There are three main Australian cultures. There is the aboriginal culture, the city culture and the best is -out in the agricultural and back blocks culture. Thats where the people are real.
The city people are mostly newcomers, the rest are a copy of elsewhere.
The aboriginals are living in their own world.
But the country folk are the dinki di Aussies. Believe me.

Thanks for the clarification, T800. If what you’re saying is that we don’t need to import culture in order to plug some supposed void, then you have no argument from me, except to point out that filling such a vacuum (real or supposed) was never the intent or purpose of multiculturalism. Which is why I think it’s two separate discussions. I think the premise you’ve outlined is a bit of a straw man.

Rex and Celivia, thanks for sharing your insights and experience as migrants. Strayan, I suspect you might have been on the money with your first post. My guess is that any argument I get into here is going to be circular, so I think I’ll take T800’s advice and migrate (to another thread).

It's been quiet because I got suspended for posting nothing more than what it seems others are allowed to.

"Why do I value multiculturalism/interculturalism?
Because I value freedom of choice. Why would I want one group to dictate another group how to live? Why do you want that, T800? Do you like dictatorship?"

Then migrate to the native country of the culture you wish to live. leave Australia to Australians.

"Multiculturalism is here to stay, whether people like it or not. "

Like any government policy it can be dropped or changed. hell it's already been changed at least 3 times.

" I am not against integration, but integration doesn’t mean people should have to give up their own culture. "

No and it never did SO MULTICUTURALISM WAS UNNECESSARY.

"There may be some aspects within a culture that will have to go in Australia when these aspects don’t fall within Australian law, but why should whole cultures have to go? There is so much to gain and learn from all these cultures."

Empty rhetoric. care to posts some examples?

" Australian culture (whatever that may be, exactly, to embrace other cultures as well.
Much to learn we all still have!"

Well I posted stuff you could obviously learn from Cel. Obviously unread?
Thanks to this thread I am enjoying a bit of nostalgia about my early time in Australia, learning about the new culture I had ventured into.

Rex, you need to get out more and stop addressing stereotypes as if all Australians are exactly the same. We are talking about a National culture not individual behaviours.

Australian culture then would be those aspects and characteristics that have developed on the Australian continent and those in a form readily distinguishable from other National cultures. It would also therefore be the dominant culture of Australia and also be recognised in various "Australian" stereotypes

"Do you realise that there are many different indigenous cultures, each speaking their own language? So to start with, Aboriginal culture is multicultural. "

Nationally we have Australia's "Indigenous" culture and Australia's "Western" culture.

Both are recognised by the majority of Australians as being... Australian. Recognition of this fact ...was displayed to the world at the 2000 Sydney Olympic, opening and closing ceremonies. The dominant culture though, the one seen and recognised world wide as being our national identity would be the Australian "Western" Culture.

Individuals... if you like Cel, have their own cultures, but they are not Nationally identified cultures.

"Australia was already multicultural before settlers even got here. Early settlers merely added one more culture."

AUSTRALIA didn't exist then Cel. Oh and Cel there were many intertirbal wars and look where the Aboriginal culture and Aboriginals are today? Your argument defeats itself.

"You also say that *There are no voids to fill- there is no need or space for more than these two cultures.*"

Misquoting and misinterpretation eh. Can you pls show where I said that? I'll be happy to go on after you do.

"Rex, you need to get out more and stop addressing stereotypes as if all Australians are exactly the same. We are talking about a National culture not individual behaviours"

I need to get out more, do I?

I've had a varied work career in Australia. A few labouring and unskilled jobs, then worked my way up to departmental office manager, working mainly with Australians.

Went to Dampier when it was still a work camp to get money in a hurry. Met Australians and migrants from everywhere imaginable.

Then company rep, at various times covering Perth city and suburbs, the Wheatbelt and the South West.

Lived in Port Hedland, covering the Pilbara and Kimberleys for the same company. Did business with every possibility, from major mining companies to isolated country stores.

Joined an insurance company. Covered Perth city and suburbs, the Goldfields and South West, Carnarvon plantations, Pilbara and Kimberleys. Talked to anyone who would listen, sign their name and pay cash or cheque.

Became Wheatbelt manager. Called on farmers, shearers etc. [I know what you mean about country people, Mickijo, they're great.]

Went up to Darwin after Cyclone Tracy to help out with the extra insurance work. Became NT manager. My clients included govt heads of dept, senior police officers and bikies. The Renegades clubhouse was open door to me.

I've lived in workcamps. Worked on building sites and mine sites and in logging towns. My clients and friends have included Australians and New Australians from every conceivable background. Aboriginal people, descendants of Afghan cameleers, fifth generation Chinese, you name it.

Socialised with my country clients at the speedway, the footy ball etc.

My second wife and I were members of the German Club, the Airforce Club and the Malaysian-Singapore-Australian Society, also went to the Austrian Club, Hellenic Association, Dutch Club, Spanish Club and Perth and Fremantle Italian Clubs. Why? Because when the music started, they all danced.

[Cont}

My second wife, who was English, learned Belly Dancing. She was already an accomplished ballroom dancer and became very good at it. She also looked the part. She danced at many functions where the majority of patrons were from the Eastern Mediteranean, Middle East or North Africa. Most of them were pretty much like most Australians. If they'd been stuffy b00gers, they wouldn't have been there, would they?

I lost my wife a few years ago, but have been fortunate to meet a delightful Japanese lady, who is also a trained Ballroom/Latin dancer. We dance 4 or 5 times most weeks. Through a friend of Emiko, who does traditional Japanese performances, I am now seeing something new to me, in fact I assisted as compere at a Japanese display just recently.

And when Emiko's friend Suzui throws a party, which she just loves to do, most people there are "Australian Australians", but the rest of the guests are like the United Nations [except they don't argue and veto one another!]

Yes, I really should start getting out more, shouldn't I?