Dear Runner,

<<however their are so many loathers of western culture that unfortunatley the horse has bolted.>>

Correct, I am one of them!

What has Western culture brought? Wars, slavery, colonialism, consumerism, drinking and smoking, gambling, worshipping of stupid sports teams, pursuit of electronic gadgets, junk food and lots of senseless noise and vanities.

<<The only thing that really unites people is a common set of values.>>

You mean drinking beer at the bar with the mates and watching the footie? No thanks, I don't share those values.

<<Once the majority of Australians seemed to share those values.>>

Yes, but the stress is on the word SEEMED. This English culture is all pretence, everyone plays the game and nobody really means it!

<<Now we are as divided as all the tribes were before Captain Cook landed here.>>

I wouldn't be that optimistic yet, but if you say so, then it's a good sign.

<<No joy in facing that reality.>>

Sorry, but reality was never different, it was pretence, it was imagination, people on the ground were never truly righteous or Christian, they only learned to conceal their weaknesses from others.

To all Muslim haters:

The better culture will prevail: if you want to win them over, then show them that you are morally better than them. While there are well-known specific problematic issues with Muslims (such as how they treat women), at the moment many Muslims (certainly not all!) are overall relatively more moral than their average English mates, so what culture have you got to sell them? - show them your moral advantage, or else they will show your children theirs!

Dear Joe (Loudmouth),

Thank You for this discussion and for the sentiments
you've expressed so beautifully. Yay!

Liz Thompson in her book, "From Somewhere Else:
People from other countries who have made Australia home,"
tells us that - many migrants found it
very difficult to adapt to a new climate, environment,
culture, and (often) language. Parents who brought young
children to Australia spoke of family conflicts as
their children resented
their parents, seeing them as representing the cultural
heritage they were keen to reject in order to fit into their
new society.

Thompson tells us that -

Most of the people, as well as facing adjustment difficulties
suffered from a sense of guilt at having left their people
to continue the struggle against repressive regimes.
They had found a greater physical freedom in Australia in that
their lives were no longer in danger, but the struggle they
commenced with their conscience allowed them no spiritual
freedom.

The people that Thompson interviewed for her book
talked about the hardships of the first few years and the nostalgia
with which they remembered the countries they had chosen to
leave. On returning to them for the first time, however,
they were reminded of the reasons they had left. The first trip
back was a common turning point, after which many people
became more content, and determined to establish their lives
in Australia.

The longer term residents spoke of their commitment to this
country, which had developed over the years spent living here.
They has started families, bought homes, established careers
and made a place for themselves. Most people spoke of
Australia with gratitude, as they believed that migrating
here allowed them to change their lives and the lives of their
families for the better.

Joe, I agree with your take - the multicultural nature of
Australian society is one of the most unique and rewarding
aspects of living in Australia. The nature of being Australian
today - is to be part of this diversity.

'What has Western culture brought? Wars, slavery, colonialism, consumerism, drinking and smoking, gambling, worshipping of stupid sports teams, pursuit of electronic gadgets, junk food and lots of senseless noise and vanities.

Yuyutsu

you raise interesting points however western culture originally promoted hard work, family values and a knowledge that all men were created equal under God. There has always been unsavourable elements in all cultures. An honest look at Indigeneous cultures is very ugly. Western culture or more accurately Christian culture brought us hospitals and schools and foreign aid. No doubt since the faith based secularism has overtaken we have ended up with many of the woes you list. Kiling the unborn, increased child abuse, pornography, alcholol abuse, lack of any morals, rebellion, etc etc are all clearly linked to the idoitic dogmas of secularism.

You will however have to be blind to believe that Islamic culture is superior. Islamic culture is cruel, deceitful, intolerant, hyprocrital and arrogant. There is no trace of humility and you see no people lining up to immigrate to Islamic countries.

The Author of life will allow Islamic domination for a period of time where the idiotic dogmas of secularist will be clearly seen for what they are (full of arrogance, price and irrational). You need however to read the book that does not lie to see that every knee will bow and every tongue will confess that Jesus Christ is Lord. MOhammed will be exposed for what he was (a false prophet)

Yuyutsu

'To all Muslim haters: '

don't get people who hate Islam mixed up with people who hate Muslims. Many many Muslims like you say are far better living than people calling themselves Christians or atheist (goes without saying). Those who follow the footsteps of their founder are generally not very nice people. Similar to those who follow Stalin and the new atheiest. Both Islam and athiesm are both death cultures.

Yes, thanks Joe for an Australia Day positive post :)
We don't get many positive posts on this site.

I totally agree with your sentiments and I take great joy in living in multicultural Australia....the place that is so great to live in, that everyone wants to emigrate here.

There are good and bad in every culture and belief system, and Australia handles all those aspects of life with understanding and humour.

Sings "For we are the Aussies and we are the best, we are the Aussies and.....love all the rest." (Sing along with me now Runner and Banjo!)

Susie,
Nothing to celebrate on Australia Day except we are finally stopping the illegal free loaders coming.

Oh, and even though the ideology of multiculturalism was forced upon us and has cost us millions. We are not MC and never have been. We are multi-racial, which I do not mind but not MC. There is no other culture we accept in total and we only tolerate some aspects of some other cultures. MC divides us into tribes instead of being one. The big lie was 'Unity in diversity'. We turn a blind eye to alien aspects of some cultures.

I grew up with heaps of migrants after the war and the difference was that they all wanted to be part of us. Now that has changed the latter migrants and the illegals and refugees promote their own kind.

The quality of life has deteiriated since the advent of MC and the sooner it is abandoned the better off we will be. We have to stop importing those groups that will not integrate and accept our society.

It is not the Australia I used to love. The best time in Aus was between 1950 and 1970. Gone dramatically downhill since then in almost every way.