[Deleted]

Foxy, "It may be of interest to know that Miss Australia 2006,
(she represented Australia in the Miss World 2006
competition) was a Muslim - Sabrina Houssami."

You are over-simplifying unnecessarily and not giving credit to Sabrina's Hindu-Indian mum and her obviously flexible dad.

http://www.usyd.edu.au/news/84.html?newsstoryid=1068

Sabrina's freedom and bright future come choosing the right parents: flexible, adaptable, caring and above all, not fundies. Is she the exception to the rule? Maybe so and that is why she is noteworthy.

"Isn't it funny though?
If I were saying this in a mosque in the Middle East (or Australia?),
I'd be a hero."

A Muslim saying those things would be considered a heretic, where-ever they were. To illustrate why, in 628 C.E. Prophet Muhammad (s) granted a Charter of Privileges to the monks of St. Catherine Monastery in Mt. Sinai. It consisted of several clauses covering all aspects of human rights including such topics as the protection of Christians, freedom of worship and movement, freedom to appoint their own judges and to own and maintain their property, exemption from military service, and the right to protection in war.

This is the English translation:

QUOTE This is a message from Muhammad ibn Abdullah, as a covenant to those who adopt Christianity, near and far, we are with them.

Verily I, the servants, the helpers, and my followers defend them, because Christians are my citizens; and by Allah! I hold out against anything that displeases them.

No compulsion is to be on them.

Neither are their judges to be removed from their jobs nor their monks from their monasteries.

No one is to destroy a house of their religion, to damage it, or to carry anything from it to the Muslims' houses.

Should anyone take any of these, he would spoil God's covenant and disobey His Prophet. Verily, they are my allies and have my secure charter against all that they hate.

No one is to force them to travel or to oblige them to fight.
The Muslims are to fight for them.

If a female Christian is married to a Muslim, it is not to take place without her approval. She is not to be prevented from visiting her church to pray.

Their churches are to be respected. They are neither to be prevented from repairing them nor the sacredness of their covenants.

No one of the nation (Muslims) is to disobey the covenant till the Last Day (end of the world).ENDQUOTE (wikipaedia: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Saint_Catherine's_Monastery,_Mount_Sinai)

This can be considered another major contribution that Muslims can bring to Australia: a heritage of tolerance.

grateful,
The Holy Prophet (FH) was such a wonderful man, in fact the perfect example according to the Holy Book (33:21).
When faced with life's more difficult decisions, I like to reflect on what He would do in my circumstances.
I always turn to His example for help at those times.
I find that the texts of Islam serve as a wonderful guide during those difficult times.
The University of Southern California has an authoritative guide,
in its Centre for Muslim-Jewish Engagement.
Perhaps you too can find solace there, as I have done.
The following link provides links to the USC's answers to life's difficult questions:
http://www.thereligionofpeace.com/Pages/WWMD.htm

Dear Proxy,

You are on the wrong thread.

This is a thread whose subject matter
is "Positive Contributions of Australian
Muslims."

I want you to leave it please, as you
obviously are not capable of contributing.

And if you dare to bring up the subject
of "Free Speech," then I refer you to
the following website:

http://www.onlineopinion.com.au/view.asp?article=2893

"There is free speech and then there is hate inducing
vilification."

I've put up with you trying to derail my thread
through several posts - now BACK OFF YOU TROLL!

Go rant on your own thread - leave mine alone!

And Graham if you're reading any of this -
do something please - this guy's behaviour should
not be tolerated! He adds nothing to the discussion
except repeating the same old phrases with
malicious intent - its called "Spamming" and is
usually unacceptable on most reputable Forums.

I've had enough of it - he's a troll - plain and simple!
He does it to bait or provoke users into responding.
OK - I wasn't going to respond - I've ignored him
for as long as I could - but honestly, one can only
tolerate so much!

I understand how you feel.
It must be hard keeping your lip buttoned in the library all day.
A girl's gotta cut loose some time and you know I can take it.
Get it out of your system.
I don't mind.
I'm a tolerant kinda guy.