Multiculturalism, Muslims and Australian Immigration

Err... yeah... you guys are not helping.
Image: The Muslim Brotherhood wants to Rule the World.

Recently a friend sent me (and a number of others on their email list) the following chain email, that has been circulating around Australian email boxes, asking for my opinion on the message.

Just before you read it I'll pre-warn you that it relates to immigration laws and ideas that I'm sure many countries are grappling with in this post 911 world.

I've reproduced the email as closely as I can to how I received it, complete with large typeface. Have a read and then read my response. The email is titled 'Go the Dutch'. The comment in red is by the last person to forward the email to my friend.

About time the Australian government did the same......why do we suck up to these people whose "values" are from beyond the dark ages ,who still live the way they did 2000 years ago. 

Go the Dutch - but why wait until 2013?

The Netherlands, where six per cent of the population is now Muslim, is scrapping multiculturalism:

The Dutch government says it will abandon the long-standing model of multiculturalism that has encouraged Muslim immigrants to create a parallel society within the Netherlands.

A new integration bill, which Dutch Interior Minister Piet Hein Donner presented to parliament on June 16, reads:
"The government shares the social dissatisfaction over the multicultural society model and plans to shift priority to the values of the Dutch people.

In the new integration system, the values of the Dutch society play a central role.

With this change, the government steps away from the model of a multicultural society.

The letter continues:

"A more obligatory integration is justified because the government also demands that from its own citizens. It is necessary because otherwise the society gradually grows apart and eventually no one feels at home anymore in the Netherlands...

The new integration policy will place more demands on immigrants. For example, immigrants will be required to learn the Dutch language, and the government will take a tougher approach to immigrants who ignore Dutch values or disobey Dutch law.

The government will also stop offering special subsidies for Muslim immigrants because, according to Donner;

"It is not the government's job to integrate immigrants." (How bloody true).

The government will introduce new legislation that outlaws forced marriages and will also impose tougher measures against Muslim immigrants who lower their chances of employment by the way they dress.

More specifically, the government will impose a ban on face-covering, Islamic burqas as of January 1, 2013.(Why wait 11 months?)

Holland has done that whole liberal thing, and realised - maybe too late - that creating a nation of tribes will kill the nation itself.

Australia's future may well be read here.

READERS NOTE:

Muslim immigrants leave their countries of birth because of civil and political unrest "CREATED BY THE VERY NATURE OF THEIR CULTURE."

Countries like Holland and Australia have an established way of life that actually works, so why embrace the unworkable?

If Muslims do not wish to accept another culture, the answer is simple; "STAY WHERE YOU ARE!!"

This gives a whole new meaning to the term; 'Dutch Courage' -  Unfortunately Australian politicians don't have the ... guts to do the same.

There's a whole lot of truth here!!!!

ELECTION 2013 IS COMING

A Nation of Sheep, Breeds a Government of Wolves!

I'M 100% for PASSING THIS ON!!!

Let's Take a Stand!!!

Gillard: Gone!

Borders: Closed!

Language: English!
 
Law:Obey Australian Law

Culture: Australian Constitution, is the Bill of Rights!

Drug Free: Mandatory Drug Screening before Welfare!

NO freebies to: Non-Citizens!

We the people are coming!!!

Only 86% will send this on. Should be a 100%. What will you do?

-- End of Email --

Before you read my response, think about your own response. Do you agree with the message? Is this the kind of response to you'd like to see implemented and if so, why?

My response:

Hi [Name withheld],

Since you asked, put me down for 100% against the policies and ideas of the message.

The message isn't about scrapping multiculturalism it's about being anti Muslim and is based entirely upon fear and ignorance. Fear and Ignorance of the Muslim culture as well as ignorance of other cultures and religions that create their own communities in Australia, in much the same way as Muslim's do but with less of the divisive rhetoric from so called 'Australians'.

Australia has Greek, Italian, Chinese, Indian, Christian, Catholic, Buddhist and Islamic communities as well as communities from many other nations and religions. All of which make our country  richer for their involvement. Australia, over the last few decades, strives to be inclusive and understanding of other cultures and religions yet too many 'Australians' seem to want to implement archaic polices (such as those in the message you sent) more suited to the 1950s than 2012.

If 6% of the Netherlands identify themselves as Muslim then that's a 0.5% increase since 2002... hardly a growing threat to the overall Dutch population.

Over the last few decades Australia has also seen a visible increase in Australian Patriotism. Ironically reinforced by our involvement in wars (ANZACs, Vietnam, Afghanistan, Iraq for example) rather than our successes as nation in something more positive like strengthening our ties with countries in the region and around the world. The Australian spirit, values and way of life has never been stronger than it is today. Multiculturalism is not a threat to our way of life, it is our way of life and has been since the country was first settled.

If these so called Australians truly wanted integration of other nationalities and religions, they would make the effort to welcome these people to our shores and share with them what it means to be Australian, whilst learning something about those who can only aspire to one day live in the 'lucky country'.

Share this message around...

-TET

The above makes it seem like I did some research but most of it is just my observations over the last few years. The only part I researched was to look up Muslim populations in the Netherlands back in 2002 just to see if there really had been any kind of dramatic increase to warrant their government's concern.

Anyone with a basic knowledge of Australian history will know that Australia has always been 'Multicultural' - even before European settlement with a mix of both Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders. European settlement was mostly a mix of British and Irish. The Chinese started immigrating here as far back as 1851 when gold was discovered at Bathurst. - who, incidentally, had to put up with similar prejudices that Muslim's face today (though ironically it was their reputation as good workers that seemed to be the main contention).

Beyond that, look at all the German, Greek and Italian history. In the region I live there are historic wineries established by German immigrants, not to mention extensive Welsh mining history as well.

If you'd like to do your own research MDAA's web site has a good starter page that looks at cultural statistics since Australian settlement: Anglo-Australian General Information.

From the above link, I'll leave you with this...

European descendants make up 95% of Australia's inhabitants. The majority have a British or Irish heritage, but about 18% of the population have other European origins. While Australia's ethnic make-up is relatively small, it is one of the most culturally diverse populations in the world.

There's some interesting further reading of early Australian history at these two links:

http://www.cultureandrecreation.gov.au/a…
http://www.oldmogotown.com.au/chinese.ht…