Constance I thank you.
While I think you have me down to pat, I say what I think.
I am an admirer of all the women you speak of.
Poirot some one said, is from a radical group.
I have seen no evidence of that,from any other than csteele.
A quick swim in the post history may be my best support.
Are men not just there to open the doors step aside so as not to bump in to the gathering in the middle of shopping isles.
Are good manners now to include not telling your truth if it offends,
NO WAY! my thoughts are my true ones poirot scrapes the bottom of her barrel to fill my mouth hand shut me up!
never, look at the very left, if the greens do not house nearly all of them, if say 5% can be added to greens numbers to house them.
15% of AUSTRALIANS, at worst, yes extremist left is an illness, want me to shut up.
I see the use of RAPE as a verbal weapon, by a woman as tragic evidence the left is forever lost.
Health and the sheer inability to post without insults from both left and right will in time not far away drive me to another site.
Such has become the fate of posters here.
This bitterly fought out election year too, will require me to re consider my spare time.
Some great people here conservatives and Labor, remember forever and ever.
CSTEELE IS A FRONT a person trying to take away the right to free speech, I still think based only on written words seen here anti west
Who is going to tell our children? about what this country once was.
About folk from almost every country sitting together at cricket or football shouting have a go you mug.
And hopeing on the train ride home third generation Australian Muslims did not riot again..

Belly,

"Poirot some one said, is from a radical group
I have seen no evidence of that, from any other than csteele."

Which radical group would that be?

I think you're losing the plot, Belly.

Why would you write something like that...except to insinuate something that you have no evidence of.....to put it on the page as a blot on someone's character, something which has no basis in fact.

That's a pretty low act.

No-one ever said anything like that on this forum regarding Poirot - and you know it.

It was just an aspersion for you to drop on the page.

No-one is attempting to stop your free speech. However, you seem to think that if someone stridently opposes your view, they should keep it to themselves. Debating you on OLO, apparently, according to your new mantra, is threatening your freedom of speech.

Good on ya, Constance....anyone who disagrees with Belly must be a delusional bully......

Well of course they are!

Constance should know, she's apparently "balanced" - Ask her, she'll tell you : )

Dear worldwatcher,

Pining for the past is pretty universal.

I have had the privilege of teaching English to new arrivals on a volunteer basis.

The one I have spent the most time with was a young doctor from Vietnam. His is very grateful for the life he has been given in Australia and he works incredibly hard. While studying for his Medical English exams he is doing hard yards as a farm labourer.

What is interesting is how fondly he speaks of his school days when society, law and order provided respect, safety and structure that allowed him to enjoy his formative years. Now he says those same schools are rife with drugs, thefts and assaults. While he sees the freedoms of the West trumping most things he feels western influences have played their role in denying the current Vietnamese youth the 'blessings' he had.

In the end the world is still struggling with a modernity that in many societies remains an affliction. Add to that economic displacements which are always occurring and changes will not always be comfortable nor for some tenable.

Often a natural reaction is to find some one or some group to blame.

Dear Banjo,

One of the medical experts that I quoted was a
Somali born professional who's more than familiar
with what works and what doesn't in getting through
to these women. However, I'm glad that you do recognise
the fact that this is a complex issue and that it will
take time to solve.

Dear Belly,

People tend to see things from a viewpoint of subjectivity -
that is, an interpretation based on personal values and
experiences. If the world consisted simply of some self-
evident reality that everyone perceived in exactly the
same way, there might be no disagreement among observers.

Dear Constance,

The art of reasoned, intelligent argument is a skill not
easily acquired and the first point to remember -
is to always argue in a logical manner. Sound reasoning will
conquer unreasonable generalisations every time.
Your personal attacks on posters of this forum makes you
appear to be arguing on an emotional level, not a mature,
intelligent one. Instead of appealing to God, or calling
people that you really don't know - "bullies," does not
win you any points but makes you appear as
an abusive, illogical and weak debater.
It's all very well to call for 'freedom of speech,"
But it would be more effective if you added freedom of
thought to the equation, which at present appears to be sadly
lacking in your posts.

“This manifested itself in newspapers, in statements by members of parliament and in resolutions passed by pressure groups such as the Returned Services League (RSL) and the Australian Natives Association (ANA).  Anti-Jewish sentiments were expressed in daubing and damage to property, particularly in areas of Jewish concentrations in Melbourne and Sydney. This opposition was a result of traditional prejudices against Jews. Jews were portrayed as incapable of assimilating. They were accused of setting up sweatshops, working long hours for low wages, thereby undermining Australian living standards. They were labelled the moneylenders who controlled the banks and media. In addition, Jews were portrayed as godless people out to destroy Christianity and lacking morality. They were wealthy, indicating that they were greedy and obsessed with money. The Jewish concept of the ‘Chosen People’ led to the well-known accusations of international control and world conspiracy theories. Above all, Jews were physically undesirable — fat, ugly, with hooked noses and foreign accents — features highlighted in articles and cartoons published in newspapers such as The Bulletin, Truthand Smith’s Weekly. The word ‘Jew’ did not always appear on these cartoons, but the visual representation made it clear that the negative message was referring to Jews and that, if they were given the chance, they would take over the country.”
http://www.ijs.org.au/Jewish-Immigration-after-the-Second-World-War/default.aspx

Seems we have some of us here are determined to repeat history. Different victims perhaps but similar perpetrators one would suspect.

Dear Banjo,

You wrote; “Then, a few days ago, a local Iman was quoted as saying, "Girls have a right to FGM" Unbelievable in Australia.”

More than unbelievable I'm afraid, down right ludicrous. You have put that in direct quotation marks so you are claiming a local Iman said exactly that? Well dish up the proof my friend because without it you are just pissing in the wind.

So has the incidence of FGM performed in Australia increased since this country admitted refugees/immigrants from that part of the world where the practice is part of the culture? Of course. To expect it to be zero is unrealistic.

Is it rife? No.

Is its prevalence among the migrant community diminished from the rates that would have occurred in their countries of origin? All the current research says yes, to minimal levels.

By exposing these people to our culture and values we have literally saved thousands of girls suffering FGM. Are you prepared to acknowledge that fact?