Why does multiculturalism always require a dumbing down to the level of the newcomers ?

Who comes and who goes should not be guided by color or race,, rather, it should be guided by religious believes and, if any form of religion contains violence then that religion, along with it's followers should be banned from entering our peace loving nation. If they are already here, even if they have been born here, they choose, thier religion, or Australia as they can't have both. Not here!

As has been said, being muli cultural doesn't mean all cultures, just a mixture, and it should be a selected one at that.

The other issue is that of respect. Respect for us as a nation.

Otokonoko "we do not have to include all cultures to be multicultural"

Oh yes we do or we'd be "discwiminating" (sic).

We used to have a multicultural immigration policy.
Commonly called White Australia.

That policy included *any and all* European peoples.
Dozens of distinct types.

What we have now should more accurately be labelled "pancultural", as there are *no* exclusions.

And neither Australia nor any other society/nation is "pancultural", which is why the term was never adopted.

It's obviously absurd, ridiculous, contrary to the real world.

In the real world, most countries do in fact have multiple cultures/peoples.
But one *dominant* one that generally defines the society/nation.

Russia has over 185 ethnic groups, 27 of which basically rule their own territories.

But ethnic Russians don't say they're Chuvash and Chuvash don't pretend they're "Russian".

None are truly "multi", just they're own type living in their own space.
And Russia as a *whole* is still overall culturally Russian.

Matthew S "an erroneously conflated claim which seems to essentially connect the white racial genetics with the white culture and morals".

Erroneous?

Cultures have historically been produced in relative isolation.

That isolation also fostered the numerous genetic variations.
But which egg/chicken came first?

Surely the genetic distinctiveness of a population would influence its cultural manifestations?

Why is it that all European peoples were capable of manifesting advanced civilisation (even laggards like the Scandinavians), but all Niger-Congo and Malayo-Polynesian peoples are "primitive" in comparison.

Why isn't there *one single* Niger-Congo or Malayo-Polynesian people who built and sustained a great civilisation?

Maybe the fittest genes create the fittest memes.

Mixing them all together may not produce an optimal outcome, but a deterioration to a lowest-common-denominator level.

We may become "one" (eliminating "waycism" [sic]), but we'll be a dumber, weaker, uglier "one".

rehctub, what of atheists and agnostics?

They may or may not promote violence, but you'll never know from any religious association.
They don't have one.

All religions, even Buddhism, has had its violent adherents.

Dear Jottiikii,

Australian multiculturalism is one of the great success stories of the world and something we should be proud of, be prepared to defend, and be willing to celebrate when we can.

I have many migrant friends who have embraced Australian citizenship, all with real purpose and commitment including a Vietnamese friend whom I committed to give English lessons to over several years when he first arrived in this country. When he brings me a gift each Vietnamese New Year I do not think 'why isn't he forgetting about the practices of his former country and adopting our culture?' rather I accept it with thanks and with good grace.

Similarly at a recent auspicious family gathering I along with many others wore kilts, sang some fine Scottish tunes with the piper, partook in some haggis and drank far too much. There was no expectation that 'frocking up' was mandatory, nor was eating haggis, nor even drinking. Those not of Scottish heritage would have enjoyed the celebration of a different culture but would have been comfortable in their own sense of who they are and their respective cultural backgrounds not to have felt threatened nor left out.

This to me is one of the great benefits of multiculturalism. Comfort and understanding of others cultures and backgrounds rather than fear and a sense of exclusion.

It does not mean we will not have those who find it difficult to look past their fearful natures but they are thankfully very much in the minority. While this government seems to be intent on giving us less reasons to be proud Australians I think our multiculturalism allows us to walk tall on the world stage and is something we will hopefully continue to be rightly proud of well into the future.

Australia has laws that enable anyone to practise their culture within the bounds of reason. Muslims can live by Sharia law if they so chose, however, if a muslim choses not to, the harsh penalties cannot be applied simply because he is muslim.

' if any form of religion contains violence then that religion, along with it's followers should be banned from entering our peace loving nation'

except rechtub secularist humanist who slaughter the unborn. double standards.