"We are the music-makers
And we are the dreamers of dreams
Wandering by lone-sea breakers
And sitting by desolate streams
World losers and world-forsakers
On whom the pale moon gleams
Yet we are the movers and shakers
Of the world forever, it seems."

(Arthur William Edgar O'Shaughnessy).

We need more people like -

Sidney Nolan, Albert Namatjira, Roberts or Dobell,
Fred Williams or Arthur Boyd - we should have more
artists and writers -
people who will help us see ourselves and
our country in a new light.

Here's something a young student from Richmond High
Form 3,
in Victoria wrote a few decades ago.

IF...

If my skin was coloured
And yours was starkly white
Would you start putting me down
Till I'd have to turn and fight?

If I prayed to a god
And it was different to yours
Would you reason it out
As a good cause for war?

If man got together
And made the world clean
Would you bring back pollution
And ruin another dream?

If the world looked like staying
In the state it is today
Would you try to help it out
Or just let it rot away?

If men are truly brothers
Why can't we live in peace
Should we obey the rules and fight
Or try to make it cease?

... I get up at six
... go to bed at nine
... I'd fight for my country
... don't open my mind

Foxy all good stuff, but it presumes those of us with concerns about multiculturalism are racists
We mostly are not
I will defend to my last breath most Muslims, most of any skin or faith
But I will never defend the dreadful ones
The insane murderers, like those in Bali bombing, Paris multiple murders
Those who tried to put their brother on a plane in Sydney, not knowing he was to die, with every one on that plane
I will not reward a deep hate for the west with love ever
Those who in the Sydney riot, held signs saying *our dead are in heaven yours are in hell.*
The non-right must achieve what it can, not try to achieve what it never will
And in growing numbers world wide the numbers are growing for some thing better than we have now

Now that we have been apprised of Foxy's family set up, it's not surprising that she gets frantic about multiculturalism. It's personal. It's about her. No problem. But we now know why we will never get an objective attitude, unbiased attitude on the subject from her.

Dear Belly,

You're talking about people on the fringes of
society - of extremists. We all fear those kind
of people not matter what religion, race, or
culture they come from.

Muslims in our country
are such a small percentage - and the extremists
are an even smaller number. But as I said in a
previous post - we do have an institutionalised
framework and the rule of law to protect us here.
And it's worked rather well for us.

I have travelled and worked overseas
have met people from many cultures - and found that
human beings are the most extraordinary creatures.
And I'm still on my journey of discovery.
Belly - you're not a racist - you have a fair mind
and a big heart to match. And I know you mean well.
Unlike some - who like fleas persist in biting.
Annoying creatures, but not really of any relevance
to our lives and those who matter.

A Vietnamese woman has been expelled from Australia for trying to bring in pork she had not declared, along with eggs, quail, pate, fruit, garlic and squid. The ABC described her action as 'smuggling'; but it probably should be described as a problem of culture. Multicultural residents, even citizens, have been caught trying to pull this stunt and they are only be fined (sometimes), not deported.

There is more to the dangers of lumping different cultures together than just somebody's hurt feelings.