Funny, Snout! ;)

T800,
I am not suggesting that we should have adapted Aboriginal culture. Even though I love Aboriginal culture, I do not have that background and do not identify with that culture- neither did the earlier settlers.
So no I wouldn’t want to adapt Aboriginal culture, neither would I want to adapt anyone else’s culture. My culture (I am Dutch) is not very different from Australian culture, so I had no difficulty adapting. I still speak Dutch at home; but I still read Dutch books as well as English. Is that so bad?
However, not everyone’s culture is similar to Australian culture.

My point is: if it is broadly accepted and supported by Australians that the early settlers did not adapt Aboriginal culture but kept their own culture here in Australia, then why do the people who support this NOT accept that other cultures want to do the same: i.e. keep their own culture?
‘Westerners’ didn’t want to adopt a culture that was already there- new immigrants/refugees might not want to keep the culture already there.

I am not saying that they should reject integration- all I am saying is that integration is possible even when different cultures are being preserved. Australia is richer for displaying many cultures- we can all enjoy and value each other’s cultures. There needs to be an effective method to integrate immigrants without taking away their culture.

I watched Four Corners yesterday about the Exclusive Brethren (EB) sect- who are AUSTRALIANS and refuse to integrate in their own country; who treat women like second-rank citizens, where child abuse has happened and was silenced, who openly vilify homosexuals, where members are being bullied. Yet, they have the support of our government.
EB pour large amounts of money into politics to support Howard and to campaign to vilify the Greens. They do not vote because ‘politics is God’s job’.

Point is, Howard attacks immigrants for not integrating- but supports Australians who do not integrate

There is nothing wrong about being patriotic persé, but I think the world would be a better place if people respected the rest of the world and its cultures as well.

It is all so easy to say: "If you don’t like Australian values (whatever they are) go back to your own country". That might be possible for immigrants, but for many refugees and asylum seekers it is impossible to go back.

Have a little heart and realise how hard it is for people from totally different cultures to have people demand they turn their back on their own culture- they do not identify with Australian culture- we need to support and help them, not stigmatise them.

Give them time and easily accessible opportunities for learning a new language, improve the integration methods and help and encourage them- not force them.

I came here from England 44 years ago. My four grandparents were French, Irish, Jewish and Scottish. My then wife and the mother of our children had German on her father's side and Portugese on her mother's. So I suppose we were multicultural before we even got here! My son's wife is Balinese and my lady friend is Japanese, so it looks like the family tradition is continuing.

One of the first things I noticed was how easy it was to fit in here. I immediately felt as if I was amongst my own kind of people, even though my early friends and acquaintancies included Australians from many racial backgrounds. I have since broadened my circle of friends to include, for example, Aboriginal and Muslim people.

I'm inclined to be broadminded, easygoing and accepting of differences, just as long as other peoples' beliefs aren't forced down my throat. In this respect, I see some apparent anomalies between what we are led to believe is typically Australian and what are some of the realities of living here.

I realised early on that most Australians are not wowsers, in fact wowsers are generally regarded with scorn and amusement. Yet we appear to be ruled by wowsers, usually of the Christian variety. Plenty of examples of that on OLO!

Another thing which surprised me was the widespread wearing of the English national dress, the man's suit and tie. This was originally a horse riding outfit for the comparatively cool English climate. It's effect here is to make men physically uncomfortable and increase the need for airconditioning, which is both expensive and harmful to the environment.

For more on this, read Body Packaging, a Guide to Human Sexual Display, by Julian Robertson. ISBN 0 333 50157 8. Julian successfully sued the Chairman and Principle of the Sydney College of the Arts for wrongful dismissal, after he was told he was not allowed to teach the concepts outlined in his book, another ridiculous example of official wowserism.

Very interesting post, Rex :)I love the word wowsers!

I was a little amused as well when I first came to Australia and men were wearing ties in the 40 degree heat! It was one of the first things we noticed that was 'different'.

One little 'clash' with the school I had was when my daughter started kindergarten and I didn't understand the uniform rules (there are no school uniforms in The Netherlands).

I sent her in open sandals to school because it was about 36 degrees C. I really found it hard to believe when I was told that she had to come to school in socks and closed shoes! I thought it was like abuse- what kind of parents in their right mind would make their kids wear socks and closed shoes in this heat? I refused to do that, that first summer. In year 1 my daughter wanted 'to be like the others' so we went out and bought the bl@@dy socks and shoes.

I mean, who cares in this heat- it is more important to feel comfortable!

I'll put this book on my 'to read' list!

I think it's way past time that pro-Multiculturalists started to say what the benefits of the policy are... or is as the case may be.
It's also about time they explained why it's better than Integration or Assimilation.

So instead of the cutsey no substance stuff I've just read through how about you lot put your thinking caps on and come up with something substantial for a change.

T800, all this writing you do and you never define what australian culture is...unless your confusing it with white privlidge?...which is why you can't define this glorified mono-culture you apparently practice..never deviating from the path..being culturally 'Australian' 24/7[deleted for flaming].