Australia's philosophy on immigration

[Timmy]

Three Cheers for Australia

Those Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.

A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown.

Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state and its laws were made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you," he said on national television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing people in Australia, one the Australian law and another the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option," Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other country.

Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off". "Basically, people who don't want to be Australians, and they don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off," he said. Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.

AMERICA and Canada..... ARE YOU LISTENING?

Quote:
IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.

However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the "politically correct" crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration, nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia. However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand.

This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle. This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.

We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!

Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push but a fact because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home. Because God is part of our culture.

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.

If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go", then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means keep your culture but do not force it on others.

This is OUR COUNTRY, OUR LAND, and OUR LIFESTYLE, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE".

If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here.
You asked to be here, so accept the country YOU accepted.

I got this in an email, and did a wee google to find out how real it was.

Snopes says true, so i forward it on.


So what you think, have they got it right or wrong?

[Jaemi]

has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity

What sovereignty and national identity?
I can only assume they're talking about the First Nation peoples here? Of course they're not
What a ridiculous thing to say.

[MarkMono]

They've still got the queen on their money, no?

[LesMTS]

They've still got the queen on their money, no?

The queen's still their nominal head of state.

[MarkMono]

My point, so then doesn't it follow that their sovereignty and national identity is British?

[Timmy]

I believe they are talking more about their government rather than the queen.

And regardless of that, they are maintaining they won't be forced to change because someone came to their country and isn't happy with it the way it is run when they choose to come to their country. I think its a good theory....


I can imagine how it would backfire though.

[MarkMono]

they won't be forced to change because someone came to their country and isn't happy with it the way it is run when they choose to come to their country.

I think everyone should have the right to campaign to have laws changed that they think are repressive or unfair within their own country.

If they're actually objecting to immigrants bringing different ideas with them then they might as well close their borders and be done with it.

[Timmy]

We will accept your beliefs and will not question why, all we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.

When i read it, i see it more towards the stupid things like that box that looks like .... the name escapes me... but they made a big deal about it.

[MarkMono]

R.E. That quote. Asking immigrants to behave any better than the general populous do is an exercise in futility. Harmony and peaceful enjoyment indeed.

As for the box that looks like....

I have no idea what you're talking about.

[Timmy]

Someone will remember it...


Was a glass building in the shape of a box, that muslims got up in arms about.

I'll look for it after lunch.


So mark... you don't agree with it i gather?

[LesMTS]

I agree with it to a certain extent. You can't (or shouldn't) migrate to a country then militantly protest against its lifestyle. The idea of repatriation, though, is dodgy and sets a bad precedent. Where do you draw the line on who to repatriate?

Someone will remember it...


Was a glass building in the shape of a box, that muslims got up in arms about.

I'll look for it after lunch.


So mark... you don't agree with it i gather?

Yeah, I remember that. I think it was a muslim rather than muslims. One single, solitary muslim chap thought it was sacreligious because it looked like the Kaba.
The way the story was reported, though, made it seem like an outcry.

[MarkMono]

Someone will remember it...


Was a glass building in the shape of a box, that muslims got up in arms about.

I'll look for it after lunch.


So mark... you don't agree with it i gather?

Theres a very 'settle down and shut up if you want to live here' attitude running through it that I'm not a big fan of.

It seems to be saying that if you have any ideas outside of what the local authorities tell you to believe then you're not welcome in their country. Bit of a double standard innit.

[Noizy Rab]

I think everyone should have the right to campaign to have laws changed that they think are repressive or unfair within their own country.

i reckon it might be more along the lines of not wanting people campaigning for repressive or unfair laws to be added to the country, as much as i'm sure a majority of people in muslim countries are decent people just abiding by their religion and culture, things like the way women are treated as lesser beings than men is, in my opinion, fucking awful, i think it's more things like that they're looking to avoid, like they said believe what you like just don't force it on others

[MarkMono]

Thats just the same thing from the opposite perspective. Both are equally applicable.

[Vonnie]

Someone will remember it...


Was a glass building in the shape of a box, that muslims got up in arms about.

I'll look for it after lunch.


So mark... you don't agree with it i gather?

It was the new Apple store in New York I believe? Apparently offensive because it resembled a Muslim holy shrine?