Foxy,
in all sincerity, to be an academic is only deemed a qualification by other academics. I have stated before that yes, there are people who are academically very switched on & are of great benefit to society. The problem is that we really need to come up with a new term for those who received higher education but fail to use it for the good of society. Don't forget that the standard of education has been dropping for a long time now & just about anyone can be an academic, you just have to continue going to college. How many hare-brained statements do we hear every day from these Experts ? Can you count the number of statements made in the media by blue collar workers & small business owners ? Those who make our economy go round ! Those who pay the fees & taxes & employ others ? No, they don't get asked by the media. It's always some no-clue Dr this & Prof that or some psychologist who wouldn't be able to stand on their own feet to support themselves. Lucky for them Government has a stockpile of cash to distribute for those mindless schemes.

It seems to me that it's individual who can't accept change.

Australian society is very different now to what it was 30 years ago when s/he migrated here. Its increasingly multicultural nature is something from which all Australians have benefited, including the disaffected minority who yearn for the good old days when Australia was an outpost of Europe in the Antipodes, and England was still regarded as the mother country.

Fortunately, most of us prefer living in the present.

Dear Individual,

I firmly believe that you can't tar everyone
with the same brush be it academics, immigrants,
refugees, or locals. We're all unique, multi-faceted
individuals. Everyone who comes from somewhere else
and settles in another country has their ups and
downs of adapting to life in their new country.
There's usually confounded expectations, culture shock,
conflicting loyalties and a search for belonging, and
(often) language. Many people as well as facing
adjustment difficulties, suffer from a sense of guilt,
at having left their people to continue to struggle
against repressive regimes. They may have found a greater
physical freedom in their new country, in that their lives
are no longer in danger, but the struggle they commenced
with their conscience allowed them no spiritual freedom.

People often talk about hardships of the first few years
and the nostalgia with which they remembered the countries
they had chosen to leave. On returning to them for the
first time, however, they are reminded ot the reasons
they left. The first trip back is often a common turning
point., after which many people become more content, and
determined to establish their lives in their new country.

As another poster pointed out - the so called "trouble-
makers," to which you refer - are a minority. And it's
important to put things into perspective and as I said
earlier - not tar everyone with the same brush.

The multicultural nature of Australian society means that
there is no single national identity but a gathering of
many cultures, and this is one of the most unique and
rewarding aspects of living in Australia. The nature of
being Australian is to be part of this diversity.
The wide and varied gathering of "identities" is in keeping
with the sense of potential and openness so many people enjoyed
on coming here. My parents felt privileged not only to have
been able to make a home here but also to have found their
own sense of belonging.

individual,

Foxy, CJ, commonsense.... three
individual .... nil and still digging.
Give up while your behind and think it through.

Individual,
The following quote may interest you, as it supports your contention.

"One day millions of men will leave Arabia to go to Europe. And they will not go there as friends. They will go there to conquer it. And they will conquer it with their sons. The wombs of our women will give us victory." Former Algerian president Houari Boumedienne.

This is happening now.

The only reason I can see that muslims would move to another country with quite alien culture to them is that they see themselves as 'pioneers for Islam'. As their numbers grow they become more influencial in the political scene. Even now there is a UK government minister that is Islamic who openly speaks about a future UK PM who is Islamic. Gradually Islamic law is being imposed.

In the meantime, those muslims that immigrate to western countries enjoy the life and privileges that western culture offers.

Multiculturalism is a failed ideology and our previous government dropped the term. The present government has done the same and has discontinued use of the term. 'Unity in diversity' is an unattainable myth. Integration is the only way for a cohesive society.

Australia has always been a multi-racial society, but never multicultural. Our basic foundations are Westminster. There are aspects of many cultures that are harmfull to our unique society.

Dear Banjo,

According to Dennis Pryor in his
booklet, "Political Pryorities : How
to get on top of Australian Politics."

He states the following about the
Westminster system:

" Westminster system
The illusion that the Australian government works,
or should work, on the same principles as the
British government. The similarities between the
two systems are largely those of decor, like the
use of the mace.

The major difference between the two systems is that
Australia is a federation, a concept totally
incomprehensible to the British.

An appeal to the "Westminster system" is a slogan
used by the Opposition parties in an attempt to trick
their opponents into foolish resignations."