Dear Banjo,

As I stated earlier - you can only understand someone's
experiences when you've actually walked in their shoes.
You're very lucky that your upbringing was such a positive
one. Many immigrants had different experiences. Including
those of my own family - but I won't go into them here.
They're too personal and not all of them positive.
Anyway, enough said - to each his own.

Cheers.

Dear Lexi,
I was just thinking back to the year that we arrived in this country,
and thinking that we, as Australians have come a long way since then.
On a culinary note, we get to enjoy the cuisine from all corners of the Earth, we get to see how other Cultures live, cook, show off their music and dancing, we have got it all in our backyard, aren't we very fortunate, no wonder Australia is called the Lucky Country.
Some years ago, I watched a Documentary, on children from ethnic background, and different religions. Two primary schools in NSW, one being Christian, the other being Muslim. Firstly the Teachers visited the 'other' school,asked their pupils' to choose a penfriend from these schools, and corresponded with each other for a few weeks. Then one week the Christian school visited its' counterpart, the Muslim school, the following the reverse applied. They all discovered, that they had so much in common, they sampled each others food, and, then they realised that even though they dressed differently, their Religions ran a similar path to each other.
Maybe some teachers are smarter than a lot of Australians....food for thought anyway.
Cheers my friend,
NSB

Lexi (continued)
I think that it would be really helpful if the Powers that Be, talked up the benefits of Multiculturalism, rather than the scare tactics.
I am not silly enough to think that radicals do not exist, but if more focus was directed at the non-radicals, people might just assimilate in peace, we can often see that the first and subsequent generations adopt a more western style in their dress etc., I guess that should provide a narrative for the doubters. I understand their fear, but perhaps they should realise that they have nothing to fear by living in Australia.
Enjoy your day,
NSB

Lady's lets not, in the name of supporting multi cultures turn my country's history in to a blighted waste land pre mass migration.
In 1915, this country's troops, for the second time in mass numbers served in the great war, unfortunately a European Royal family feud.
But our culture and traditions existed then.
I like to think my frank nature, belief in say it as I think is and always has been part of that bush bred Aussie culture.
Abdul, know this, I want your life, your children's life ,in this country to be a good one.
But I will not roll up in a corner and pretend my concerns, the concerns of my country men/and Women come from poor understanding/education.
We value the sacrifices of our service men and Women, not only those killed but those who suffer endlessly because of the service they do our county.
I know Abdul, for every Muslim in my country telling my dead country mens family's they are murderers, hundreds in the country's they serve in are grateful.
A young beautiful loyal Australian Woman Born in Malaysia, served this country in the Iraq war.
She can be proud of herself, happy to know she served too her fellow Muslims.
Lets not be Blind, if I in any, Muslim country, ever.
Sent such letters.
Can we see? it takes two, it take effort, on both sides.
This issue is not to be fixed by blindness cuddles and love,, on one side.

abdul
this topic has reference to immigration visa issue
http://forum.onlineopinion.com.au/thread.asp?discussion=4658&page=0

Dear Belly,

Yes, it does indeed take two, no one is
suggesting otherwise. However when there is
increasing hostility in the broader community
and families are forced to live defensively
prejudice creates what it fears. There are many
Muslims who used to feel that they were Australians,
but now cannot identify themselves in all the
negative space being created for them in our
community.
It's not about "love" only on one side - it's
about more education, less fear mongering and
not least, greater honesty about the culture
of prejudice that is so damaging to us all.