Is Mise,
Yes, but our do-gooders rather suffer the cancer than take action. It is very clear that ignorance born of apathy is what helps to ripen that cancer.

@Paul1405, Saturday, 29 March 2014 5:00:48 PM

You obviously forget the Free Speech Movement. No-one sensible wants to return to the censorship that used to be, and contributed to debacles including Vietnam.

Freedom of speech is the protection, never the threat.

Foxy "Attempts to present Australia as a tolerant and welcoming society which had featured in official propaganda for decades, is now being brought into question."

Yes, because propaganda is all it ever was.
It was a LIE.
We (the people) *never* wanted this change.

"accept the reality that racial homogeneity has gone, will not return"

Wrong.
Wiki: "More than 92 percent of all Australians descend from Europeans."
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Demographics_of_Australia#Ancestry_of_Australian_population

Aborigines are about 2.5%.

That leaves no more than 5.5% who have neither European or Aboriginal ancestry.

If there was no further non-European immigration, the long-term impact of what we've had so far would be negligible.

It may even decline, as childless people grow old and die, and others emigrate (about a quarter of all "permanent" immigrants leave the country).

"and is not necessary for social harmony and cohesion"

It sure don't hurt.

Dear Is Mise,

There are many stereotypes of the Irish, being peaceful
isn't one I've come across very often. As for gun owners
choosing not to be violent in their protests. Well that
makes sense. Had they chosen to be vilent then that
would have defeated the point that they were trying to
get across wouldn't it that gun-owners are a responisble,
peaceful-loving group.

Protests of one type or another occur all the time.
Most people usually behave decently. Trouble often starts
with a small minority within the group or when police
arrive. It rarely has anything to do with cultural
differences. I think we need to broaden our outlook
before judging what causes violence in demonstrations.
There can be quite a few causes.

Dear Shocker,

As I've told you in the past - I don't bother reading
most of what you post. You never say anything new.
I find your comments repetitive, unintelligent, and
illegitimate. But hey, that's the price we pay for
free speech.

Dear Individual,

You asked if I get my facts from a library?
Actually I get them from a variety of sources.
However, for your information (because I gather
that you don't visit libraries very often).
Libraries form a vital part of the world's system
of education and information storage and retrieval.
They make available - through books, films,
recordings, and other media - knowledge that has
been accumulated through the ages.

People in all walks of life- including students,
teachers, business executives, government officials,
scholars, scientists - use library resources in
their work. Large numbers of people also turn to
libraries to satisfy a desire for knowledge or to
obtain material for some kind of leisure-time
activity. And of course in addition, many people enjoy
book discussions, film shows, lectures, Storytime
sessions, tours, and other activities that are
provided by their local library.

I hope that helps.

because I gather that you don't visit libraries very often).
Foxy,
I have tried to get information out of libraries on literally a hundred occasions. I have now given up because our libraries are a closed circle outfit catering for academia mainly. The moment librarians get a whiff that an enquiry is not form an academic the doors close.

Dear Individual,

It sounds like you've been going to the wrong libraries
I take it you've only visited special libraries
whose purpose is to serve their clientele.
Why don't you try your local public library?
They should be more than willing
to help you.