csteele,
You said."I am proud of the fact that by accepting those 40,000 migrants/refugees we have prevented literally thousands from suffering FGM. Why aren't you?"

If you believe that you need to be rid of your rose coloured glasses.
It is fancifull and simply wishfull thinking.

My informants come from the front line in the medical field and their observations are exactly opposite. FGM is increasing and the education program we have engaged in for 18 years has not reduced the incidence at all. Girls that had FGM done to them years ago are now having their own daughters cut. Even if a young mum was not keen for her daughter to be 'done', do you think she could resist the presure from the older family members? Get real about ingrained cultural matters. The observation is that FGM is against the law but nobody checks anyway, so get it done.

You also need to get more education about FGM. Fact is it cannot be reversed. Surgeons cannot replace a cliteros and labia scar tissue does not stretch like normal labia tissue during birthing, so there are ongoing problems. Sure deinfribulation can improve urine and menstral flows, but that is not reversing the effects of FGM.

To reduce the incidence strong law enforcement with heavy penalties is required.

I repeat, no Australian born girl should be subject to FGM. I am ashamed that some girls are and that we continue to allow it.

Dear Banjo,

You state that strong law enforcement and heavy penalities
are required to stop FGM.

However there are medical experts who strongly
disagree with you.
They are people who know what they are talking about - and
who work with this problem on a regular basis. Here's
what they have to say:

Firstly, Somali born , Zeinab Mohamud, of the Family and
Reproduction Rights Education Program - at the Royal
Women's Hospital in Melbourne - whose job it is to untangle
outdated cultural traditions and religious misconceptions
says: "You have to work with these women, listen to them.
You have to know where they are coming from in order to
help them."

Dr Ted Weaver of the Royal Australian and New Zealand College
of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists agrees:

"Ordering people against the practice of FGM won't work.
If we want to dictate and pontificate about this and
not provide culturally appropirate care we shall further
disenfranchise these women."

That's why it is very important to keep doing what is
currently being done by the medical profession in our
leading hospitals. Things will change eventually -
but it will take time. Miracles don't happen overnight.
Quick judgements and quick fix solutions simply are not
the answer according to the people who work in this area.

cont'd ...

Your statement that "we allow it," is
simply wrong. On the contrary -
our medical professionals are doing all
they can to educate and prevent it.

csteele,

Growing up in England was a happy time for me. The police didn't carry guns, and on the whole we appeared to have a pretty peaceful and law-abiding society.

Then England opened her borders,and a politician Lloyd George predicted this would be a disaster. The first major influx was from Jamaica and Pakistan, and abuse of the unemployment system really took hold then, and inter-racial violence too.

My family had a thriving business, so their reason for us leaving England was not financial.
The sole reason was that my parents wanted a better and safer future for their children.

To this end they chose Australia after researching which countries appeared to have peaceful and growing rather than shrinking economies.

When we arrived, what struck us most was the enthusiasm and love Aussies had for this country. We were welcomed with open arms and generosity of spirit.

Now as a proud citizen of Australia I see the English scenario we thought was forever behind us beginning to be replayed here.

My Aussie sons have visited relatives remaining in the U.K., and are happy to hurry home, but they too, having seen England as it is now, better understand the ramifications of uncontrolled immigration, and have grave concerns that we face the same fate as England.

Aussies still retain generosity of spirit, but is this now being abused?

Dear Lexi,

I'm afraid I am going to disagree with you and the Doctor on this one. I know how much laws serve to empower people in standing up to odious practice. That is not to say eduction isn't an essential component in the fight against FGM because it clearly is but I fully support strong legal proscriptions against it. This was illustrated in the link I posted to the Oslo study. That being said I a willing to look at any other sources you may have.

http://www.islamhelpline.com/node/582
Csteele you have thrown that rock, faceless poster att me once too often.
First folk who let others prod them in to NEEDLESSLY REVEALING their real names are fools.
However, my name printed here OFTEN for all to SEE is Allan Bell, I live on the mid north coast of NSW.
Who csteele are you?
Philip S YOU KNOW as I do, we are fire and water, I challenge YOU, to under stand! I want the boat people stopped as much as you do!
And to know, without doubt, our social security system is a draw card, to know too Labor got it wrong, on boat people.
NOW stop cuddling your self!
As you respect those words of mine, even like them hear this!
Nasty man Abbott, played a part too.
Do not throw the figures at me I can count.
Indonesia, Malaya, are NOT THE HOMES OF THE ECONOMIC REFUGEES.
Police and sundry criminals,politicians, in those country's earn cash by keeping the trade alive.
To stop the boats they want something.
That some thing is was and will be under Liberals us taking more than we send back.
Before shouting at me! KNOW YOU MOB WILL NEED ANSWERS SOON!
Not just saying NO.
The link is a moderate voice from the Muslim side, trying to calm voices that harm more often than not.
Yet can we here another voice of reason.
Why should the west a world teaching evolution be held back by something few of us believe in.