And another thing Celivia,
Wars are not about intolerance, so you wont stop wars by being tolerant and I'm tired of hearing this incorrect assumption. Mankind is not that stupid that he wages all out war over some vague intolerance.

I heard the 60minutes reporter say Nobody wins in war. I couldnt have disagreed more. Whole countries are won in wars. (and lost).
Wheres the reward in going to war and risking being killed yourself for some vague intolerance. There has to be some big payoff somewhere most humans wouldnt get off there chair sipping their tequila if there wasnt some huge self gain somewhere.

Wars are over the land. Ask the aborogines what they want most? Landrights. What do they hate us most for? Taking the land off them.

I alread spoke to Aboriginal culture C... did you miss that?

"Did white Western people respect and adapt to Aboriginal culture?"

Would you have adapted to Aboriginal culture? Would you now? Even back then it was very primitive C. I don't think you'd have gone native. I note you talk in colours... tsk, tsk, tsk.

"Why haven’t early settlers adopted Aboriginal culture? Why did they insist on keeping their own culture?"

See above.

"For the same reasons perhaps, other cultures want to keep their culture- they like their culture."

Good, then they can stay in their own country and not migrate. The first settlers here were convicts and didn't have a choice.

"Large amounts of immigrants or refugees from all over the world are now living in Western European countries. "

Yes look at Britain and France and the Netherlands etc... seems to me they aren't all that happy about it.

"The problems are not due to multi-culturalism but rather to the original inhabitants and governments."

What a crock. Oh it's our fault is it... funny before the migrants came the cultural problems didn't exist.The rise of multi-culturalism does not mean that Australian culture has to disappear.

"Why do you think that Australian culture cannot be included in a multi-cultural Australia?"

Oh that's the Australian Australian culture right. Do you thing that Italians would be happy with having to become the Italian Italian culture? Honestly C don't be so naive.

"I basically don’t agree that multi-culturalism automatically means Australia will be divided.
The social livability of a country’s communities depends on the quality of relationships between individuals and groups of people of different cultures. "

Why not the proof is there we have hyphenated Australians and some that don't even consider themselves Australian. Perhaps you've heard of the Lebanese.

Tolerance is not acceptance C and mostly the tolerance has been all one way.

"Australians, let us all rejoice..." yes and those not wanting to be Australian can migrate.

We saved the Aborigines from the Japanese in World War 2 they couldn’t have held Australia with spears. We owe the Aborigines nothing. That debt was wiped out by the blood of our fathers and sons who saved the lives of the Aborigines from the Japanese who were much more barbaric than we were.

Many people have lost their lands to conquerors throughout history including our anglo ancestors who were overrun many times in early history and conquerors don’t give the land back. That’s what its all about the taking of the land. If ever we are confronted by an army with superior weapons then they will take this country off us and they wont be giving it back

Celivia

as a passionate proponent of 'Australian' culture it so happens that I also love Asian food :) Not much on Italian or Greek.

To focus on 'one mould' as you say is not exactly what I am on about.

The type of food you enjoy, and social company, are not the primary issues but social ethnocentrism is dodgy.

The issue is putting "Australia" before any ethnicity.

It should be beyond question that Australia has an identifiable British (in the widest sense) heritage. Primarily in language and many social customs. Where our customs are enshrined in LAW... it is not negotiable for some newcomer to change them. But some of our customs SHOULD be changed in my view.

One such custom is that of leaving crying babies in 'solitary confinement' until they simply run out of energy and stop crying.

We Aussies tend to 'call a spade a spade' while Asians will goto the utmost lengths to AVOID this. They will duck and weave in every direction before they will tell you to your face that you are a moron :) They will seek 'indirect' ways. They will 'raise questions' which are mildy suggestive of your true condition.

I think culture_change by osmosis is the best thing. We can see the benefits (in my case it was keeping babies close to parents during the first 2 yrs of life) and never had a problem with crying with 3 kids.
As long as we all interact socially, and embrace newcomers,(who in turn should embrace us, and our existing culture) it will all work out.

When I goto Malaysia, there are customs I must respect. I don't for example take a PLATEfull of food :) I take a 'MOUTH' full or 2.. self serve from the common dishes. But here.... we usually fill our plate with the amount we estimate is 'our serve' for the whole meal.

I would not expect an Asian to say "Oh..no .. don't fill my plate" to the Australian hostess, just as I should not FILL my plate when I have a meal in Malaysia.

read this. http://www.snopes.com/politics/soapbox/lamm.asp

“We Aussies tend to 'call a spade a spade' while Asians will go to the utmost lengths to AVOID this. They will duck and weave in every direction before they will tell you to your face that you are a moron :) They will seek 'indirect' ways. They will 'raise questions' which are mildly suggestive of your true condition.”

Boaz, have you ever been on a thread with Proud To Be Indonesian?