Dear Banjo,

Serbs and Croats - you say hate each other and
continue to fight each other? Really - all Serbs
and Croats? Or only the ones who got overly
excited in the sports arena - and allowed past
hatreds to rise to the surface. They were ones who
were born here and were too young to even have a
drivers licence. They're not unlike other nationalities
who display their antagonism against their sporting
opponents.

And Lebanese Muslims have nothing
but contempt for our society? Really - they all
do, do they? Then they must be a minority - because
I thought most Lebanese were Christians. And what
about the decades of peaceful Lebanese settlement
in this country?

You want me to tell you whether
I think that these "alien" groups be allowed to
continue to come here - with their "alien" cultural
practices? Especially when they have nothing but
contempt for our society?

Let me say that I don't believe in
unreasonable generalisations and sweeping statements.
Because then it appears that you are arguing on an
emotional level - not a mature intelligent one.

Here are some facts - taken from the Australian
Immigration Fact Sheet 1:

"Australia's Migration Program does not discriminate
on the basis of race or relgion." So your question
regarding Serbs, Croats, Lebanese Muslims is irrelevant.

"All Applications for migration to Australia are assessed
against requirements set out in the Migration Act and
REgulations. There are different criteria for different
categories of visas and the criteria are established to
meet Australia's national interests and needs. The
Government determines the criteria and sets the number of
people who can enter under the program on an annual
basis."

"The policies and legislation governing migrant selection
are applied equally to all applicants."

"The criteria for the Migration Program are selective -
only those applicants who meet Australia's requirements
and have good prospects for successful settlement are
chosen. There are detailed rules governing entry in
each migration category and selection is based on a case-by
-case assessment of applications."

cont'd ...

Once the people get here - they have to behave
accordng to the laws of the country. And they
are treated equally whether they descended
from early settlers or are recent arrivals.

The violence that we see
on TV is to a larger proportion is related to
people from a wide variety of ancestries - not
just limited to the groups you mentioned. Also based on
population proportions violence appears to be evenly
distributed among all groups.

Lexi sorry but time for some frank talking.
You are fixed and blinkered in your view.
I doubt two people can be found to question the nationality and religion of these folk.
Post after post has links to such as a prime minister a state premier and Lebanese.
Are you defending a family member or Friend?
Do you give any credence to any of the above.
Is the fact it is ONLY Lebanese who have been convicted so far for drive bys of use.
I very much doubt that Matilda mag has any intention of being other than a near left journal, look else ware for in depth reporting.
Say reports by NSW Police.

There is an interesting historical context to circumcision and the ban on pig meats.
In pre Christion times in the Middle east both were practised.
Circumcision because there were less occurrences of cervical cancer and
perhaps other diseases. That was also found in recent research.

Pig meats were banned because of parasites in pig meat.

These bans became religious practise which is why they are still practised.
However about 1000 BC the Chinese learnt enough about animal husbandry
to be able to avoid the parasites.
This knowledge was promulgated around the world but by this time it
had been written into the bible and copied into the Koran and
has become so stubbornly believed ever since, science notwithstanding.

Well StG I can assure there is nothing hilarious about raising a
retarded child !
If you want proof go read the UK government report on cousin marriage
to the UK Parliament on the occurrence of genetic defects in Midland
counties in particulat those counties around Leicester, Manchester,
Leeds etc where there is a large number of Pakistanis and other
middle eastern immigrants.

Oh but that is not here is it ?

Well go and read the report of the NSW Dept of Health report to the
NSW Parliament on the large number of babies born with genetic faults
born in Auburn hospital. The genetist who made the report went and
interviewed the mothers and found most of them were married to their
cousins and were the childeren of cousins.

If you think this is a bloody joke try helping out at a special school !

Belly; Yes the Royals in past times did practise cousin marriage but
I think it was only for political reasons.
I think they have abandoned it now as they all seem to be marring commoners.

I doubt if it was practised in rural communities very much as being
the raisers of animals they would have been well aware of the problems
of inbreeding and would have avoided it in their own families as well.
I just remembered a TV program where festivals were held and all the
surrounding villages attended so the young people could meet up.
Put yourself in their position where travel was very limited and it
would need something like a festival to get them all together.
Probably put on by the older villages deliberately.

Getting back to gun crime, it is not only Lebanese but some Islanders
have been involved as well.