"Speak English" ?????

[kathrine]

Muslims not singled out: PM

By staff writers and wires
September 01, 2006 03:11pm
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PRIME Minister John Howard has denied he was singling Muslims out for criticism over the way some immigrants fail to integrate into Australian society.
Mr Howard sparked controversy yesterday by saying on talk-back radio a small group of Muslim migrants had refused to accept their adopted country's values and had not learned English.
The Prime Minister said today he had no reason to apologise or water down those remarks.
"There's a small section of the Islamic population which is unwilling to integrate," he said.
"And I have said, generally, all migrants ... they have to integrate, and that means speaking English as quickly as possible, it means embracing Australian values and it also means making sure that no matter what the culture of the country from which they come might have been, Australia requires women to be treated fairly and equally and in the same fashion as men.
"And if any migrants that come into this country have a different view, they better get rid of that view very quickly.

"I don't retreat in any way from that. It doesn't involve singling out a group."

Riot risk
In the wake of Mr Howard's comments yesterday the chairman of the Government's Islamic advisory committee, Dr Ameer Ali, has warned of more Cronulla-style riots unless the Prime Minister tones down his rhetoric on Muslim migrants.


"We have already witnessed one incident in Sydney recently in Cronulla, I don't want these scenes to be repeated because when you antagonise the younger generation, younger group, they are bound to react," Dr Ali said to Macquarie Radio.


as per News.com and tonights news

Comments?

We should love the little children
All the children of the world
Red and Yellow, Black and White
They are all equal in our sight
We should love the little children of the world



Kate

[B-belle]

I think hes right.

To fit into any country you need to make some effort into embracing their values.

Im sure if they had been another race it woulda been the same.

[Mum&bubs]

I think hes right.

To fit into any country you need to make some effort into embracing their values.

Im sure if they had been another race it woulda been the same.

Yep I agree with you on this one.

[Kells]

I agree with him too. There is no racism in what he is saying. Fair enough, if the country is good enough to live in, you need to try and understand and follow some of the ways of life. Not to say to throw all the 'old' beliefs away, but embrace some of the new. There can't be two sets of rules ie - the treatment of women comment.

Powerful topic. Sure to get some heated discussion!

[B-belle]

By the way Kate...thanks for adding that poem..it is really lovely. Im doing my diploma in childcare and when I start working again..It will be the first thing I put up in the room.

[Mister Noodle]

Yah, multiculturalism is great - so long as nobody's noticeably different...

[melfunction]

I'm sure if I went to live in Lebanon for example, I would be expected to speak Lebanese and lord knows what else....

I thought people moved to Australia for a better way of life. One not restricted by crippling boundaries.

I think its crazy that there are so many cultures in Australia that seem to stick to their own and create the own little Iran, Lebanon, Africa etc here..It's one thing to keep your culture, but its a totally different thing to segregate.

[misskittyfantastico]

My thoughts are mixed up (cold and flu tablets!) so I'm sure I'll ramble.

My father was born in Europe and travelled here with his parents and brother as a toddler. The policy at the time was "populate or perish" so they got free passes (they were coming from a liberated camp). Another policy was assimilation. My family were "discouraged" from speaking their mother tounge in there own homes and when my uncle and brother went to school they were beaten regularly because of there accented english.

As a consequence, not only were my Grandparents incredibly isolated, they began to speak nothing but unfamiliar english to their children. My father can't speak a word of his first language. I feel I've lost a huge part of my heritage.

My mothers story is similar. I believe in tolerance and balance more than anything else.

[Kells]

Yah, multiculturalism is great - so long as nobody's noticeably different...

Ahh...Mister Noodle.. knew it wouldn't take you long to see this!! (saying this in the nicest way - I love reading the insight you throw into things!! )

[~EmsMum~]

I think hes right.

To fit into any country you need to make some effort into embracing their values.

Im sure if they had been another race it woulda been the same.

I agree