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.