Shocka,
You say 'whites' are diverse. Yes, but not near enough for multiculturalists. They want extreme diversity, maybe the encounters give them some sort of kick. But they cannot explain how we benefit from actual diversity. I would never say that 'whites' are boring.

For me, the non selection of people belonging to some groups is based on our own experience in our society. For example, our FGM educators and medicos know what ethnic groups practice FGM. The police have ideas about which groups exhibit anti social behaviour. We do have some knowledge about which groups conduct underage/forced marriages.

Maybe you have an over reactive amygdala compared to others. Most people do not experience a fight-flee-freeze to different people, I certainly don't. I wonder if you get the same feeling when you encounter a 'white' person with a lot of tattoos or a physically handicapped person who is different.

I can view different art as 'interesting' and say whether I like or dislike it. I don't HAVE to feel connected, although landscapes rate high because of my rural background.

I am sure some groups would be far happier in countries that better suit their culture and our society would be more cohesive.

Banjo,

How can 'we' benefit from diversity?
Well, at least we don't have to travel overseas (or rely on TV portrayals) to experience many of the better elements of these overseas cultures - their celebrations, exotic foods, philosophy and 'take' on life, and even religion and religious celebrations.

We can learn something from these 'others' - the backgrounds they came from, the countries, history, lifestyles, work, problems, politics and culture; their hopes and fears.
Every country has its problems, and every 'people', and generally 'our' problems are mostly pale by comparison with much, or most, of what many newcomers have left behind.
Some aspects of what they leave behind they will surely miss; perhaps never being able to return to their homelands again, resigned to making their way in this 'different' land of ours.
We can make the transition relatively easy, and in doing so make new friends; or we can make it very difficult, and risk generating dissatisfaction and despair - even fear, derision and disaffection - or might I say hatred. Our choice.

We can avoid any direct 'immersion' in any other cultures (this is entirely voluntary anyway - apart from passing on the street, or seeing these 'others' in our midst, in work places, school or hospital, etc).
We can be insular - but we will then miss an opportunity to extend our horizons and our understanding, our very perception of the realities of current events, and our appreciation of what our culture, our environment really has to offer, and also of how we can benefit from other peoples' experience, knowledge and capabilities.

Rather than wanting to change 'us', there are many who would wish to join us, to make a new life under our rules, our culture. Only the most fortunate will achieve this. The best will go out of their way to fit in, and those who don't will be weeded-out.

Many of our 'white' nationals are far from perfect.
Colour, appearance, accent, clothing, speech, or religion, do not make the man.
Stop learning, and we can only go backwards.

But, but Banjo ... have you forgotten the ethnic groups that have practiced MGM here in Australia for hundreds of years? Or are they too white to complain about?

Saltpetre,
You have not shown how we benefit from 'diversity' in any practical sense, except for a wider choice of eateries.

We do not have to import diverse ethnicities to learn about others, we can learn about other people from the internet or travel.

Multiculturalism is a philosophy that promotes separate development of various ethnic groups. It rates original culture ahead of national loyalty. Its goal has been to simply get the widest possible diverse people here without any practical advantage to Australia.

We have spent millions promoting foreign cultures and ignored the baggage that has came with some cultures. It is not just beer festivals and dragon parades, there some very alien aspects to some cultures that are detrimental to our society and our social cohesion. It seems multiculturalists want us to accept the adverse affects as the price we have to pay for diversity. I suggest that social cohesion is afar better goal.

We should dispense with MC and promote integration. We do not need Diversity for the sake of diversity, where there is nothing to be gained.

On the other thread, you mentioned selective immigration. I am interested in what you see as the criteria for allowing or not allowing people of some groups to enter as migrants/refugees

I guess my question is too hard for Banjo to answer.

Banjo doesn't bother replying to idiots