ConservativeHippie,

"SIS evolved over the past few years and we would be in the same situation whatever Party won the last election. The only difference is, if Labor was in power, Inspector Poirot and her mates would not be as critical of Australia's involvement."

My criticism has not been directed at Australia's involvement, but to the confected domestic "terror crisis" by this govt.

So far they've whacked in a bunch of new surveillance laws (some of which they screamed against when they were mooted by the former govt) - and have destabilised social harmony by seemingly tilling the soil of Islamic threat on the domestic front.

All for electoral impetus, mind you.

(Don't mention the budget....)

Dear Conservative Hippie,

Perhaps the following link may help
you see things from another perspective:

http://newmatilda.com/2014/09/23/Islamophobia-australias-newest-national-sport

Suse,

Have you ever read that very violent book, the Koran?

It is sacred to Muslims and lays out their life's path for them.
It's an interesting read.

Hasbeen,

The son of friends of mine, in Greenacre, was accused at school (he was then in year 11) by a Muslim classmate of informing on him to one of the teachers which the friend's son denied.

He was a 100 yards short of home the same afternoon when a black BMW screeched to a halt and four youths jumped out and knocked him to the ground and laid the boot in, meanwhile screaming that it was for telling on a Muslim.
Fortunately nothing was broken but he was hospitalized for a few days.
Tne police could do nothing as those thatthey questioned all had numerous witnesses to say that they were elsewhere at the time of the attack.

Dear Is Mise,

According to the Australian Institute of Criminology
law enforcement authorities who deal with violence
on Friday and Saturday nights have found that most of
the violence committed is by people aged 24 - 35, who
are under the influence of either drugs and or alcohol.
Or in some cases - both. I wonder what Holy Book these
kids were raised on?

The point is that you cannot judge the majority by the
actions of a few. Or blame their religion (if they have
one at all). Individuals commit all sorts of vile acts -
for all sorts of reasons. And there are bad people of
all sorts of religious persuasions. Also, kindly refrain
from calling me names or personal attacks because I don't
happen to agree with your point of view. You are entitled
to your opinion, as I am to mine. Keep it civil.

Hasbeen, my son and his friend were hit over the head with a wrench by a couple of thugs. Ended up with stitches and the works. That was on the Gold Coast. My nephew in Melbourne while walking home with his girlfriend was set upon by a group of guys. He ended up with a minor head-injury.

My daughter has been harassed and was very scared at the time by a couple of guys one evening a few years back in Brisbane.

All were caucasian 'white' anglo boys. So what now? Shall I start a campaign to get all the Anglo losers from an English background to go back to where they came from? Clearly don't fit into Australian culture.

Being assaulted is always petrifying. The reason why somebody is picked can be for any number of reasons. Let's not go for the dog-whistle response and focus on appearance.

And Runner, this one's for you. As a young nurse, the only time I've been touched up to the point I became seriously scared was in a hospital by a white male and VERY Christian doctor with an English name. Being touched up and having sexual innuendo's thrown at you was pretty common in the 70's and 80's, so you learned how to side-step this kind of crap, but at times it could be pretty out there. So, do I think all males, Christians, male doctors or the English are sickos? No. Just some of them.

Okay Foxy, I took the bait and read, well read most of the article. Basically the article by Amy McQuire was summed up in the leading paragraph "The only Australians who should be feeling under threat right now are Muslims, the targets of hateful abuse and morally bankrupt politics."

A few paragraphs later she states: Last week, Australia woke to the front pages and shrill cries of breakfast radio and TV anchors acting as a government mouthpiece, trying to convince Australians that the war against the Islamic State...

I just can't get past those emotive exaggerated phrases 'hateful abuse and morally bankrupt politics.' I don't buy it, I don't accept the Government is morally bankrupt. The writer has a clearly far left agenda and everything she says is to sell her pie in sky view of current affairs.

I do feel sorry for the innocent Muslim families going about their daily business who get abused by ignorant racist yahoos. I've seen 'white people' on the news recently, protesting against an application for a Mosque on the Sunshine Coast, that literally made me ashamed. It's not that I even support the Mosque application, it was their totally ignorant behaviour that caused me concern.

Personally I suspect the majority of Australian Muslims are similar to the majority of western Christians, they belong to a religion inherited at birth but don't pray as frequently as required and for the most part live pretty normal Australian lives. There are plenty of secular Muslims that would be happy to live and let live. But unfortunately they are aren't speaking out with a loud enough voice.

The episode of 'Sleeping With the Enemy' offered a very insightful view into the lives of very nice people who happen to be Muslim.

But, I still believe Australia should not make the same mistake as the UK and Europe. We need to prevent any further immigration from uneducated third world Muslim 'refugees'. Japan is example Australia should follow, in regards to an immigration policy for Muslims.