valid questions greenroom. i have some answers that may help resolve your questions. to keep things nice i will only refer to facts.
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Originally posted by Greenroom
I know Laurie has requested to cease this topic but I feel my intentions on the original post has got out of hand.
Please let me explain... Approaching the BigDayOut concerts there was talk of banning the Australian flag. Why? Who thinks of stuff like this? What is the motive and what is wanting to be achieved?
firstly the flag was not banned, the concert goers were asked to not use the flag as a tag for gangs. which had happened at previous big days outs where people were singled out and attacked by miss informed biggots who wrapped themselves in the aussie flag.
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In response to this hog wash there was a letter in the paper that simply said "Will the Seppo's take down the American flag from the moon as this offends me!" I thought that this was a very clever and funny statement.
did the article say who wrote the slogan and what their political motivation was?
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What gets me is that we seem to be watering down our Australian culture and way of life to suit those entering our country? Am I the only one who can see this? Some say multicultural countrys can work and some say they dont. I think they can but not when the country of inhabitance is being told that they need to change for others to fit in.
1. the white australia policy was abolished in 1950 after ww2. it was a policy aimed at certain races being better than others.
2.Immigration is a necessary part of any country enableing it to deal with work shortages, population increase requirements, knowledge bases etc.
3. the promotion within the media of the watering down of the australian culture concept was designed by right wing or Neo-fascist political and or religious minority groups to strengthen support for their racist doctrines by appealing to peoples patriotism and nationalism. it promotes fear and intolerence within the community and undermines harmony and disrupts what is considered australian. these are also the minority groups that promote anti gay sentiment. if you don't believe me that this concept is pushed by these groups then do a google search on One Nation party and also Australian Nationalism.
4. Australia is multi cultural, that's our history. that's what makes us unique. when did you eat your last pizza, or pie, or kebab. how many public facilities were designed and built by people originally from other countries. we are all immigrants or from immigrant pasts at the end of the day al except the aboriginals.
5. Australia is unique because it is tolerent, it has the fair go attitude. it has always adopted new cultures into it's own and shown tolerence. it's a 2 way street.
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Do we see other countries doing that? As quoted before "When in Rome do as the Romans do."
yes, almost every country in the world has an imigration policy.
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But when there is a minority of people who use terror to push and change our free country then one has to stand up and protect what my ancestors and Gesties ancestors have fought and sacrificed their lives for and built up this amazing land that we call home.
see above information on far right. also you can apply that to terrorists as well. they are also very intolerent. and i'll speak out against them also.
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Its an issue that has been discussed by our government that those becoming citizens need to take a test. I think that this is bullsh1t. Im not sure of the ceremony but the simple act of promising to obey the laws of the land is enough for me to feel that multiculturalism works. Miller is one of my best mates and he hasnt been in Australia for very long and he holds the Australian flag higher than I do.
most peope coming to australia do hold it in high regard. that's why they come here.
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Sorry Miller for bringing you into this.
me too.
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ANYWAY... hows that library going? When I come over for one of your Windwally wave location meets can I fart really loud and giggle continuously under my breath? Can I use the internet in the library to post rascist comments on this forum? Oops, a bit of Mk7 personality
sorry, but you don't meet the entry requirements. it is aimed at people that can't windsurf to help them get a leg up. if you like, a fair go! maybe a day out with the windwanderers would be a good experience for you. the membership is made up of all elements in society.
my conclusions to the above facts.
so i have seen all of the information you have seen but come up with a different conclusion. i believe that showing intolerence will breed intolerence. i don't live in fear that we are losing australian culture because i have confidence that the australian way of life and the mateship spirit will win through in the end.
as far as the wars go. the only thing i know for sure is that they were all driven by nationalism. not to say nationalism is a dirty word. i am as proud of australia as anyone. the only thing my grandfather said to me was that he fought against intolerence and fascism. because he was proud that australia wasn;t that way and didn't want to see it go there.
