We need standards to protect our culture and our nation

Let's stand up for our culture and not be so quick to beat up on it, writes Mihali Kouros.

By now, I’m sure a lot of readers will have either read about or seen news about the Muslim extremists in Barking, Essex, protesting the return of British soldiers from Afghanistan.

I’d like to also draw your attention towards the Somalis executed for the ‘un-Islamic’ and ‘distracting’ crime of – wait for it – watching the World Cup. Apparently, it seems that watching the first World Cup to be held in a fellow African nation would have sent these Somalis into some semi-religious (but non-Islamic) fervour resulting in the recognition of Israel’s right to exist, the end of jihad and state-sponsored terrorism, and even (God forbid!) tolerance of other religions!

Now compare these with an event like the Turkish Flotilla incident, where, if the news is to be believed, the Israeli Defence Force stormed a peaceful aid flotilla trying to bring supplies to the innocent starving Palestinians in Gaza.

Another situation I thought you might be interested in was the Indian students being bashed in Melbourne (it must of course be those horrible white boys, because we all know Melbourne has no problems with ethnic gangs that could result in attacks on one minority group by another!).

Why do I bring up these examples, you ask?

Well, it all links back to how we aim – through our media reporting – to placate, in particular the Islamic, but essentially the non-Western world at the expense of our own image. It could be political correctness gone mad, or some great campaign to further multiculturalism at the expense of any kind of traditional ‘Aussie’ culture. Or it could just be that leftist media group-think that seems so fashionable these days. Whatever the reason, this national self-flagellation is a complete load of garbage.

Why should a report on an Islamic protest group, “Muslims Against the Crusades”, refer to counter-protesters who did nothing but defend the reputation and memory of soldiers who died at war as “far-Right groups”? No matter your position on the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan, surely you would take any frustrations out on the people who sent them off to war, rather than the soldiers themselves? Yet in the interests of ‘balance’, any Caucasian response to a minority extremist group must also be slurred as extremists (And before you get angry about my labelling of MAC as extremists, I only use the same word used by the local council leader in writing to the Home Secretary to request that MAC be banned).

When, according to a professor of political sociology in Rotterdam, “highlighting issues like freedom of speech, female equality and gay rights… serves to exclude Muslims from the… political consensus”, you have to wonder if maybe it’s time that rather than continuing this trend of placating and pacifying of the rather vocal Islamic minority, we issue an ultimatum of sorts. I don’t mean anything along the lines of “Give up your religion or f*** off!” but something more akin to the way the European immigrants of the 40’s and 50’s were treated upon arrival: Bring your culture, your traditions, your religions, and by all means bring some wicked foods along to the party, but if you think for a second that you’ll be able to live without assimilating to some extent, you might as well turn back around and head off.

For any immigrant to (or any person living in) Australia, this means a few things. It means NO support of fundamentalist religious groups. It means NO refusing to learn English. Definitely NO throwbacks to traditions which are rightly found vulgar and heinous by Australian society (this rules out any form of ritual female genital mutilation). Finally, it means supporting Australia, as a nation. Whether you agree with some government decisions or not, support of this nation should be the biggest and simplest rule to abide by.

If one day, this was to occur, maybe then we would not see our country through this fog of negativity and self-hate, but rather as the great country that it indeed is.

Mihali Kouros is a Vice President of the Adelaide University Liberal Club.

Comments

[Ben]

1.

Mihali Kouros is a gentleman and a scholar. Good points young chap.

[Calum]

2.

It would seem this contains some base assumptions.
Australia has a commonly accepted singular culture?, I am white Australia born English speaking. But I do not feel like I represent or even know 2% of the cultural practices of this nation, seeing as they come from cultures all over the world.

The media beats up whichever social group, religion, war, nation that will promote the most public reaction of the time we are aware of that.. I don't think they placate islam as much as they attack it

[John]

3.

Excellent article. Some good points which relate back to multiculturalism in the West. I find the interesting thing about multiculturalism is that it is a uni-cultural phenomenon.

As Mark Steyn said, "If the purpose of your culture is to celebrate multi-culture, you're in effect saying that our bed-rock belief is that we believe in everything, which is the same thing as saying we believe in nothing."

[Brett]

4.

"It means NO refusing to learn English."

No one should be forced to learn English. If we simply got rid of welfare statism (which your precious liberal party so fervently supports, contrary to its supposed 'principles'), then immigrants who don't learn English will simply be unable to live in our society.

I mean sure, the way the media marginalises opposition to Islam is pathetic, and fundies should not have any influence on our laws more so than anyone else. But it is absurd to suggest some sort of cultural protectionism is necessary.

[ZEG]

5.

Great piece mate, well said. I agree!

[Dan Nolan]

6.

"Finally, it means supporting Australia, as a nation. Whether you agree with some government decisions or not, support of this nation should be the biggest and simplest rule to abide by."

Well that's downright stupid.

