Rex,
I think T800 will have to let you pass with flying colours ;)
My husband and I also go to ballroom dancing lessons and go dancing at the club. We also are learning Rock&Roll atm, and I have also bellydanced for about 2 years. It’s good fun, healthy exercise and through dancing we meet many people from many nationalities. A very multicultural thing to do ;)

T800
I see many benefits of a multicultural society. A multicultural society is made up by different communities in where all individuals and organisations can contribute to our society. All these communities and their individual residents have equal rights and responsibilities. All have access to government services.
If all communities have the opportunity to be strong communities, this will lead to a strong nation. It will also lead to a safer Australia.

Isolating certain cultures and their communities does nothing to make Australia more secure.

In a nation where cultures of some communities are being neglected or isolated, communities cannot become strong and this may have a negative effect on the nation as a whole. It also may breed unhappiness and anger.

Acceptance is warm and understanding- and unites a country rather than divides it.

BTW When I came to Australia, I was surprised to find that Australia was so ‘Americanised’. I hadn't expected that.
Australians hate to hear this, but the fact is that Australia is Americanised because we are all bombarded with American images, movies and products every day and this has an influence on Australian culture.
Australian culture is being influenced by American culture.

Perhaps a multicultural nation is better than an American culture- what do you think?

You know considering the forum rules it's difficult answering every "dissenter" here. Every extra commenter should get a proper reply.
Rex, big deal buddy, It doesn't explain your narrow stereotyping of Australians as a whiole does it? Or why you ignore everything i've already written or the fact most people who have commented, agree with me here, not you.

So Cel when are you going to answer my question? Are you avoiding it?

T800
Does Australia not have a multicultural policy? I thought they have! Correct me if I’m wrong. Anyway, have a look on the CMA (Council for Multicultural Australia) website.

The fact that there is a multicultural policy… doesn’t that mean that Australia is a multicultural nation?
Why do you tell people to leave Australia if they love this multicultural country?
Perhaps people who do not like this wonderful, multicultural, ‘lucky’ country should leave and find a mono or bicultural nation. Good luck in fnding one, as I said the vast majority of Western, developed countries, have adopted a multicultural policy.
As I said before and I repeat now in case you missed it:
You are glorifying something that only exists in a number of countries of which, ironically, the cultures you seem to be rejecting. You are copying the values from the very cultures that you bag. How funny!

Did I misinterpret what you said about the ‘no voids to fill’ thing? Sorry if I did, then I apologise.
If you didn’t mean to say that, what did you try to say then? That there IS a void that can be filled by other cultures?

To be honest, I am not enjoying this conversation- not because or the difference of opinions because that’s the whole point of a discussion forum. But because you turn your thread and this basically interesting topic in such a battlefield. It seems to be more of an ego thing than a fair discussion.

So I take this opportunity to take Snout’s example, and go to some thread where people are able to act a bit more civil.
I am willing to agree to disagree.
I won’t be reading this thread anymore- have fun.

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

Speaking about voids- if you took Australia’s many cultures away you would create a void. Then there would be voids to fill. Multiculturalism is a limitless concept. “

As usual you avoid the fact that Australia as a nation cannot be made up of other Nations cultures. Italy is not made up of Russian, American, Australian, Indonesian…. etc cultures now is it. Neither is Holland. In fact being Dutch heritage you’d be aware of their changes in attitude lately wouldn’t you.

He said that he was proud of a large amount of cultures at the school.
He thanked the pupils that they all, without difficulties, had been keen and open to learn from and teach each other about their different cultures, and that they had accepted and respected each other’s cultures throughout the six years of HS.

“I see many benefits of a multicultural society. A multicultural society is made up by different communities in where all individuals and organisations can contribute to our society. All these communities and their individual residents have equal rights and responsibilities. All have access to government services.”

So what are these contributions that only multiculturalism brings Cel? I’m still waiting for an answer to that one. As for government services… yes Multiculti is a very expensive policy to support. It costs us Billions of dollars to prop it up.

“If all communities have the opportunity to be strong communities, this will lead to a strong nation. It will also lead to a safer Australia.”

How so? How does division make for a strong united society? How are we safer? I note recently we’ve had Muslims arrested for plotting against the country they live in. The Vietnamese made their Cabramatta enclave the drug capital of Australia. These are good things and make us safer?

“Isolating certain cultures and their communities does nothing to make Australia more secure. “

No it doesn’t does it. Pity they don’t integrate or assimilate.

“In a nation where cultures of some communities are being neglected or isolated, communities cannot become strong and this may have a negative effect on the nation as a whole. It also may breed unhappiness and anger. “

Muslims are taught not to become part of the Australian society. Western ideals are not Muslim ideals. Even last week we were told this by a representative of the Muslim community on insight. I’ve personally witnessed it from various “communities” over many years. Even Greeks and Italians a have traditionally married “their own”. Some ethnicities even send children HOME to marry.

“Acceptance is warm and understanding- and unites a country rather than divides it.”

TOLERANCE is the policy Cel, NOT ACCEPTANCE. Yet all this tolerance seems to be a one way street.

“BTW When I came to Australia, I was surprised to find that Australia was so ‘Americanised’. I hadn't expected that.”

You saying you can’t tell the difference between Australia and Australians from America and Americans? I can. BTW the big change in that direction came with the influx of Filipinos in the 80s. Clarke Airforce base and the Yanks have a lot to answer for. I note that the Lebanese these days are the ones big on CAR culture and American hip-hop etc, etc, etc…

“Australians hate to hear this, but the fact is that Australia is Americanised because we are all bombarded with American images, movies and products every day and this has an influence on Australian culture.
Australian culture is being influenced by American culture.”

All cultures that meet are influenced by each other Cel. We have a lot less British programming on TV these days. I don’t see the point in importing MANY cultures here… that just makes things worse.