BOAZ_David, I think you’re confusing the silliness and excesses of political correctness - which I agree should be challenged and confronted - with multi-culturalism. Multi-culturalism doesn’t demand that public breast-feeding be banned or that ham sandwiches should be off the menu, or even that ill-informed pastors should be silenced by the courts. It requires respect for people’s different backgrounds and beliefs (ham sandwiches need not be forbidden, but maybe felafels should be on offer too) and non-discriminatory public policy. I t means we get to live in a wonderful, diverse, outward-looking, culturally rich and interesting society.

The basis of our respect for the stranger among us is respect for our common humanity and empathy with the problems of the stranger.

Leviticus 19.33-34 says: "33 When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. 34 The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God." Maybe we should follow the advice.

Yes some Muslims are biggots, far too many in fact, but multi culturism is not yet dead.
Yes it is true our quite mad pollys mine too weight the rights of the majority far too lite as oposed to those who came in a bit later than us.
We should target both the lunatic biggots and our foolish pollys from both sides of the house.
We should prepare for the comeing race and relidgion war both groups are bringing.
But our real hope should lay in those on both sides who beleave multi culturism is not based on seperation and hate.

Bazz is right. The food taboos were all a matter of hygiene originally, and had nothing to do with religion. The Muslims and Jews still haven't woken up to that.

As for multiculturalism, it sucks, as I have said many times. It will be the ruin of Australia and any other country which has allowed its politicians to introduce the suicidal policy. The complacency of the average Australian and the average citizen of other countries is totally to blame.

Only DEMOCRATIC countries have multiculturalism as an offical policy. Yet Australian voters,who could have put a stop to the nonsense before it started, were not interested enough - didn't value democracy enough - to protest and vote the multiculturalists out.

While I admire BD's optimism and his personal committment, I have to say, too late! The damage is done. As long as the average Australian's football team wins; as long as he gets a gutful of beer, can pay the mortage and enjoy all of the material things of life he wants, he doesn't give a stuff what happens the country.

Nine out of ten of these plonkers don't even know the difference between "multicultural" and "multiracial".

Sorry, BD. And don't stick your neck out too far for people who just aren't worth it.

Democracy is on the skids, and we need to get set for outright totalitarianism which will come, and maybe a lot sooner than we think.

People can enjoy their different cultures,however the crucial factor as I've stated many times is language.Language is the glue which binds our culture together.If you cannot enjoy a joke with your neighbour,then suspicion festers,with the possibility of violence.

Communication is the soul of all relationships and without it,we are all destined for destruction.This is why the Muslims should not be allowed to live in their isolated culture of little English and narrow belief systems;because it is a recipe for disaster.

Many in our educated elite only perceive the Muslim culture through the top 5% of their pop with whom they associate with.The vast masses are totally different.

Either the Muslims become intergrated,or they should not be allowed to enter Australia.If you feel like screaming racist,then just dwell on past track records.It is all about attitudes and tolerance,not about race.

Leigh.. point taken.. and that highlights one of our major weaknesses culturally (Anglo) "self satisfaction/she'll be right mate" kind of thing and added to that the "When will THEY do something about that"

I suppose I'm translating my sense of fellowship as a Christian out into our wider communal existence. We have the concept of body life, one body many parts, all working together for the benefit of the whole. But I better not push that barrow TOO hard or I'll be labelling myself a socialist :)

Celivia.. yes, and your point is why I specifically used the indefinite article "a" Greeks view.. but I did not mean that as 'all'.

Your quite right. Not all think that way and I didn't say so mate.

Rhian.. those verses from the Old Testament are glorious.. they show social welfare in the context of a capital based agrarian economy. 'Capitalism with soul' :)

On the issue of Multiculturalism, all I'd say is lets tweak policy so that we encourage integration and assimilation more. I find it ludicrous that Police and Emergency services are expected to accomodate themselves to individual cultural needs rather than expressing our own and others realizing this, and accepting it.

I can just imagine some Bolivian ambulance drivers going through their little culture book to see how they should treat this hapless Aussie who has had an accident......yeah right.

I've been hearing of Muslim workers being given time off to pray in many places. I totally disagree with that. People must know prior to coming that in the industrial world, its a no no, and make their decision based on that fact. Allowing this is cultural suicide not respect for other cultures. If some bright spark comes up with 'My religon requires me to stand on my head for 10 minutes each hour' then by this logic they would have to be accomodated. Plain dumb.

Full marks for tap-dancing, Boaz.

>>Rhian.. those verses from the Old Testament are glorious.. they show social welfare in the context of a capital based agrarian economy. 'Capitalism with soul' :)<<

Your guilty grin (grimace?) gives you away every time. You were responding to Rhian's quote - I assume an accurate one - from Leviticus:

"When an alien resides with you in your land, you shall not oppress the alien. The alien who resides with you shall be to you as the citizen among you; you shall love the alien as yourself, for you were aliens in the land of Egypt: I am the LORD your God."

What, pray, is the connection between this simple direction (to love your neighbour, as it happens) and a "capital-based agrarian economy"?

Mere obfuscation, I suspect.

If, as it would appear, this is your own particular God that is speaking here, which part of his instruction do you perceive as not applying to you? He even signed it, for goodness' sake!!

If I had the inclination and the patience, I could trawl through your offerings on this thread and pull out many dozens of examples of the basic Boaz "differentiator" being the love-thy-neighbour thing. So why, all of a sudden, do you dissociate yourself from it?

Not a good look, my friend. Have a great day.