Beware who is to be next!

Government aims to insert its talons into every child's brain, injecting them with Australian values so they end up as consumerist addicts in the industrial meat-grinder and give them lots of taxes.

leoj,

You need to go back and read my posts.

You appear to have missed the point of the
message that I was trying to send.

I did borrow a paragraph that to me made sense
regarding the analysis of the problems of
Muslim countries and what issues are often
left out. I tried to point out how difficult
it is to combat extremism in these regions and
why.

I also referred to the painful details of Ayaan's
upbringing and the fact that there is no denying her
words are brave. I also quoted what she had to say
about cultures and their flaws.

I don't understand what point you were trying to make.
If you disagree with anything that I posted - why don't
you simply say so. I do not believe that I posted
anything that would demean Ms Ayaan Hirsi Ali. If you
believe that I did - you are simply wrong.

I haven’t read much from Ayaan Hirsi Ali, although I’ve been meaning to.

I like Sam Harris’s thoughts on Islam. I find his criticisms fair and balanced, and he doesn’t pull any punches. When many on the Left are accusing you of being a xenophobe and an Islamophobe (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vln9D81eO60), while many on the Right are accusing you of being an apologist for Islam, it’s a pretty sure sign that you’re approaching the topic in a very balanced way. Although I do find some of his arguments to be a little simplistic and sociologically naive.

As for what Hirsi Ali said about shutting down Islamic schools? I agree with it in principle (no child should be exposed to ANY religion until their critical thinking faculties have at least started to develop), but actually doing it could backfire badly as it would undoubtable be seen as a hostile act. It’s the second- and third-generation immigrants that are at the greatest risk of becoming radicalised when they feel marginalised, and research suggests that one of the best ways to make an ethnic minority feel marginalised is to make them feel like they must abandon the culture of their heritage altogether.

It probably comes down to which approach would be the most successful both in the short-term and the long-term? Shut down Islamic schools, or try to engage with and empower moderate Muslims in Australia. Given the complexities surrounding radicalisation, I think it's pretty naive of Hirsi Ali to be so certain of what the best course of action is to take there.

One point to consider is the fact that many Muslims may home-school their children if Islamic schools were to be shut down - which would make monitoring what was being taught harder. Plenty of Christians in the US home-school their children to prevent them learning about evolution and climate change. I can't imagine Muslim home-schooling would be any better.

Foxy,
You seem to be one of those people with a hidden agenda that is designed to bring the Australian culture and way of life right down into the gutter along with all the other fanatics and socialistic Ideologues.
Why don't you just listen and not speak but since you seem to have a negative view point on anything that is Australian and uplifting I guess that would be too much to expect.
What the hell do you think they teach in Islamic schools?
Cooking and sewing?
The teach the Koran which decrees non believers (Infidels)must die.
That means you Foxy if your not a Muslim.
Off with your head and there's nothing more negative that that I guess.

Dear Is Mise,

Ayaan Hirsi Ali wants Islamic schools closed?

I don't think that's going to happen.

We have many private religious schools and closing
one group down would simply be difficult to
explain considering that the Government is meant
to treat all citizens as equal regardless of
religion.

All Australians are supposed to be equal under the
law which means that nobody should be treated differently
from anybody else because of their race, ethnicity,
country of origin,their age, gender, marital status,
disability, or because of their political or
religious beliefs.

Government agencies, including education departments,
and courts must treat everyone fairly.
Governments can insist on schools meeting certain
standards but I doubt whether they would close down
any private school on religious grounds.

Dear Chris,

I'm sorry that you feel so strongly about who
you perceive me to be. You actually do not
know me at all. However, I have no control
over what you think of me and therefore I shall
have to learn to live with your bad opinion.
It's a shame though because I have always read
your posts and thought you were a very fair man.
But then I really don't know you either. So I
guess we could both be wrong about each other.