Brian Ross wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 12:25pm:

Islam is also a political ideology, you pedantic fool.


Brian Ross wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 12:25pm:


What is a religion without its practitioners, Brain?

Explain.

double plus good wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 12:27pm:


It’s a fear of difference, Homo. You’ve said yourself you have no fears of Muslim attacks in Western Sydney. You’ve also said you’ve met a lot of nice Muslims - loyal friends, hospitable people, good neighbours.

Your fear is one of lonliness. You’re frightened of being excluded as an outsider in your own country. You see immigrants everywhere and you see them forming their own tribes rather than joining your tribe. You worry that one day, you won’t fit in.

It’s a reasonable fear. Sydney has changed completely from the city I grew up in. It’s not just about race, but technology. When I grew up we joined tribes too, but these tribes were formed along suburban lines. In the western suburbs, we were "westies". On the northern beaches there were a lot of mods and skinheads. The eastern suburbs had a posh, boat shoe/Lacoste look. The inner city had punks and trendoids.

Now, the tribes are globalized. Kids get their youth culture from the internet. You see the same Emos in Sydney that you do in Jakarta and Seoul. Garage punks have similar fashion and musical influences in Sydney and Beijing.

There are also racial groupings. Islander kids.and Aboriginals like black American soul and hip hop. There are religious ones - the Hillsong church, with its Christian music company, is now on every continent. Jihadist groups attract Sunni Arabs and Afghanis.

I can see why you fear these changes, but they’re part of Australian.history from transportation to today. We’re an immigrant nation, and we will always change from one generation to the next. There’s two ways you can go: get with the program or exclude yourself. Embrace change or fight it.

Live in hope - or fear. It’s your choice. The loneliness you fear is of your own creation.

True, Sydney was more connected back then, but it was a much smaller city. The racial and religious divides you mention are in your head. How many Indians do I know who hang out with Muslims? Four - one Hindu and one Christian married to Muslim partners.

These divides are illusiory because we all speak the same language. Go to a place like India and 20 .ks down the road, they speak another language. On my street there is no ethnic majority. We are able to.communicate to each other and get along. There is no reason why Hindus and Muslims and Christians and atheists should not get along. Over 50% of Australians have at least one parent born overseas.

The divisions are in your own head, homo. Living in civilisation is about accepting others who think.different things to you. This is especially the project of settler societies made up of people who initially migrated to escape war and religious persecution.. We had the Irish. The US had European protestants. These were followed by successive waves of different ethnic groups in.both countries.

It’s good to see you own your alienation, Homo. I doubt you’ll ever change. But at least you understand that the problem lies with you. Personally, I think your racial issues are a symptom of economic fracturing and social alienation. Your racism is a symptom of shifts in.the nature of class in Australia, particularly the old proletarian class who’s jobs have been.exported to China. For you, immigration is just tthe most visible part of this economic shift.

But you miss the big picture.

double plus good wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 4:11pm:


Of course it had to happen. It has always happened. The Celts were overrun by the Romans, then Angles and Saxons. Your own Anglo-Celtic ancestry is a blend of cultures and races, as is Europe. The very history of Europe is about the shifting and blending of kingdoms, nations, cultures and races.

It had to happen in Australia. The only country to have attempted racial policies in recent times - South Africa - became an international pariah. Any party that tried to do the same would have been unelectable in Australia.

Your view, as you’ve explained, is that you get along with Muslims. Instead of following your own experience, you’re following the views of others.

I just wonder how many of those other people you’ve mentioned are doing the same.

double plus good wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 4:35pm:


So you’re saying we’re heading towards a civil war?

... dear o dear o dear ...

Brian Ross wrote on Jul 5^th, 2015 at 12:43pm:

By that definition every practicing Muslim is an Islamist because they all have Islam as their guide to life and politics.


Which is my point.