Australia Now Canada Tomorrow

[Guest chilipeppers]

Just got this in an email, think it makes valid points.

A friend of mine just came back from New York and was disgusted at the number of radical Muslims on the streets with bullhorns raging against the west and threatening Jihad while advocating for an Islamic state and all. Ain't free speech grand, only in America.

Australia Now, Canada Tomorrow? Excerpts from an ongoing debate in Australia.

This is true and can be checked at

http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Shari 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 Shari 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 Islamic law that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Shari 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 ofAustralia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And 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"

=============================clipped for brevity

"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."

[guyser]

First and foremost, Australians make it clear that Australia is for Australians.Always been that way.

Will we see the same here. Nope not on your life. Different ways this country evolved. Got to admit it does hold a certain likeability to it.

[geoffrey]

Sharia law is incompatible with a secular society.

If it was only enforce upon those that accepted the punishment, well, it wouldn't be effective. Other than that, we'd actually have to switch our whole system to Sharia.

If I slept with a random Muslim woman, would I get stoned too? Or can I opt out and say, whoa, I'm not Muslim. What prevents anyone from doing so?

What if an action (stoning someone to death) is permissible under their law, but not under ours.

Your either secular, or your not.

[Fortunata]

I agree with what Australia is doing (ok, call me intolerant). We have no room here for people that think their religion and way of life overrides the mores, traditions and fundamental beliefs of the country they chose to adopt. You want a new way of life, come here; you want your old way of life, stay there.

[ScottSA]

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 ofAustralia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And 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"

=============================clipped for brevity

"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."

Bravo. If only someone in Canada could bring themselves to squeak out something similar...

[Peter F]

Bravo. If only someone in Canada could bring themselves to squeak out something similar...

and who's holding you back? I think you're doing a fine job of squeeking something similar.

[betsy]

Bravo. If only someone in Canada could bring themselves to squeak out something similar...

and who's holding you back? I think you're doing a fine job of squeeking something similar.

Someone with political authority should have the balls to speak out publicly!

Either we go the way of England or go the way of Australia! And I like the way Australia is headed!

Bravo about the bold criticism on this cursed multiculturalism! I came in this country of my own accord because I want the western values, I want the western way of life....so I'm not just going to silently accept what these radicals want to do!

[Higgly]

"...bullhorns raging against the west."

What does that mean? What were they raging? People rage all the time.

That having been said, I agree that any enshrinement of Sahria law is a mistake. We have a system of law, and that is one of the pillars of our society. When you apply for entry, you are applying under the legal system. More than one legal system is just not logical.

[jester]

I trust that in your secular society the Christian church or any other will be kept at arms length as well. Extremists aren't only Muslim are they..............

[betsy]

I trust that in your secular society the Christian church or any other will be kept at arms length as well. Extremists aren't only Muslim are they..............

I won't take this comment too seriously. You obviously hadn't given it much thought. But I say this....

First of all what do you mean by my secular society? It's actually your secular society. You are the ones, that is liberals or atheist or whatever you happen to be today, that tries to ignore the foundation of our civilization and society.

And no, Christianity will not be kept at arms' length. Christianity is the basis of our law and our social structure.

Christianity, combined with democracy, allows for the separation of church and state AND freedom of religion.

None of that will be found in an Islamic state.

[ScottSA]

I trust that in your secular society the Christian church or any other will be kept at arms length as well. Extremists aren't only Muslim are they..............

I'd be quite content if only Islam were kept at arm's length. When I see every other Christian pulpit in the land howling for the blood and heads of this or that group, and self-proclaimed crusaders self-detonating in crowds, I'll begin to worry about Christianity. Until then, I'll celebrate the fact that Judeo-Christian values, and not the values of some 6th century psychopath, built this society.

[JMH]

I trust that in your secular society the Christian church or any other will be kept at arms length as well. Extremists aren't only Muslim are they..............

You're right. I've seen some pretty radical church hall BINGO sessions not to mention the bake sales.

They're nuts! Radical Christians........what are they putting in the cookies?

All churches and faiths are kept at arms length in a secular society........provided they adhere to the LAWS OF THE LAND............wich are not negotiable in any shape or form.

The rule of LAW..........Western Laws.............don't like it? Get the fuck out.

I'll lay out the red carpet for you chimps.