What exactly does integration mean?
Lexi,
my understanding of this term is that if you're given the privilege of being accepted in another country which is peaceful & values continued peace then integration means to play part in the continuation of this peace. To expect the host to conform to standards which you've forfeited in order to gain residency here is sufficient reason for the host country to issue you with a one-way ticket to whence you came from.
Lexi you most of all OLO posters always see the good & the persecuted side of things. Try to see the threat of the bad that come here under false pretences. Give those of us who have some insight the benefit of doubt sometimes instead of always to those who deceive you.
One thing is certain, integration does not mean for the host country to conform to the beggar.

Dear Individual,

I'm certainly not defending any fraudsters
who try to come to this country under false pretenses.
There are people who will try to misuse whatever
system is in place be it under the umbrella of
asylum seekers - or centrelink payments or whatever.
However I also feel that we can't tar everyone with
the same brush. Asylum seekers make up such a small
percentage of people - and it's not fair to blame them
for what a small number amongst them may or may not do.

I've just found out that a book entitled, "Australian
Lithuanians," by Professor Liuda Popenhagen -
is about to be launched here in Melbourne
and in other capital cities. As Dr James Jupp (Australia's
migration specialist) writes - "This interesting book
shows that a small ethnic minority can project and
advance its culture and language, while also taking a
full role in Australian life... an exhaustive study and
a model for other ethnic groups."

This contribution - is what I'm talking about.

Individual,
You may not argue with Lexi about asylum seekers having a legal right to be in Australia, but I must. The statement is incorrect and put out by advocates of the 'illegals' to project them in a better light.

An intending asylum seeker does not have a right to enter. They must obey a countries laws and our law states a non citizen must have a visa to enter Australia. Therefore any non citizen that enters without a visa is a law breaker.

Furthermore, it it because they have entered illegally that we can hold them in detention. We cannot, and do not, detain persons that enter legally. Because we are nice people, we have undertaken not to prosecute illegal entrants that subsequently apply for asylum.

Lexi also claims that cultural diversity is a strength. It does provide more variety in people but to claim strength seems more than abstract. How that could apply in a practical way is a mystery.

Lexi also states that all Australians have a right to express their culture and beliefs. That again is not correct. Only those aspects of foreign cultures that we allow. For example. a persons culture may include polygamy or the eating of dog meat or bull fighting and none of those are allowed. There are many foreign cultural matters that do not meet our social standards.

These terms are used by those to promote multiculturalism. Like the now disused slogan 'Unity in diversity' which is pure rot. Diversity does not promote unity in any way. In fact can lead to the opposite effect, because of cultural differences and age old hatreds between ethnic groups.

I am both amused and disturbed.
Pointing at the good settled migrants.
And hoping that will end talk about the not so good.
Denying the facts behind the Biker war.
It may be nice but what about the truth.
How do we talk about the fact second generation Australians hate us.
Is hiding it an answer.
Why is it we would except and complain about WASP family's all on the dole no intention to work.
But it is unnice to say it is wrong in SOME migrating groups?
How can we justify not wanting me to think just as generations of Aussie migrants and half of Europeans do?

Dear Banjo,

I am not going to get into an argument with you
about asylum seekers. Suffice to say that you
are merely stating myths not facts. Asylum seekers
are not "illegals."
You keep repeating the same old
nonsense as if it is fact. It's not and you should
find out your facts first before you continue to post.
BTW - 97 percent of all asylum seeker requests were
found to be genuine - and have been accepted into
Australia. Your problem seems to be quite an accute
one - one that you need to sort out.

Dear Belly,

Crime in this country has a variety of causes - the issue
is a complex one and it is somewhat simplistic to blame
"alien" cultures on people who have been in this country
for generations - as in the case of the Lebanaese.

However, you are entitled to your opinion, as I am to mine.
This doesn't mean that I am following some kind
of PC mode or that I am making excuses for the criminal
element.

Everyone in Australia must obey laws established
by governments. Equally all Australians are protected by
the rule of law. This means that no one is "above the law"
even if they hold a position of power, like
politicians or the police.

All Australians are equal under
the law. Which means that nobody should be treated
differently from anybody else because of their race,
ethnicity or country of origin, because of their age, gender,
marital status, or disability, or because of their
political or religious beliefs. Government agencies and
independent courts must treat everyone fairly.

Those are the foundations on which our values are based.

All Australians are equal under the law.
Lexi,
If you start looking into this you'll find that this is a mere slogan, nothing equal about it.
Ok, if you have enough money then yes it can be made to look like it but the general crap kicker has hardly any rights or aren't you watching what's going on around us ?
Hopefully, once we have a new conservative Government some decency will creep back into our judiciary & legal system but that's still some time away.