Australia ex-PM Howard attacks 'multiculturalism'

[Heracles 417]

No, you are wrong because you have a very narrow minded view of what 'assimilated' American culture consists of. You find the speaking of other languages threatening, when the reality is that this is part and parcel of what it is to be American, and always has been. Are you going to tell Native Americans that they must always speak English now and let their native languages die out completely?

The native Americans lost the country, so bringing them up is ridiculous.

This the United States of America now, therefore, it no longer belongs to the Chipawhatever tribe.

Edited October 11, 2010 by Heracles

[VanessaTony 3,567]

Oh woe is you - people must always speak English to suit you.

Where the predominant language is english, of course. Surely you aren't so obtuse to think moving to an english-speaking country means NOT speaking english...

[VanessaTony 3,567]

No, you are wrong because you have a very narrow minded view of what 'assimilated' American culture consists of. You find the speaking of other languages threatening, when the reality is that this is part and parcel of what it is to be American, and always has been. Are you going to tell Native Americans that they must always speak English now and let their native languages die out completely?

No-one said that, get off the soapbox.

Don't care what people do at home. Who they worship, what language they speak. But we shouldn't have to speak 50 different languages just to live in ONE country.

[Peikko 1,575]

The native Americans lost the country, so bringing them up is ridiculous.

This the United States of America now, therefore, it no longer belongs to the Chipawhatever tribe.

You are wrong, parts of the US belong to individual Native American tribes, why do you suppose there are 'Indian Casinos' BY? More than that, are you saying that Native Americans are superfluous? I imagine you believe the same is true of the Aborigine too, bring them into the 21st century, tell them their culture is lame and antiquated and they must 'learn' to be modern Americans/Australians, is that it?

[Heracles 417]

Agreed. I would never do this. It's incredibly rude and yet "the norm" in the US and Australia in some parts as well. I am quite proud that Australia has an english component to it's immigration process (and non-immigration too). Also that there are english-speaking requirements to get citizenship. The reason WE can do this is because Australia's actually come out and declared its national language as English. America has not and the way it's progressing it will be spanish and english as the national languages.

Every single important document in the US's history was written in English, so I think it's safe to say it's the intended default language. Not to mention, the colonies that broke away from the UK were all British colonies anyway.

I think by the time Australia came around, they realized you have to put more things in writing than simply assume it's the norm or going to remain the norm; basically they smartened up. There is clearly a lot of things that was not legislated by the United States founding fathers because at the time, it was simply not even a thought, let alone an issue. For example, being able to protest at soldiers funerals stating God killed them because they are F-gs, then claiming it's their right.

[Ban Hammer 13,508]

Everybody brace yourself, following her absence, Cleo is about to go on her latest Kumbaya crusade.

[Peikko 1,575]

No-one said that, get off the soapbox.

Don't care what people do at home. Who they worship, what language they speak. But we shouldn't have to speak 50 different languages just to live in ONE country.

You do not have to speak anything but English to live in the US and to suggest you need to is infantile but yes in certain areas you limit your job opportunities by only speaking one language and so what? Speaking other languages is part of being American, despite what the white english speaker sometimes believes and that is as it should be because of the diversity of immigration that led to the creation of the US.

Another pithy comment. By rights I should report the pair of you for insulting and baiting.

[Heracles 417]

You are wrong, parts of the US belong to individual Native American tribes, why do you suppose there are 'Indian Casinos' BY? More than that, are you saying that Native Americans are superfluous? I imagine you believe the same is true of the Aborigine too, bring them into the 21st century, tell them their culture is lame and antiquated and they must 'learn' to be modern Americans/Australians, is that it?

They're a totally different kettle of fish, so you are using them as a red herding.

We are all talking about modern day migrants that are moving to western countries [by choice], yet do not care to respect the country's culture, let alone want to assimilate.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

It always was Spanish and English. You do know that the Spanish were in the Americas before the USA existed, right?

[Peikko 1,575]

They're a totally different kettle of fish, so you are using them as a red herding.

We are all talking about modern day migrants that are moving to western countries [by choice], yet do not care to respect the country's culture, let alone want to assimilate.

No BY, it is not a red herring. Native Americans are the only indigenous culture in America and their culture should be respected. American culture is a mish mash of historically European cultural traits and more recently more diverse populations. To imagine the US as 'English' only is to misunderstand its history quite spectacularly.

[Heracles 417]

It always was Spanish and English. You do know that the Spanish were in the Americas before the USA existed, right?

Were but lost the territory. That's how the cookie crumbles.

Nevertheless, another red herring argument. So because the Spanish were once here hundreds of years ago, illegal aliens who are not here legally yet want to stay here, should not bother learning English right? Same goes with the recent Tsunami of Islamic migrants to European nations or Australia, they should just be able to migrate, set up shop, and not make the slightest effort to assimilate right? Almost to the point that the locals are sneered at by them. Sure as hell can make the effort to collect the dole payments, but just not for anything else.

[Heracles 417]

No BY, it is not a red herring. Native Americans are the only indigenous culture in America and their culture should be respected. American culture is a mish mash of historically European cultural traits and more recently more diverse populations. To imagine the US as 'English' only is to misunderstand its history quite spectacularly.

Native Americans lost the land, to your mother country actually and it has now become the United States. What part of that do you fail to grasp?

Same way the Australian Aborigines lost their land to your mother country too.

AA were slaves carried and traded by Brits.. Hmm..

Hmm, sounds like someone is suffering from a case of white guilt syndrome again.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

Were but lost the territory. That's how the cookie crumbles.

Nevertheless, another red herring argument. So because the Spanish were once here hundreds of years ago, illegal aliens who are not here legally yet want to stay here, should not bother learning English right? Same goes with the recent Tsunami of Islamic migrants to European nations or Australia, they should just be able to migrate, set up shop, and not make the slightest effort to assimilate right? Almost to the point that the locals are sneered at by them. Sure as hell can make the effort to collect the dole payments, but just not for anything else.

I'm not talking about illegal immigration, the point is simply that culture is organic and ever changing, as is language. It always has been. There is no clearly identifiable, pure culture anywhere - in any country. The assumption that there is comes from dubious nationalism.

Wars, movements of population and immigration affect cultural development. You can't stop that any more than you can stop the sun from shining.

[Obama 2012 1,714]

Native Americans lost the land, to your mother country actually and it has now become the United States. What part of that do you fail to grasp?

Same way the Australian Aborigines lost their land to your mother country too.

AA were slaves carried and traded by Brits.. Hmm..

Hmm, sounds like someone is suffering from a case of white guilt syndrome again.

that and bloody ignorance.

The moment that the United States delcared its independence and fought for its manifest destiny, is the moment we created our own culture. Oh god forbid that it's a prodominently 'white' culture and that's where people seem to have a problem. Because anything that whitey does culture wise is just racist, bigoted, and against anything and everything right.....

Please. It's time people realize that if you don't keep an established cultural boundary, then you're going to lose your nation. No rule of law will save you from that without that boundary. It's why you need to speak Englsih to become a US Citizen. Of course people seem to forget this little tid-bit.

[Trumplestiltskin 5,791]

No BY, it is not a red herring. Native Americans are the only indigenous culture in America and their culture should be respected. American culture is a mish mash of historically European cultural traits and more recently more diverse populations. To imagine the US as 'English' only is to misunderstand its history quite spectacularly.

I think native American culture, such as it is, will die out within a few generations.