Dear Yuyutsu,

A few years ago I read an interesting article
reprinted in The Age by Phillip Adams. It was
taken from a speech he gave when asked
to speak at a Canberra Conference on "Multi-Culturalism
in the Eighties."

Adams then - pointed out that:

"Yes there will be problems in a society that sees
homogenety as not only desirable but mandatory.
There will be tension between the ethnic groups
and "us," not to mention between and within the
etnic groups themselves. Sadly, many of the problems
that develop will impinge on the children of the
communities, as they fight their disapproving parents
for the right to go to a disco, for the right to
choose a lover "outside".

And "we" will want to intervene when we see those
children subjected to extreme authoritarianism or sexism.
But in the process we'll have a more vigorous,
exciting Australia and in the end, through interaction
and discussion, we'll sort the problems out."

Obviously this has not happened for everyone here.
Yes, some people
have adapted very well -
and more will continue to adapt very well.
But there are others who will select to choose their
own way - and disregard our rule of law.

All we can do is continue to make it quite clear
that our laws are for everyone.
That we expect everyone in this country to abide by our
laws. That forced marriages of children are not acceptable here.
That children are not capable of making decisions about
marriage. They cannot give their consent.
Whether these problems can be sorted out or not - only
time will tell. Hopefully, living in this country, young
girls will grow up and will be able to decide for themselves
the kind of lives they wish to live without being forced
to live the life dictated to them by others.

Dear Banjo,

You wrote;

“Interesting, you are proud that we turn a blind eye to underage marriage.”

Really? Did you even stop to think this might have been seen as a pretty immature sledge? I mean why do it? Is it done just so I have to spend time refuting such crap or is it because your debating skills have become so bereft that crude verballing is all you have left?

How about growing up a little.

There are plenty of men, and sometimes women, engaging in sexual activities with minors in Australia. Indeed in a major town near us it is part of the membership rules for a local motorcycle gang. Some twisted logic says it is a way of stamping out police infiltration and stopping members from turning informers because they are yoked by their deed to the club.

That a certain, very small, section of our community decides to dress this predilection up as the 'rights of marriage' should dissuade nobody from recognising it for what it is, sex with children, and we have very good laws for combating it.

Sending children overseas for marriage is child sex trafficking and we also have strong laws in place to address it.

I am also sick to death of some religious communities claiming the right to interfere with the genitals of our young. Both the Christian and Jewish faiths have sections that want to cut at the genitals of infants and the certain sections of the Islamic faith which wants to cut at the genitals of young girls.

I think it is high time we stop being 'limp wristed' about letting anyone claim religious rights to harm our children in any way including early marriage. We should be a proudly secular nation that steadfastly looks after its vulnerable with the utmost vigour and determination.

Or we can just use the issue to Muslim bash.

Foxy,
How many generations do you propose we wait for alien cultural practices to cease, is it 4 or 5 generations? At 20 years per generation that is 100 years for some to discard old cultural habits. Presently we have some here 3-4 generations and still stick to the original culture with alien ways and old hatreds.

You are prepared to wait 100 years for change? At 20 forced marriages per year that is another 2000 under age girls are forced into marriage in S/W Sydney alone. You are prepared to subject these girls to that? It may even be more, and for longer, as new arrivals continually 'refresh' the original culture.

I take it you propose the same for other alien cultural habits as well?

I do not believe that is near good enough for Australian girls. What other countries do in their country is their affair but not here in Aus.

Presently we have education programs but they need to have the backup of strong law enforcement and bans on immigration for persons of groups that still persist in breaking our laws and social standards.

Although muslims are at the forefront of alien cultural practices, there are other groups involved and the laws must be applied equally across the board.

G'day there BANJO...

These young girls travelling to Syria in order to wed ISL fighters, seems pretty extreme to me ? Do we understand if they travel with the apparent permission of their parents ? Or do they manage to leave in small groups using some subterfuge to avoid parental scrutiny ? Obviously, they have passports therefore, if they're travelling alone, immigration authorities surely must quiz them as to why they're leaving the country unescorted ? Or do they have another older companion accompanying them ? If all these young girls leave unescorted, how do the circumvent the authorities ?

These child brides in Oz, well it had to come, it's a tradition within the Islamic community ? If the report is accurate, surely it becomes a matter for the AFP ? What are they doing about it ?

If as you say, these blokes are returning to Oz having taken part in ISIL activities, in Syria or elsewhere, well lock 'em up ! But before we do so, we must have proof of their activities ? Speculation and aspersions alone won't suffice, if you seek to deny an individual of his liberty ?

BANJO, you know how many times I've denounced and railed against our government, for this apparent inertia or paralysis in making hard decisions on this whole question of perpetrating this notion of Islamization in Australia ? You get so you become sick and tired of bleating about it !

Australia seems to have become far too precious, concerning what different cliques within the electorate might think ? They (our leaders) must govern for the majority it's as simple as that !

Dear Banjo,

How many generations will it take for things to
change? Changes are happening all of the time.
They are inevitable. The only constant in life
is change.

The culture and values of
the dominant population will always have an influence
on people - especially the younger members of society.
We are all creatures affected by our
environments - and the influences that surround us
(including peer pressures).

So no, - it won't take as much time as you tend to
think for changes to occur.
I know that from experiences within my own
family.

Perhaps it would help you to also take a look at history
before you talk about "alien cultures," regarding child
marriages.

This practice existed throughout the globe among royals
for political and dynastic considerations and also
among ordinary folk - (The arrangement of the marriage was based
on monetary worth).

In the Middle Ages children were married at a young age.
Girls were as young as 12.

Just to give you some famous examples:

Isabelle of valaois, the Queen of England on 31st Oct. 1396
at the age of six married the widower King Richard II of
England.

Joan of France, Duchess of Berry - betrothed in a wedding
contract at age 8 days old, she was officially married at
age 12 in 1476.

Bianca of Savoy, Duchess of Milan - at age 13.

Lucrezia Borgia - age 13.

Austrian born - Archduchess Marie Antoinette - age 14 to
France's Louis XVI.

Marshal Tito of Yugoslavia - married his first wife in 1919 -
she was 14 years old.

And so it goes.

In this country we have the rule of law which everyone is
expected to abide by. We have strong law enforcements to
uphold our laws. And we have to continue to make it quite
clear what shall and shall not be tolerated.

I have nothing further to add to this subject.

See you on another discussion.

Fox, "In the Middle Ages.."

No-one falls for your false comparisons.

Regarding migrants, it was the Labour Party in the UK who cared so much about their 'Progressive' ideology and so little about the people who entrusted them with government, that they preferred those Pakistani (Kashmir) migrants who committed the sexual atrocities against minors above the many thousands of other possible migrants.

The Pakistanis were brought in as cheap labour in the British steel industry.

It is interesting how your 'Progressive' ideology puts the flawed immigration and multiculturalism policies and associated political correctness up as first priority, ahead of the risks of rape and molestation of girl minors and ahead of British workers' employment and conditions too.

Not surprising though in view of your support for endless diversity, the diversity-Australia (and the UK)-has-to-have to wipe out any vestige of 'whites' and 'white' culture.

Not surprising either that when you are on a roll you show your roots back in the elite leftist cultural cringe of columnists like Philip Adams. Philip Adams personifies the leftist elitism of way back in the previous Millenium, forty plus years ago and disregarded, scoffed at as a pretentious fool, by the real lefties back then.