AUSTRALIA - the right to leave

I received an interesting email recently from a friend at home. I was saddened to read a few things in it, mostly how the culture of my country is changing. I embrace multiculturalism but sometimes people just take the piss.

After Sydney not wanting to offend other cultures by putting up Christmas lights, and
after hearing that the State of South Australia changed its opinion and let a Muslim woman have her picture on her driver's license with her face covered, this prompted the following editorial to be written by an Australian citizen and published in an Australian newspaper.

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 of Australia being a multicultural community has served only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. 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.

We speak ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society, Learn the language!

'In God We Trust' is our National Motto. This is not some Christian, right wing, political slogan. We adopted this motto because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture

If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like 'A Fair Go', then you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet.

We are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't care how you did things where you came from.

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 National Motto, 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 move on! We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted. Pretty easy really, when you think about it".

Food for thought really.

While some parts do sound harsh, I couldn't have said it better myself. Often a lively debate in Dubai, we're astonished every time we go home and find our way of life as we know it has changed a little more for the worse and that liberties are being taken that certainly wouldn't fly in many other countries around the world. Many have sacrificed their lives and their freedom to give us the lifestyle, country and personal freedoms that we have today and we don't take it for granted. Had our men and women not fought so hard in the last world war, we'd have been taken over by approaching forces and would certainly not be the nation we are today.

Australia is a great land and being granted permission to live there should be something to cherish, not abuse. I live in a Muslim country and as a Catholic, I accept that. I don't wear tarty clothes, whinge that there isn't a church near me, cry that nativity scenes aren't allowed in the school here and I accept that I must have a license to purchase alcohol. Well, I might whinge about the last one because it's a bloody inconvenience! I don't boycott national days, question why the national flag is flown, request that the mosque loudspeakers be turned off because they offend me or don't fit in with my own personal religious beliefs and practices and while I HATE working on holidays that mean something to ME, it's something I must deal with because I don't live in my own country.

I'll take this moment to thank the roster gods for allowing me to have Christmas Day and Boxing Day off this year.

Being a multicultural land, we must expect to encounter some differences, but the way some people carry on like pork chops is rather frustrating.