Bazz
I agree in part with your statement. There are certainly some traditions and rituals that I would not want enshrined in Australian Law, and there are practices that many would find barbaric. Many new Australians bring with them some inbuilt prejudices of their own, this is not new and generational change usually ensures successful integration.

Bigotry is certainly not limited to white Australians, and some newcomers display resentment, a 'superiority of values' complex and hold little gratitude to the host nation who have taken them in. However, they are a minority in my experience.

How would we determine who should be let in and who not, based on culture if the majority of one cultural group are happy to conform to our laws.

We are all more likely to get along however, if we create opportunities for new immigrants and rather than be hyper-critical, be more embracing which will allow little opportunity for disenfranchisement. It is feelings of isolation from the norm that drive some of these resentments and that is fertile ground for problems.

Cooperation and tolerance does have to come from all 'sides', a one-sided love affair is doomed to fail.

Apologies, I meant to write Banjo.

Pelican,
I agree with you that it is only a minority of cultures that cause us problems, and in a lot of cases the generational change reduces the problem. However, in some instances the problems are handed down from generation to generation. For example, prejudcices and hatred of others seem to be handed down, as is the practice of FGM. Women that have had FGM performed on them here, as little girls, are now having their own daughters 'done'. Dispite some 16 years of education the practice is on the increase.

This is only my opinion but I think that it is the newcomers that continually refresh these alien cultural aspects.

Therefore we should stop importing those groups that stick doggedly to the old practices and attitudes that we find alien. Law enforcement agencies know the groups that fight each other and conduct anti-social behaviour. The health authorities know which groups carry out FGM. I highlight FGM as I believe it is shamefull that we turn a blind eye to the mutilation of little girls. Other alien cultural practices may be more difficult to identify as we do not keep records relating to forced marriages, etc. Although DOCS should have knowledge of such groups.

I am certainly not advocating deportation or the banning of a whole group because one person breaks the law. Only stop importing if the group generally displays alien cultural practice and cannot/will not change

I don't agree Banjo. We can't 'ban' whole cultures or countries because we don't like the practices of a few. That would be discriminating against the many good people of countries at war or in some other dire need of emigrating.

Instead, we need laws against all those dangerous practices here in this country, and if anyone breaks the law, such as female genital mutilation, then they will be punished.

I imagine though that it would take some time for some cultures to come around to the idea that FGM is abhorrent.
Just as it has taken time for our western society to come to that realisation about male circumcision.

Funny - I came to Australia from a third world country where I was unwanted (a white kid standing in the way of a liberated black Africa), but I've never been called 'dross' before.

That said, I would have been allowed in under the WAP: I am as pasty, freckly and ginger-topped as any Briton.

Seriously, though: the 'populate or perish' line WAS used to scare the nation, and underhanded techniques WERE used to bring down the popular WAP. I admit that I didn't give this week's episode my undivided attention, but I certainly missed the cynical undertone you picked up, Peng.

I predict that the series will conclude with Australia finally embracing its multiculturalism (though with some concerns for the future) - perhaps a reflection of the nation as it stands today. The reality is that our history has a distinctly racist theme running through it. Like I said in the last thread on this series, the difference is that our racism was initially academic and 'cultured' - not the rednecked, ignorant racism we see in some sectors today.

My overall impression of the series to date is that it is casting our forefathers (and some of our older citizens today) as misguided but not inherently bad people. It acknowledges the racism without invoking the usual guilt. As a teacher of English, though, I'm aware that there are as many different interpretations of a text as there are readers. Mine is different from yours, and there's no reason for either of us to apologise for that. Diversity is what it's all about.

Susie,
We presently have laws against anti-social behaviour and FGM but they are not invoked. Did you hear of anyone being properly punished for the rioptous behaviour at the soccer or tennis? After an inquiry in 1994 we implemented laws against FGM and started an education programme aimed at the cultures that practice it. Not one person has ever been charged with an offence relating to FGM, even though evidence is available from emergency departments of hospitals and some hospitals have specialist units to deal with post FGM problems.

We turn a blind eye to FGM. The incidence is increasing and education has failed.

Our weak politicians will not uphold the laws they implemented, so we must look to alternatives.

We can, and should, discriminate against cultures that will not adjust their ways to fit into our society. Its a bit like pulling all the beds apart in an army barracks and having them all remade because one is not made properly. Its called peer presure and it works.

Immigrants get ample information about our society and our laws and standards. If some cannot abide by what is acceptable then they should go elsewhere.