Following on Joe King's post about rag-heads threatening to set forests ablaze in Australia, a friend forwarded this old email to me that has been doing the rounds for awhile. I'm not sure whether the remarks can be attributed to Kevin Rudd, the current PM of Australia since he is mostly left-wing/ liberal and it sounds like something the former conservative PM John Howard would say but in any event, whoever composed it has it spot on.
This advice, if we can call it that, would apply to any Western nation. It's funny how Western nations are expected to adapt to conform to migrants' wishes yet in places like Saudi Arabia or Pakistan, there is no discussion whether you or the country conforms - you do or else.
Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia , as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head off potential terror attacks.
Separately, Rudd angered some Australian Muslims on Wednesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques. 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. '
'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 mainly 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!'
'Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, 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.'
'We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.'
'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 Christian beliefs, 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 LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted.'
Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, WE will find the courage to start speaking and voicing the same truths.
Thursday, February 12, 2009
Love it or Leave It
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5 Opinion(s):
This is not Rudd speak. I think it was John howard about 2 years ago.
Yup, it was John Howard in a 2007 speech. I agree with every word, and more governments should adopt his approach.
I somehow also thought I had heard it from John Howard, is that why he never got re-elected?
It's a myth, sorry folks: no Aussie (or other) prime minister would commit liberal political correctness suicide by airing such a view (at least not publicly)
Snopes has it: http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp
While I agree with the general sentiment (as I am sure many others do!), I'm sorry, but it can't be attributed to a specific Aussie PM. If anything, it's a combination or distillation - if you will - of sentiments expressed in interviews, press conferences and discussions.
That being said: it should NOT detract from the general sentiment that if you don't like OUR country because the laws and customs aren't like the ones you left behind in YOUR country, then kindly fuck off back to where they are, and ask yourself why you came here in the first place!
I have to agree with you anon 12:23. It's probably something PMs would love to say but it would be political suicide, especially in a peecee society like Aus. Nonetheless, that doesn't stop the rest of us from saying it because it does hold truisms - if you come to our country (any country for that matter), YOU blend in, YOU adapt, YOU assimilate, YOU put up with the culture - not the other way round otherwise as the bumper sticker says: Love it or Leave it.
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