Australian PM tells Muslims to integrate

[Leafless]

Australian Prime Minister John Howard has called on the country's Muslims to fully integrate into society.

Mr. Howard said: " Muslim migrants had to learn to speak English and adopt "fair and equal" treatment of women.

Great move by Mr. Howard to stand up and support Australian values.

http://news.yahoo.com/s/afp/20060901/wl_as...nislammigration

[Charles Anthony]

The world certainly needs more language police.

[Michael Hardner]

I'm surprised that all it takes is platitudes to satisfy you. I can't find anything in the article that indicates any policy changes to back up his statement.

[yam]

This is the bit of the article that bothers me is more to do with women and how far he wants 'integration' of gender equality here - as he says:

"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." PM John Howard

I think forwarning migrants might be of help!!

But the problem is of those that have lived there together for a few generations now without being told to do this. . . .it could get nasty and especially for the young women that were born in Australia and are muslim. They will have to meet dress codes etc of the West which in turn will have the effect of their families not allowing them to go into further education and get a career.

[August1991]

What I find more astonishing is the following:

Ali said the prime minister risked inflaming tensions that led to rioting between white youths and Arab-Australians in the Sydney beachside suburb of Cronulla last December.

"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," Ali told commercial radio.

It's always the West that inflames Muslims.

It amounts to extortion. If you don't do what I say, we're going to burn your house down. I'm also tired of this dissimulation of pretending to be against the violence but saying that the hotheads are uncontrollable.

This is the good cop-bad cop style. "I'm a nice guy, do what I say because I can't control my whacko partner."

Rather than directly confront Howard, they have chosen to whine.

[yam]

i suppose they are in a rather dubious position right now to be outrightly hostile to Howard concerning his support of the US and its 'occupations' to install western democracy.

[Black Dog]

I'm still giggling over an Australian telling others to speak English. Crikey!

[M.Dancer]

i suppose they are in a rather dubious position right now to be outrightly hostile to Howard concerning his support of the US and its 'occupations' to install western democracy.

struth

[Wilber]

i suppose they are in a rather dubious position right now to be outrightly hostile to Howard concerning his support of the US and its 'occupations' to install western democracy.

Considering that they enjoy the benifits of living in a western democracy which allows them to say and do things that would get them killed in those countries, I don't see they have much to complain about.

[Rue]

Today women, tomorrow off come those darned mustacheless beards. I mean who do they think they are anyways? Amish?

[jbg]

i suppose they are in a rather dubious position right now to be outrightly hostile to Howard concerning his support of the US and its 'occupations' to install western democracy.

Considering that they enjoy the benifits of living in a western democracy which allows them to say and do things that would get them killed in those countries, I don't see they have much to complain about.

I couldn't agree more. If they come to a Western country, they ought to behave as Westerners. Presumably, they came for a reason, to get away from the senselessness and ignorance of their native lands. Why should they be permitted to ruin their host country for the hosts?