Dear Gadget... I'm stunned... Actually I didn't pick up anything you mentioned but I sure as heck will look now !

Please USE this in your encounters with opponents.

I was just referring to it, as a means of illustrating how an academic work shows how the loss of male identity and tribal disintegration are connected. Femenists don't realize the damage they are doing because they only see the 'incremental' change.

Regarding 'racist' immigrants.. there are also other aspects of 'danger' which could be construed as 'racism' but on the religious level. I've been wading through some Islamic hadith again.. this time in "Sahih Muslim" and I find my rather harsh assessment of Islam further confirmed.

Muslim Book 001, Number 0031:
It is reported on the authority of Abu Huraira that he heard the Messenger of Allah say: I have been commanded to fight against people, till they testify to the fact that there is no god but Allah, and believe in me (that) I am the messenger (from the Lord) and in all that I have brought.

This is a recurring theme.. "fight them....until"
Until what ?

1/ Confess no God but Allah
2/ Confess I am his messenger.

Again, the understanding of aggressive and violent 'Islamic Evangelism'
in the mind of Mohammed and his followers is underscored. To think that this has no implications for us in 2006 is pure naivity. Specially in regard to Muslim immigrants and a growing community.

This is about equal to the Communist idea of violent revolution by the proletariat against the Capitalists.

The observable fact that this does not seem at THIS TIME to figure prominently in the minds of 'moderate' Muslims does nothing to diminish the impending reality.

Yes.. many migrants are racist, and some are so as described above.

And Mr Speaker, before the honorable Mr Chamberlain stands up to dispute this, please censure him.

Spendocrat,

The subject is: “Are Migrants Racist?” not what happened 200 years ago.

Ranier, as always, gets his mob into just about any subject and he is way off the subject here. As I kicked it off, I think I’m entitled to say that. My only reason for responding to him was that, although he is entitled to hang onto the past and his own opinions about what happened to his people, his post would be better used for another topic. I do not believe that first white settlers and aborigines of 200 years ago have anything to do with the topic.

I will stick to my undertaking not to argue the toss with you. I might feel the urge to expand on the comments I made re aborigines some time, but I will not be doing it in response to your querulous challenge.

David,

Good on you. Your patience is at least on a par with Col Rouge’s. I have never been able to master the art, unfortunately. Keep striving!

I think it’s pretty arrogant for the self-haters to think that it is only we who are the “racists”, and all those other lovely cultures and races think that we are wonderful

The original posting by Leigh is interesting in that mistrust and prejudice probably run both ways.I agree with some of the comments here where the attitude of some immigrants are considered as appalling. However most are not. The current social environment and the constant reminder of people's race/colour through daily interaction, media and stereotyping has probably contributed to "ethnic monorities" to feel isolated and excluded. It is not unusual to hear/see people of minority background being targeted at on a street at night full of drunkards. or them turning up in places of only the "white" race only to feel out of place. It is also not uncommon to see in a equal opportunity workplace some of the attitudes displayed which could be interpreted as less than equal. Try tuning to one of the shock-jock radio programs. And the daily subtle discrimination goes on....

My point is rather than asking the question "are immigrants racists?", it is more important to understand the causes of their mistrust. They are not by nature "racist", otherwise why would they be here? (to specifically engage in racist behavior?)It is always easy to find faults in other people but not seeing their own problems. Some commentators here have very entrenched preception that there is no way that different races could live together in harmony. Going by the amount of prejudices and complete lack of attempt to understand other races, it is no wonder that they hold this view. The question Leigh raised "Are any overtures you make to immigrants successful and welcomed, or do you get looked at as if you are something the cat dragged in?", what purpose or benefit does it have, other than trying to entrench and consolidate prejudice?

And by the way I do not see people of the same race congregating as being a symbol of racism. It is a democratic right to do so. The formation of "ghettos" per Leigh is caused by (a) people of same race congregating and (b) people of other race leaving. So by implication, Leigh is clearly wanting to understand why the white population is leaving and moving to exclusively white suburbs. Do they dislike people of another colour? Some time ago, a TV documentary on the US racial divide showed that when some black families move to a wealthy suburb previously exclusively dwelled by whites, the whites started leaving in mass numbers. It is also fine by me if they do not like to live in a culturally diverse community, afterall it is their democratic rights. what concerns me is the disposition to impose their way of live (arrogantly) on others when other lifestyles are perfectly legitimate. It is no organised power struggle between the races, some commentators need to wake up..

Goku,
In most cases its the governments that decide to move these "people" into these communities and what follows is generally a rise in crime and anti-social behaviour. Thats why the white people and generally anyone who can afford to move out do so because they dont have to put up with that sought of crap if they dont want to. That dont make them racists, there just people who want thier families to be safe

In the case you are referring to the Govt moved 1100 Somalis into a normal suburb and turned it into a ghetto pretty well overnight if its the case Im thinking of, it was a while ago.

Mate if we dont want to live next door to a bunch of sub saharan muslim blacks then we dont have to that is our right, eventually as is our right we can put up a great big razor wire fence around our communities as is our right to keep us nice and safe just like South Africa now wont that be nice.

Should govts and social engineers move these "peoples" into these communities without consultation or a suburban referendum well Ill leave that one up to you?

Leigh stated:

• “I do not believe that first white settlers and aborigines of 200 years ago have anything to do with the topic.”

Well of course you wouldn’t that was the whole point of me posting. Doh!

And actually Leigh my post was very contemporary in context, not 200 years ago.

To dislocate one set of race relations from another just so you can make convenient and ridiculous claims and pretend to have some expert and insightful intellect on the topic is not only bizarre but embarrassing.

But still you ask “Do you think there are double standards in this "debate"?

What a joke!

Your knowledge of immigration history is astoundingly incomplete but like most OLO posters I've tolerated how lazy you are in this regard.

Where are the ghetto's you speak of? Provide some proof!

I think some ‘long-time Australians’ (like you) aren’t
engaging with cultural diversity at all: In fact one could go so far as to say people like you are more
culturally insular than those you despise.

Which brings me to this point - how well do you mix with your own kind anyway?

If the tone and your fondness for making unruly racist statements is anything to go by I know for sure you would find yourself very isolated in a social gathering where there is majority of white Australians.

They'd be embarrassed and apologetic, not just to me but to each other.

And I reckon it wouldn't be unusual to hear the question being politely whispered -

"Who invited the socio-cultural troglodyte?"

And guess what - I would bravely answer on your behalf: “Sorry I did, but he’s ok, just needs to get out a bit more.