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| Down Under |
| John Howard : It's sense, not discrimination |
| 2006-09-01 |
| AUSTRALIA has been greatly enriched by immigration and most people who have come to this nation have happily integrated with the community. They have willingly embraced the Australian way of life. They have become part of the fabric of the nation and have helped make Australia the great country it is today. I have said many times that people who come to this country - no matter where they are from - should become part of the Australian community. For new migrants, that means embracing Australian values, accepting our culture, being able to speak English if it's not their first language and understanding that men and women have equality. But it is an undeniable fact that some who have come here are resisting integration. There are pockets of this resistance in different migrant groups but it is perhaps most visible at this time in a small section of the Islamic community. A small minority of this community, and other groups that reject integration, regard appeals for them to fully integrate into the Australian way of life as some kind of discrimination. It is not. It is commonsense and, importantly, it is also a powerful symbol of a new migrant's willingness and enthusiasm about becoming an Australian. It is difficult to get anywhere in this country without learning English. It's the common language of Australia and is, quite simply, a passport to the future. Simple tasks like securing a job and making new friends would be so much harder in Australia without a working knowledge of English. Treating women as equals is an Australian value that should be embraced. Australians generally do not tolerate women being treated in an inferior fashion to men. There are some societies that do not treat women equally. Migrants from those societies must be fully prepared to embrace Australian attitudes towards women. We are an egalitarian nation that prides itself on the concept of a fair go, our equal treatment of men and women, our parliamentary democracy and free speech. Embracing these values and other Australian ideals is vital for new arrivals. All new arrivals. But it is self-evident that some people are resistant to Australian values. There are small sections of some communities, including the Islamic community, that are resistant to integration. As I have said on many occasions, 99 per cent of the Islamic community of Australia has integrated into, and is part of, the Australian community. They have added great value to our society and are making a valuable contribution to the nation. Australia's Islamic community is also worried about the attitude of this tiny minority. Most of the Islamic people I know are as appalled as me by the failure of some within the community to integrate. It is up to all of us to try to overcome the resistance. Perhaps we can take a lead from the pupils of Eastwood Heights Public School, a school in Sydney's northwest that I visited yesterday. The students share family backgrounds from all corners of the world. But it was immediately obvious they have quickly learned the values of tolerance, respect, fairness and equality. A vibrant example for all Australians. |
| Posted by:Oztralian |
| #2 Too right, Mister Howard! Would that all politicians had the stones to speak so forthrightly. |
| Posted by: Zenster 2006-09-01 22:23 |
| #1 Right again, John! I'm so glad he's on our side. (Leftie seething in 5, 4, 3....) |
| Posted by: Barbara Skolaut 2006-09-01 22:04 |