What is your opinion about this?

Question

Fundamentalist Muslims
Told To Get Out
Of Australia
8-19-6

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 and her Queen 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 who 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.
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."
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American citizens will
find the backbone to start speaking and voting the same truths ! !

Answer 1

Hey princess, Great post and excellent point you've made. It's almost disgraceful that Australia seems to be more patriotic than America. It's funny that most people who answered focused on the Muslim mention and not the point of the article. I'm sure Australia intends this attitude toward all their immigrants, not just Muslims. But since they brought up the Muslims and their terrorist ways.......I am wondering just how much our people will sacrifice for the sake of these terrorists. Seems to me they are wishing to cater to the Muslims, baby them, give them what they want, so they don't throw another temper tantrum. I don't understand this thinking......we give the Muslims what they expect from us when they migrate here, don't expect assimilation from them, grant all their spoiled wishes and this will STOP terrorism. If we don't cater to them we are breeding more hate and increasing their threat to us? Something about this thinking doesn't make sense and it sounds pretty chikenshit to me. Americans are applying this same principal to all our illegal immigrants......we must give the BULLY what he wants or he might hurt us, in one way or another. Another thing.....this crap of pointing fingers at you and accusing you or something you say as being unconstitutional, is a thorn in my side! What...it's unconstitutional to disagree with anothers religion? BIG BS! They slap you down, point their fingers at you and support illegal immigration....now that's unconstitutional my friend!
Americans could learn something from Australias thinking, they expect a lot from their immigrants as it should be. They will no doubt be the better for it, their country will thrive because they are not willing to compromise what they have established. Here in America we got it backwards....our immigrants expect a lot from us, and Americans are catering to their demands. Our catering isn't going to stop terrorism, or hate, or racism, it will only increase the problems. When you let the bully have his way you send the message that you are weak and can be taken advantage of, vulnerable and afraid. Ah hell princess, we're doomed, there's only going to be one way out of this mess and you know what that's going to be. Many of us Americans are not going to give in to the bully's and we're not going to allow our fellow citizens to ruin our country with their sissy way of thinking.

Answer 2

I completely agree with the sentiment, but I think it could have been better expressed. At least here, there is no problem with being Muslim. However, preaching hate in this day and age may actually have risen to a 'clear and present danger'. Certainly I think that we would be within our rights to say that Mosques that preach hate would not get the benefits, such as immunity from taxation, that recognized religions get.

Answer 3

The right of individuals to practice their own beliefs is crucial to have a true democracy. If Sharia law preaches and expects its members to infringe upon the rights of others in order to be true to ones own beliefs than perhaps they should seek another place to live. That is to say that it is important not only to protect the rights of Muslims who practice their faith but the rights of the people who take part in the whole society also. It should be clear that if ones beliefs do not harm others than complete tolerance should and must exist. If you believe that infidels must die than keep it to yourself. Verbally, mentally, and most importantly physically.

Answer 4

I read about this several weeks ago actually, and I totally agree.

What Australia is saying is: welcome immigrants, feel free to practice your religion here and speak your native language, we are cool with it. However, do not expect us to apply a different set of laws for small groups (Sharia, already denied in Canada BTW) and in order to get services here, you will have to speak/learn English -speak whatever you want at home.

I believe this is fair: if a house guest wants to move in, I expect him to adapt to my home, not change it to his taste. I am an immigrant myself and I do not expect American businesses to hire me if I can't communicate with my boss or colleagues in my native language (French) or pick up laws of my country -I learn and speak theirs.

I do not expect official forms to be available in French or gov. clerks to serve me in French either.

Don't like the set of rules? Feel free to go elsewhere! If you don't leave on your own, we might help you out.

Answer 5

sounds like a well thought out and functional plan. I can only hope that the rest of the world will follow suit and send the muslims to Antarctica. they can jihad all they want in 30 feet of snow.

Answer 6

you are out of context. first of all Australia speaks of preventing future terrorist attack. second you are turning this issue into a race discrimination. they are not against the Muslim speaking Arabic or Urdu, they are against the fanaticism that the group has toward their religion. you need to take time off and re-read what ever you cut and paste before submitting the information. people dont have time to read journals. this forum is for question and answer, you always seem to loose track of what the situation actually is. you must stop being so racist.

Answer 7

Too bad AMERICANS HAVE BECOME TOO WEAK TO DO ANYTHING EXCEPT WHINE FROM BEHIND A COMPUTER SCREEN.

This ia a fine example of a strong government, with strong leadership ,unlike present day America.. Thats my opinion

Answer 8

If they used their version of FBI and targeted people bent on creating trouble, than would agree. Same thing happened here legally with communist and deportation and illegally with black listing. To throw out whole classes of people sounds like cheap PR stunt done by government trying to save it's butt. Their version of first amendment is weaker than our. Personally that what frightens me the most about Bush's crowd they keep pecking away at First.

Answer 9

like many countries. they don't mind others with differant religious belifs to live together. the problem is all terrorists are muslims. they don't believe in other ideas but their own. islam is the faith, muslim is the race and the quran is their bible.

Answer 10

Lots of food for thought. I love diversity but hate being expected to speak a language other than the one I grew up speaking to be considered for jobs that I am otherwise qualified to do.