to enforce our ways, we would most likely be shot dead!

Australia is Australia and, like it or not, if you wish to come here and enjoy our peace and harmony, then toe the line or leave. It really is quite simple.

I see we have had what appearts to be our first 'car bomb'. It will be interesting to see who, or what religion/nationallity was behind that. That is, if this information is released.

This may well be the beginning of some serious stuff.

Dear rehctub,

The car bomb in Adelaide that you're referring to,
according to the statements of the police - was a
drug-related incident - where at least one of the
occupants was a known criminal operating in the
drug trade.

The double-standards that you refer to - would not
be evident to locals if these cultures were allowed
to live in their own cultural communities. Thus they
would not be "in your face," and could be avoided.
That's one of the points being raised in this discussion.

People who live in Byron Bay leave the town during the
high holiday season to avoid the influx of "schoolies."

If one doesn't like a particular culture - today - one
can always avoid the area where that culture is concentrated.
Unfortunately it may be in your neighbouring suburb.

I do agree though that people emigrating to Australia
should be made aware of the laws and customs of the country.
So that they would know what to expect once they get here.

Dear Foxy
There inlies the problem
.
People who live in Byron Bay leave the town during the
high holiday season to avoid the influx of "schoolies."

If one doesn't like a particular culture - today - one
can always avoid the area where that culture is concentrated.
Unfortunately it may be in your neighbouring suburb.

Why should one leave their home to escape the influx of outsiders?

AS for the car bomb. Yes, I have herd that myself but it will be interesting to see who was involved and if they were Australians.

I would like to see a stat showing the number of 'serious crimes' committed here and what % of them are by non-Australians.

Dear rehctub,

Sometimes people have no choice but to leave
for the sake of their sanity. I recently saw
a program - where ocker "ferals" had moved in -
and some of the neighbours ended up selling and
moving out. They apparently decided it just wasn't
worth staying - because these creeps weren't
about to listen to anybody's complaints. They were
aggressive - and so disruptive - that several neighbours
finally decided it best to simply move.

Then there was another program -
where the neighbour had over 500 rats (as pets)
in their garage. The RSPCA issued a notice to
that family to clean things up - How's that for
neighbours?

Bad behaviour is not the exclusive right of any
particular group. Unfortunately the ones that do
behave badly are usually a minority - that give
everyone else a bad name.

For example - the
myth about the "ugly American" tourist - who supposedly
acts so arrogantly and rudely - when travelling overseas.
Some may - but not all do. The same goes for - an
article that was printed in the "National Lampoon" (USA)
magazine:

"Violently loud alcoholic roughnecks whose idea of
fun is to throw up on your car. The national sport is
breaking furniture and the average daily consumption of beer
in Sydney is ten and three quarters Imperial gallons
for children under the age of nine.
...Possibly as a result of their country being upside down,
the local dialect has over 400 terms for "vomit."

Is this a "true" picture of Australians?

Of course not!

The suburban life and well-being of Australian society
may have been the butt of many jokes like the USA one I've
just given in the past - however the intolerance towards
"new Australians" is today seen as an unjustifiable prejudice
and something that many Australians are no longer proud of.

The car bomb - went off - while being delivered to a
rival bikie gang - by a known bikie drug dealer and his
associate. The police arrested a local bikie associate
in their home.

Dear Foxy
Although throwing up on ones car or being an unrully nieghbour is something none of us like, it comes a distant second to those who run major drugg trafficing rings or plan mass murders by way of terrorisum.

The fact remains that so long as we continue to invite those who practice radical relgious customs, while here in our country, we will always be concerned about racial violence.

I have said before, if you where on a bus and some kid hopped on with a back-pack, you would think little of it, however, if he also had a towel on his head you would no doubt feel uncomfortable.