Craig Hill
KC Hill
Paladin
Oracle of DelphiIntegration - it's a no brainer
September 12th 2006 00:39
The debate on whether or not people immigrating to Australia should integrate is an interesting one, but we need to ask ourselves what we mean by integration.
There's no doubt that Australia benefs from the millions of immigrants who have come from countries around the world. A person's world view is heavily influenced by the country in which he or she is born and raised and when people from other countries come to Australia they contribute to the depth of culture and maturity in this country.
Certain thing about Australia are open to change and ought to grow and develop as new influences come to our country. In a liberal democracy people are free to practise or not practise their religion of choice. They are free to debate, protest, learn, study and express themselves. What they are not free to do is obey a law other then the law of the land.
People come to Western countries such as Australia for a very good reason. They seek the stability and prosperity associated with a liberal democracy in which the rule of law is paramount, in which men and women are treated equally and contracts between strangers are honoured.
Kim Beasley suggests that Australian visas should contain a statement of values which people should agree to abide by when entering the country.
Better than that I suggest that people wishing to immigrate sign a declaration that they regard the laws of Australia as paramount and that they agree to obey those laws before that obey any other body of law. It is this undertaking which lies at the heart of a stable society and it is not too much to ask that all members of society agree to it.
If these aspects of our culture are open to change and compromise not only will Australians lose the way of life they value, potential immigrants looking for a better way of life will have one less country in which they can find refuge.
If integration means knowing and agreeing to obey the laws of Australia before all other laws, I'm all for it.
There's no doubt that Australia benefs from the millions of immigrants who have come from countries around the world. A person's world view is heavily influenced by the country in which he or she is born and raised and when people from other countries come to Australia they contribute to the depth of culture and maturity in this country.
Certain thing about Australia are open to change and ought to grow and develop as new influences come to our country. In a liberal democracy people are free to practise or not practise their religion of choice. They are free to debate, protest, learn, study and express themselves. What they are not free to do is obey a law other then the law of the land.
People come to Western countries such as Australia for a very good reason. They seek the stability and prosperity associated with a liberal democracy in which the rule of law is paramount, in which men and women are treated equally and contracts between strangers are honoured.
Kim Beasley suggests that Australian visas should contain a statement of values which people should agree to abide by when entering the country.
Better than that I suggest that people wishing to immigrate sign a declaration that they regard the laws of Australia as paramount and that they agree to obey those laws before that obey any other body of law. It is this undertaking which lies at the heart of a stable society and it is not too much to ask that all members of society agree to it.
If these aspects of our culture are open to change and compromise not only will Australians lose the way of life they value, potential immigrants looking for a better way of life will have one less country in which they can find refuge.
If integration means knowing and agreeing to obey the laws of Australia before all other laws, I'm all for it.
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Comment by Ahmed
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Whats hapepning is these politicians and journalists are looking for quick boosts in their popularity by attacking people who don't even exist.
All they do is create resentment and nothing else.
People who immigrate and become austrlaian citizens take that oath, and follow it for the most part. I think its john howard and his goons who are not following that oath with their acquisations and such.
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Comment by Ahmed
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Comment by Helen's House
Australian law is too soft and needs to develop some teeth.
This is a personal opinion only, not representative of anyone but myself.
Comment by Ahmed
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Sure, they might dress the same way they used to, they might eat the same food they used but damned if that isn't their freedom of choice.
However they obey the laws we obey. If we are going to start going over the top by acting all bad ass it's just going to create resentment with the internation community. Do we really wan't to greet new immigrants with accusations that they are not going to integrate and are going to be sent back?
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Comment by Helen's House
Australia wants and welcomes migrants who can assimmilate and accept Australian laws, and that those who
cannot should return home. There is a lot more at stake here as some totally unacceptable practices
are arriving. I think we have to stand very firmly about what is not acceptable.
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Comment by Ahmed
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It's all in your head, no need to get all worked up over nothing, for once people should stop being so easily jerked emotionally by the media and politicians.
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