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September 1, 2006
Australia: John Howard Stands by his "Muslims Must Integrate" Comment
First, here is the story; my comments below: Howard stands by Muslim integration
JOHN Howard says he has no need to apologise for telling Muslims they need to embrace Australian values.Mr Howard sparked controversy yesterday after singling out Muslim migrants for refusing to embrace Australian values and urged them to fully integrate by treating women as equals and learning to speak English.
The call for a shift in attitude among some Muslims infuriated community leaders and comes as The Australian revealed the Prime Minister's own Islamic advisers have already accused Mr Howard and senior ministers of fuelling hatred and mistrust by using "inflammatory and derogatory" language.
But Mr Howard today stood by his comments. "I don't apologise," he told reporters. "I think they are missing the point and the point is that I don't care and the Australian people don't care where people come from.
"There's a small section of the Islamic population which is unwilling to integrate and I have said generally all migrants ... they have to integrate."[...]
Three things:
1. I disagree with Mr. Howard on the issue of all immigrants needing to learn the English language. As Ms. Iktimal Hage-Ali, a member of Mr. Howard's advisory team turned critic points out: "There's a whole lot of other ethnic communities whose parents, whose grandparents don't speak the English language, and it's never a problem in the mainstream Australian community for them to go on living their everyday life without speaking the language."
This is absolutely, undeniably correct. Learning a new language as an adult is an incredibly laborious process involving enormous costs which may not be worth the trouble for most recent immigrants needing to provide for their families. (Even if the English classes are "free" they involve opportunity costs; the immigrants could be working extra hours or taking care of their children instead.) The problem with the Muslims who won't integrate is Islamic history and theology. This issue, sooner or later, will need to be addressed.
2. What's the deal with "moderate Muslim advisors" all over the Western World turning into fierce critics the moment the person being advised disagrees with them? Could it be the "moderates" are not so moderate after all?
3. I was specially disturbed by this paragraph later in the piece: "Under the $35 million strategy, the Government has agreed to a series of programs ranging from a university for imams to issuing police with a detailed booklet explaining Islam." I'm willing to bet the rent money both initiatives will fail. These are the kind of things Governments never do well. Although I look forward to examining the booklet the suffering Australian policeman will receive--it surely will be a masterpiece in the art of doublespeak.
Posted by Ruy Diaz at September 1, 2006 1:42 PM
Comments
I disagee on the need to learn the language of the country you are living in. I have learned three foreign languages as an adult, and it is not that difficult to pick up the rudiments -- particularly with free adult education. Language not only gives you access to your neighbors, but it provides vast insights into the culture and values of the society you are living in. It also helps promote your econcomic and social equality vis-a-vis the natives. -- An American minority living in Los Angeles
Don't underestimate the value of larning the country's language.
Posted by: Chris ![[TypeKey Profile Page]](http://www.westernresistance.com/nav-commenters.gif)
at September 1, 2006 9:01 PM
On the TV news yesterday they aired the comments of a female spokesperson from the government's
Muslim advisory committee and in one breath she
said that "stupid comments like this from politicians dont help the situation" and in the very next breath she stated that they have been trying to tell the govt. that "some muslims move
into extremism because they feel excluded from
the wider Australian community"!!!!!
This is precisely what the P.M.'s comments are
getting at, learn English and assimilate and they will be more accepted.
Muslims cannott have it both ways, on one hand insisting that there be special provisions made
to differentiate them from the unclean infidel, and then on the other hand complain because they
are being excluded from the mainstream!
Regarding learning English, I fully agree with the comments by Chris. There is also another very
important reason why Muslims in particular should
be made to use the English language, and that is the simple fact that the clerics of any other
religious/ethnic group have never had to have their teachings and sermons monitored for preaching violent jihad, that being a uniquely
Muslim problem!
Posted by: jtex at September 1, 2006 10:57 PM
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