Put your hand on your heart;
Can you say that multiculturalism is a success ?

Dear Bazz,

<<When the first people came they made their rules as by majority....>>

This is factually incorrect, but even if it were correct what difference would it make?

Once people identify themselves as a group (or society), they then may organise themselves in any way they like, possibly including the making of rules by majority - but first they must willingly, without coercion, agree to become a group/society.

<<We have made the rules, so live with it !>>

What you say here, unashamedly, is that you attempt to rule others, including those who never agreed to have anything to do with you - that's unprovoked bullying!

<<One rule we have is we do not tolerate intolerance.>>

So just note who is the intolerant side in the context of this thread, who isn't willing to tolerate other groups which do not adhere to their own norms.

<<We do not allow forced marriages.
We do not allow lots of things, and that is the law.>>

That's OK so long as you only apply your laws over those who accepted your authority in the first place.

Telling people "This is MY continent and I will prevent you from coming here unless you comply with MY laws", is a form of extortion and not a legitimate moral practice.

Dear Foxy,

Interesting analysis by Adams.

I understand and share your passion against forced marriages (if indeed they are forced), but as much as you and I dislike or even despise certain practices, you ought to have a sound moral and philosophical ground to actually act on that dislike: just imagine what would happen if everyone starts to prosecute others who do what they dislike.

<<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.>>

This is a very dangerous statement.

What right have you to impose your laws over all others?
Why should someone be expected to abide by your laws just because they happen to live in this continent?
It makes no sense!
Are kangaroos, wombats, fish and fowl expected to abide by your laws too?
Then why humans? Are they inferior than the above?

<<That children are not capable of making decisions about
marriage. They cannot give their consent.>>

I disagree on the grounds of personal experience because I have once been a child myself.

If someone indeed cannot make a decision, then simply they don't make decisions and if indeed someone cannot give consent, then simply they don't give consent. This utter disrespect to children is designed to serve the system, not the children, so that it gives the system enough time to brainwash/indoctrinate the children (through so-called "education") and turn them into the kind of citizens which the system desires.

<<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.>>

Yes, I absolutely share this hope with you without reservations.

Note that "others" here also include not only the girls' families but also the Australian state and its enforcement agencies.

Yuyutsu said;
What you say here, unashamedly, is that you attempt to rule others,
including those who never agreed to have anything to do with you - that's unprovoked bullying!

Utter nonsense !
They did agree to the rules when they came.
Most have even sworn a legally enforceable oath.

Hi Banjo,

Yes, I agree that the laws are often not enforced, or enforced enough: maintaining equal rights for all before the law is always going to be unfinished business.

And as On The Beach says, it's a set of goals, not something that will be attained once and for all. Multiculturalism is hard work for a society and I'm sure that Foxy would agree with that. But it has to be the goal in any genuinely democratic society (which is also always unfinished business). We all have to get along within a single legal framework which must be strengthened to protect the rights of the more vulnerable, particularly women and girls. Those rights MUST trump culture every time.

Cheers,

Joe

Dear Bazz,

"
They did agree to the rules when they came.
Most have even sworn a legally enforceable oath.
"

But were they allowed the option of arriving here and living in this continent otherwise?

Also, what about those who arrived in Australia through the womb (or as children)? They were never asked at all!