OUR COUNTRY RIGHT OR WRONG.

Yay for arbitrary nation-states!

[Andy Semple]

7.

Good article, Mihali.
And step one is taking control of our borders. Let’s cut the crap – the “Asylum seekers” coming in on the boats are nothing but queue jumpers. How I’d like to be a fly on the wall when Abbott has that surf lesson with queue jumper Riz Wakil.
I think Steve Price from radio station MTR was right on the money with his call that Abbott should tell Riz to ‘nick off’. Politically he won’t. The dropping in line is also gold.
A different line of questioning on MTR in Melbourne Thursday:
STEVE Price: Do you consider yourself a queue jumper?
Wakil: No, I don't consider myself a queue jumper. Just tell me where the queue is?
Andrew Bolt: The queue is the people in refugee camps who have put their name up, have been accepted as refugees, and are awaiting placement.
Wakil: There are people, genuinely recognised by UNHCR, who spend nine years in Indonesia.
Bolt: Mate, you were there for one month in Indonesia.
Price: You know what? Tony Abbott ought to tell this bloke to go and get nicked. We've got a very funny email. It says: "Please ask the guy to make sure Tony Abbott teaches him about dropping in, ie, waiting your turn in the surf."
Australia has and always will welcome new Australians but all we ask in return is that you leave your previous ‘baggage’ at the door otherwise mind the door on your way out.

[Michael]

8.

Agree with the general sentiment if not with the blustering delivery of it... I don't understand the obsession that many 'conservatives' have with Islam + Terrorism + threat to Israel. Politically, this is all a very new phenomenon, it receives far more attention than need be.

[Solomon]

9.

A" NEW" phenomenon ? What edition of your history book have you started on ? The illenium issue dealing only with the horrid 21st Century,or was it somewhere in the Koran.

[Grantley]

10.

Ah democracy!

The freedom to express our opinion is valued beyond all else...is it not?

Our political system and seperation of Church & State are integral to that freedom.

On that basis I welcome anyone to this country who is prepared to uphold that priciple first and foremost.

All others can keep walking/floating/flying.

[Armchair Diplomat]

11.

I am reminded of a story once recalled to me by Stepan Kerkyasharian, Chair of the NSW Commumity Relations Council, which, I think, neatly sums up best practice for a functioning multiculturalism.

A community parade was taking place and Stepan was seated beside a prominent Sydney mufti as the various ethnic/community groups marched by. As the representatives of the Egyptian community passed, the mufti beamed approvingly at the young muslim girls, beautifully wrapped in their traditional Islamic headscarves.

Next came the Bazilian community with a predictable display of dancing, flesh, and various tropicalia. The Mufti turned to Stepan and said, "You should not allow this!".

Stepan replied, "My dear Mufti, as you already know, the central pillar of harmonious inter-community relations is this: each group is free to do as it pleases - to the extent that one group does not impose its beliefs onto the others".

And he is right. Australia has been remarkably successful as a multi-cultural migrant nation with very rare outbreaks of the kind of inter-community violence witnessed in other parts of the world (think how tame the Cronulla riots appear when placed next to the US civil rights movement, the troubles in Northern Ireland, or the ethnic violence that plagued Indonesia in the 1990s and early 2000s).

[John of Taralga]

12.

As sent to me about 6 months ago!
Can a devout Muslim be an Australian/New Zealander USA or any other non Muslim country and become a loyal citizen?
I forwarded that question to a friend who worked in Saudi Arabia for 20 years.

The following is his forwarded reply:

Theologically, no. Because his allegiance is to Allah, the moon god of Arabia .

Religiously, no. Because no other religion is accepted by his Allah except Islam (Koran, 2:256)

Scripturally, no. Because his allegiance is to the five pillars of Islam and the Koran.

Geographically, no. Because his allegiance is to Mecca , to which he turns in prayer five times a day.

Socially, no. Because his allegiance to Islam forbids him to make friends with Christians or Jews.

Politically, no. Because he must submit to the mullahs (spiritual leaders), who teach annihilation of Israel and destruction of America , the great Satan.

Domestically, no. Because he is instructed to marry four women and beat and scourge his wife when she disobeys him (Koran 4:34)..

Intellectually, no. Because he cannot accept the Australian Constitution since it is based on Biblical principles and he believes the Bible to be corrupt.

Philosophically, no. Because Islam, Muhammad, and the Koran do not allow freedom of religion and expression. Democracy and Islam cannot co-exist. Every Moslem government is either dictatorial or autocratic.

Spiritually, no. Because when we declare "one nation under God," the Christian's God is loving and kind, while Allah is NEVER referred to as heavenly father, nor is he ever called Love in the Koran's 99 excellent names."

Therefore after much study and deliberation .... perhaps we should be very suspicious of ALL MUSLIMS in this country. They obviously cannot be both "good" Muslims and good Australians.

Call it what you wish ..... it's still the truth.