Bazz,

Why don't you grow up and ditch the hysterics?

So we're in danger of a Sharia Law takeover, are we?

Where?

When?

How?

Quick - duck!

Poirot as long as the Muslim population of Australia stays around 2% there will never be a seriously negative downside, other than the odd extremist who takes it upon him/herself to do something terrible. And that's bad enough.

The problems caused by a 5% Muslim population in the UK are well documented and exactly the issues many of us don't want to eventuate in Australia.

If you, Foxy, Suse and Paul believe expressing the above is a sure sign I'm a racist bigot, then I cannot change your mind. But I know in my heart I am not racist. I am however concerned about a global problem brewing that is directly related to the spread of Islamic extremism. I am concerned about the preserving democracy and the freedoms enjoyed Western cultures for our grandchildren.

I read some pretty extremist anti-multicultural statements in the forum that I do not agree with in the slightest, but not every comment that you consider Islamaphobic is invalid, or untruthful. You can make all the excuses you want but you cannot deny there is a real problem that stems from Islamic extremists, and with an overall population of a billion plus, its only takes a very small percentage to cause some serious damage.

It would be nice to see you and your cohorts at least show a recognition there is a potential problem if the Muslim population and Islamic traditions are allowed to grow and evolve unchecked. It could take 20 - 100 hundred years, but if no one pays attention, no one takes control, one day your children or grandchildren will be wishing you had.

Suseonline, "In a multicultural country that allows freedom of religion, or no religion at all, to be practised, the Government or its representatives should not be seen to be so obviously against one religion or another"

If that condition is the prerequisite for multiculturalism then you need to take the strongest anti-hypocrisy pills for supporting it.

Where you are concerned it is brick-bats for the Catholics - where you are always initiating criticism and ferocious, but Kid gloves for Islam. Why?

Australia is a secular State and should remain so. That is the very obvious wish of the mainstream population. It is the duty of politicians to comment, criticise, compare and contrast policies. Politicians must also represent their electorates. That is how democracy works. It is the very opposite of Sharia.

It is nothing short of astounding how government and others have turned a blind eye to the importation of medieval cult practices such as ritual slaughter. When finally brought to heel, government massages the rules to water down stunning policy and apart from that, ritual slaughter without prior stunning is still evident.

The dirty secret is that political parties, especially Labor and the Greens, are very accommodating to fringe ethnic demands where the ethnic lobbyists claim to be able to deliver a percent or few of the vote in marginal seats.

Poirot,

So, it's the extreme left Guardian that is responsible for ignorance.

Dear ConservativeHippie,

Frankly, I try not to label people that I don't
know unless their posts clearly indicate
what they think. But even their posts are not a good
summary of a person's traits. People can change
their minds on issues as we know.

My experience has been that most of us are comfortable
with racial diversity. We take people as we find them.
However, as we can see from the media there are some
people who have expressed concerns that Muslims are not
integrating and are coming to Australia to impose their
values on the nation. This is understandable due to
the current politics and the media attention that is
being given to spread the fear.

What we need is strong leadership and finding a balance
between people's fears and the real facts.

I do not believe that we in this country will extend our
laws and "rights," to suit a small minority.
Sharia law will not happen in this country.
We don't need new laws here. Most Muslims that I've dealt
with both professionally and socially are quite happy to live
by the laws of our secular society which we are all required to
abide by.

And the few extremists who may disagree with that will be dealt with
according to the letter of our laws.
They are a minority - and should not be given the attention that
they do not deserve.

Saudi Arabia.