http://www.smh.com.au/nsw/no-merriness-here-mosque-puts-fatwa-on-christmas-20121222-2bsk2.html
I and others using this thread, if it gets a start will be told we are appealing to the lowest common denominator.
Even that we are Racist, maybe we are.
I doubt that.
But why the lie?
That deliberate lie, multi cultorism
I nice and warm feeling SOME of us get about many cultures us being one?
And the denial, the mistaken thought, by rejecting those who are separate by their own wish, we reject all other cultures and people.
Migration is not the issue, we are many different nations in one.
And basically better for it.
But this separatism, SOME Muslims wish to impose on us?

GY I must have got you at a good time!
Almost instant post.
Reminds me how much we posters owe you.
We are busy besmirching each other and tend to forget the reason YOU started this site.
May Christmas bring you joy.
And a few donations to support this, your site.
Brothers 4 life.
Read this mornings SMH you can, on line.
Not separatism, but sure a difference , middle eastern stand over gang.
Named and showing, to be behind recent shootings in Sydney.
IF we ignore a seed that hasbeen planted in our country and is growing we ignore our children's future.

Belly,
It is but a taste of things to come.

Blind Charley could have told anyone who was willing to listen that the history of Islam shows that where Islam is in a minority position its advocates will be vocal proponents of “tolerance” , but where it gets the numbers –and that doesn’t necessarily mean a majority – it will cast aside all pretense of tolerance and seek to dictate.

There were –and remain–however, an awful lot of people on the multicultural gravy train who were awfully cocksure that all we had to do was naturalize anyone and they would thereafter magically blossom into pluralists and live happily ever after with us. (Leastways, that is what they wanted us to believe . Though, I can’t help but think that the fact most of these MC advocates were in high paid govt jobs, that depended on MC continuing, might had been a factor too)

Well it didn’t work in Kosovo.
And it didn’t happen in the southern Philippines.
Or, southern Thailand or Burma or Nigeria.
It’s at breaking point in Indonesia.
And any pretense of it broke down a long time ago in Lebanon

Which leaves us with two questions:
1) What are the prospects of the pretense continuing in OZ when the mineral boom ends and it’s thereafter a BYO party?
2) How do we bring to account those spokespersons who sold us (out) on multiculturalism?

Hi Belly, Firstly I wish you and your family a happy holiday season and all the best for the new year. "See you" in 2013 for some move lively debate. LOL.
At the end of 2012 we find ourselves still in a very lucky country, and we all should be thankful for that. I am fortunate enough to have friends from very diverse sections of our community, Muslim, gay, straight, workers, people in politics and other who don't give a rats about same, and many more. One thing all my friends have in common is they are decent people who want a better life for themselves and their families and for some, Australia as well.
We all have perceptions of "other people" and its not until you sit down to dinner or have a drink together or something, and you have a bit of a chat, that although they may speak a different language at home or eat different food etc to you their hopes and aspirations are not all that different to yours.
Even our politicians away from parliament and the media etc are also very ordinary people. I recall once sitting on a park bench with an Australian Senator, after some door knocking on a very hot day, waiting to be picked up. What was the Senator's big issue there and then, not the GFC, not asylum seekers, not the deficit, no the big issue was the pet dog at home and hoping it was alright with the heat. We talked a lot about pets while waiting for a lift. I ran into our Federal Liberal Candidate not long ago, he was out of uniform, no suit, was wearing t-shirt, shorts and sandals could have mistaken him for a Green, ha ha.

Happy Christmas to you too Belly. It's an interesting thread and I find myself on the side of the Imam, Sheikh Safi. While nothing annoys me more than the "Happy Holiday" approach of pretending that Christmas is not a Christian celebration, participating in Christian rituals or behaviours is not something I expect of people who aren't Christian.

The syncretic approach to religion that many in the west, including many Christians, adopt, is actually corrosive of belief and diversity. I don't believe that all religions are equal, and if I did, why be a Christian, or anything else?

I have a great respect for Roman Catholicism, and went to Catholic schools for most of my schooling, but I was brought up strongly Methodist. All through my schooling I refused to participate in any Catholic practices that contradicted my beliefs. I got a lot of teasing and some bullying as a result. I also got a lot of respect.

Talking of respect, I think I would have been disrespectful of Catholicism if I had budged from my position because I would have been saying by my actions that the Catholic religious acts I was carrying out didn't count.

I took the same attitude many years later when my daughters and I attended a Festival of the Lights Buddhist ceremony at Brisbane's Southbank. They wanted to join in. I said that if later in life they decided to become Buddhist then that would be fine. But at that moment they were Christian and we should just watch. I have no animosity towards Buddhism, or I wouldn't have been there. And I could appreciate, and even empathise, with the participants, and certainly respect them, which was why I could not, and would not, join in.

I respect the Imam and his fatwa for similar reasons.

Dear Belly,

A wish for Peace and Happiness this Christmas Season
and throughout the New Year!

As Graham points out - religious leaders are
entitled to their views. Cardinal Pell has his
particular take on so many issues - not all
agree with him either - amongst his own flock.
I remember the days when Catholics were not allowed
to have anything to do with non-Catholics.

Islamic fundamentalism may seem to many Westerners
like a return to medieval morality. In a way it
is difficult for most Westerners to comprehend,
Islam is a comprehensive way of life, continuously
and intensely pervading belief and behaviour,
public conduct and private experience.

The very word "Islam" means "submission" to the will
of Allah, who has revealed the appropriate codes of
conduct in virtually every field of life, from
religious ritual to personal hygiene.

Still, as your link shows - not all Muslims agree with
this religious leader's stance.