Thanks, Lexi. Coming from a lifetime on the left, I am well aware that authoritarians can be found there - come the revolution, they would be the executioners, I suspect, the Dzerzhinskys and Yezhovs and Berias, the Ministers of Public Security, that sort of role. The black-and-white leftists, I would call them, those who would corrupt an ideology by turning it into a punishing religion, a necessary principle of which is that all non-believers must be exterminated 'for the common good'. Hence the similarities with fascism and Nazism.

As well, we can also find those who would turn a set of religious principles into a black-and-white ideology: it seems to me that proponents of shari'a law fall into this trap, in their opposition to free speech, democracy and equal rights. Still, the door must be kept open to them too, as long as they don't start advocating the extermination of non-believers. Oops.

This might help to explain the mindless support for anything Islamist by sections of the Left: see first paragraph.

Joe

Susie and Pelican,
The riots I was referring to was in relation to soccer in Sydney, wher Croats and Serbs were fighting over cultural differences that occured maybe centuries ago. Cars were burnt and shots fired into buildings. To my knowledge there have not been such behaviour in Aus by English fans. The Croats and Serbs were at it again at the Melbourne tennis last year and the year before. Wonder if the same conduct this year. The point is that they bring their long standing cultural hatreds with them and hand that hatred down to each generation. It is not acceptable and we should not tolerate it.

Recently the Sri Lankans and Tamils have been fighting each other in Sydney and Melbourne. One instance involved a home invasion where a bloke was tied to a chair and acid poured over him. Hell, these people get away with all sorts of acts because of their culture.

I wrote to the Minister for Health in NSW asking why no one had ever been charged with offences relating to FGM. The reply was 'There are cultural considerations' Susie if you have worked in hospitals you would be very aware of the mutilation of FGM. I do not know if FGM is reported to the police or not, but it should be and the parents should also be charged. No, they are not charged and remember the hospitals only see the instances where problems arise. Pelican, all instances of FGM take place in unhygenic conditions, usually on a kitchen table with no anesethic and the poor girl held down by older women. What a way to spend the Christmas holidays, and it is cultural and not a religous practice.

We are far too tolerant of alien cultures and our laws are not upheld.

That is why I advocate a discrimatary immigration policy.

What's the good of this society [ islam ] when they send their daughters back to islam to marry then bring their islam husband back here. What have we gained, more good ozzy's or more islam's.

Banjo, what is the difference between the bad behaviour of white English soccer fans in several European cities, and the bad behaviour of the soccer fans in Australia you talk about above?
None at all.

All people exhibiting bad behaviour at sporting events should be punished the same - regardless of their colour or ethnic group.

Oh dear 579!
Words escape me really...

This thread's content is rapidly deteriorating.
I'm out of here.
See you all on another thread.

Susie,
Firstly, the behaviour of English soccer fans in Europe is their problem, not ours. But if i were a leader of a European nation the penalties would be harsh and bans put in place. It should be unacceptable.

Secondly the violence between some cultural groups here is cultural, sport is just an excuse for the violence. They do not need sport to clash. The recent violence of Sri Lankans took place in a car park.

If you think its simply a matter of us upholding our laws, then you are welcome to try to get the polys to act. I have been trying to get some action in relation to FGM now for several years, without success, and I intend to again raise the subject at the next state election.

Funny thing, we regularly have raids on cock fighting venues and charge those involved, yet never any charges against acts of FGM. The conclusion is that we place more importance on the welfare of roosters than we do on the well being of little girls.

As I said before, immigrants are well advised about our laws and society, so there is no excuse for their non compliance except they know we turn a blind eye. It is a dammed disgrace.

"As I said before, immigrants are well advised about our laws and society, so there is no excuse for their non compliance except they know we turn a blind eye. It is a dammed disgrace."

On that I would agree Banjo if what you say is actually occuring. If failure to prosecute are being put down to cultural differences what is the point of making the act illegal. However, that is also the responsibility of the judiciary (and governments) to put these cases before the courts. A condition of entry could be a signed contract that any illegal behaviour within an agreed probationary period is a ticket back to the point of origin - including FGM.

Governments and judiciary are not aruging that rape is okay for some cultures because women don't have the same value so we should all be culturally sensitive. FGM is forced mutilation without consent (of a legal adult) and should be treated as such. To turn a blind eye is an abbrogation of responsibility to those children.