log man said...
Integration/assimilation was a idea of the "white Australia policy" days. It was a shameful policy. Dinsdale can you not see the authoritarian tone in your posts. "go back to where you came from" etc?
Look, loggy, integration/assimilation was an idea - period!! The "white Australia policy" was most certainly a regrettable phase in Australia's history, and whilst never being an actual official, written policy, it most certainly existed and was maintained ably both both sides of Australian politics, but it's
NOT synonymous with integration/assimilation, nor must nor do they go hand in hand. Social coherence is an admirable goal for any "people" to aspire to. It's what keeps countries going. Australia has enjoyed, in the context of the wider world out there, quite a long period of enviable social coherence, not least in part because Australia's pollies endeavoured to import those groups from around the world who, in their opinion, would most likely "fit into" the socially coherent society which was already established.
So what changed? We still enjoy
relative social coherence, in the context of the wider world out there, but it's obvious, even to blind Freddy, that it's breaking down. It's then fair, in my opinion, to look around that same world and see who's experiencing the same or similar problems, and look for common threads to see if there's a way for us to not fall into their pitfalls. Any factors which are at glaring odds with hopes and aspirations of those who are going to foot the bills, or have to deal with ramifications of said factors. Europe/GB are probably the best examples for us to look towards, as they're more or less the progenitors of our established cultural/societal norms.
There is, today, a glaring common thread. It's not the only thread, I'm sure, but it's the glaring, main thread. I think it's fair to then have a look at the homelands of that "common thread" and see if there's any standout factors which have played a major role in the (quite rapid) demise of Europe/GB. The homelands of that subset of immigrants into Europe/GB are little short of 7thC hellholes and one can easily see the link -
IF ONE LOOKS!Some groups integrate/assimilate much more smoothly than others. The Chinese, for instance (
don't run away with this - it's just 1 very good example), have, for millenia, been travelers and traders, and have been able to adapt to their surroundings remarkably well. I know quite a few 1st, 2nd and now 3rd generation Chinese, and despite their very different native culture, they've come here to "begin a new life" as Ozzies. I have friends, born in Asia, with the broadest of chinglish (they love the term, with affection) accents who take marked exception to being called Chinese - they're OZZIES!! ... and they're proud of it! The vast, vast bulk of various Europeans (from N,S,E and W) have assimilated into our communities and been absolutely invaluable in the development of this country. These groups all still keep their links and identities with their respective homelands, whilst being cohesive, productive members of Australia. There are many exceptions to this (just look at SW Sydney for instance), but in my reasonably wide experience the exceptions are the minority.
In
EVERY racial/social/cultural group (including amongst our native Ozzies and our Caucasian Ozzies) there are, and always will be those who (for who knows what reason) make it their life's work to be antisocial and to try to tear apart that social cohesion. We are now, as a nation, importing a whole cultural group for whom that is true. That is, the majority are disposed towards breaking down our culture/social cohesion and the minority are here to join us in the rich blessings this country has to offer.
The main reason multiculturalism has sort-of worked in Oz, in my opinion, is that despite the governments policy, the bulk of our immigrants have, of their own accord, integrated and assimilated, because of their thankfulness for a country which 1. welcomed them, 2. offered them peace (a big factor that one) and 3. offered them social and financial security. I'm close with 2 separate families who landed in Oz as boat people from Vietnam. (I was flying in the Australia's permanent defense forces during that conflict) These are the things which they've told me. Their kids are middle aged now, and whilst genetically 100% Vietnamese, are 100% nationally Ozzies.
I, and I believe most Ozzies with more than 2 functioning brain cells, don't care where a person came from, what they look like, what accent they have, how poor their English is, what religion they are, what they do for a job and (I even surprised myself here) who they fought for in Vietnam. So long as they've come here to become full, productive members of our country. So long as they've decided to leave their wars and hatreds behind them and start a new life, for themselves and their progeny.
If you've come here to bless us with all the shyte that has destroyed your own country -
GO BACK THERE!!Does that sound authoritarian? Oh well, so be it.
ps I think you'll find that I was able to refute your assertions and develop my own arguments without once attempting to belittle you or put you down. The same courtesy would be an outstanding aspiration for everyone on SB.
