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Multicultural ambition comes up against realrty ,dp
Chris Bowen stigmatises legitimate debate about multiculturalism by labelling dissent "fashionable" ("What makes multiculturalism great is mutual respect", February 17). It is a facile evasion for him to argue that the Australian model is different to the European experience. On the contrary, nearly all criticism relates to the tension behveen values in multicultural to impose their own restrictive and alien standards on the society

Fate of our state
1O will host a leaders' debate between Kristina Keneally and Barry O'Farrell at noon next Thursday. Readers are invited to submit questions on topics relevant to the state election. See smhrom.au for full details and conditions. Email questions, including your namq full home address and contact details, to nswclectlon@smhcom.au

buried that is,

The Herald and Channel

Mor to sl
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TonyA in the

that has taken them in. The recent Melbourne terrorism trials show the reality ofthis threat. A misplaced sense of political correctness combined with a policy of turning a blind eye to these cultural challenges, and a bleating ofthe inaccurate charge of "racist" at anyone who dares to raise their concern, does little to

the mir to stop

work, when our day-to-day people were caused by weakness, encounters with some immigrants not a lack of compassion. confirm the lie of the multiculturMitchell Beston Woy Woy al utopia.

g

profits mining
Shame

Austral David Brooks Castle Hill
So Scott Morrison thinla his "timing was insensitive", and TonyAbbott

share ir

communities.
Bowen might argue that migrants come precisely because of the values and freedoms we enjoy. This is a bold claim, because it tells only half the story.
We are not talking about political

promote cohesion. Multiculturalism serves us well as long as those who seek to join our society wish to contribute to it, as so many have done, and not undermine its fundamentals. Stephen Dixon Engadine
The evolution of the theologyof multiculturalism in Australia has

refugees inthis debate; most migrants seek greater prosperity. But it does not follow that most migrants accept that the cultural values oftheir hosts should prevail. Nor does Bowen appear to believe theyshould. By identifying only the rule of law and individual freedom as inviolate "values", he fails to consider the degree to which the denial of other values ofthe

dream of multiculturalism alive and well, Chris Bowen needs to transport grieving relatives from Christmas Island to Sydney for much less than $14,285 a person. Australians aren't hard hearted, we just hate governments who waste precious resources. Steve Atkins Darlington
To keep the

supports him ("Morrison sees votes in anti-Muslim strategy", February 17)? How long after a funeral do they think it is OK to express crass and inhumane opinions? Suzan Burton Rhodes
The culture ofthe political apology is intellectuallybankrupt. We are now expected to believe that since Scott Morrison apologised, he actuallymeans it. His apologywas a

proflts doubt t

and in'r efforts

Whattl mining all thei

hold Bl

profits

meant an unquestioning acceptance that it is an inherently virtuous philosophy. To the disbelievers amongus this has always been patently absurd. The success of the immigration program has been built upon the willingness of the vast bulk of

Refugee policyis

than gi govern

their funeral
There has been plenty of criticism in the letters page about Tony Abbott and Scott Morrison being too concerned about costs and not

parent culture undermines social cohesion. Despite his obvious goodwill, Bowen is not doing justice to real concerns and reservations about the viability of "multiculturalism". Vickl Sanderson Cremorne
What troubles me with any evalu-

immigrants to integrate - more specifically, to get ajob and obey the law. No amount of governmentsubsidised, self-fl agellating propaganda about the racist nature of Australians can change the reality

that multiculturalism does not

about people. But ifthe Labor Party had not dismantled the Coalition's successfirl border policies, there wou.ld be no need to payfor relatives to attend funeral services for asylum seekers who drown at sea, and young Sinan might still have afamily. The deaths of these

simple political reflex found in the Politics 101 manual - dog-whistle to raise an offensive issue that you thinkyou can wedge the opposition with, then look statesmanlike, contrite and thoughtftrl as you deliver your meaningless apology. The bile is rising.

onmol

trips fo

hospiti

unwan David
A supe: succesl

impost

Anthony lnatey Bathurst
Of course families should attend funerals of loved ones. Butwhy bringvictims of people smugglers to Sydney? They should have been

could e Coaliti, compa arounc govern

whowi

ation of multiculturalism is the failure of government and sections of the mediato acknowledge an unwelcome aspect that has crept into our immigration debate, which I would label "rejectionism". For many years migrants, whether from Europe, Hong Kong or Indochina, brought culturally enriching elements that they continued to pursue, while acknowledging the overarching concept of an Australian lifestyle, difficult though that may be to define. Recently it has become frustratingly common to see outpourings of a rejection ofAustralian cultural norms by those who wish

Terrorism foe's target is Israel's critics
Don't be fooled by the Israeli activist lawyer Nitsana DarshanLeitner ("Hitting terrorist organisations in the wallet", February 17). Her real agenda is not fighting terrorism, but silencing critics of Israel. TWo weeks ago her Israel Law Centre instigated a lawsuit against the former US president Jimmy Carter over his book Palestine: Peace, Not Apartheid. hatred oflsrael has led him to commit this fraud on the pubIic". They allege Carter's work is

for the just tak own ba resour(

For a sr

they ca

fiction and has no place in "works ofhistory". They are suing Carter and his publisher, Simon & Schuster, for $5 million for consumer fraud. Adam Rothberg of Simon & Schuster says the lawsuit is an attempt to "punish the author, a Nobel Peace prize winner and world renowned statesmen and his publisher, forwriting and publishing a book with which the plaintiffs simply disagree".

The killing of 30Israelis in eight years from mortars and projectiles fired from Gaza is an act of terrorism, as the UN's Gold-

reliant

theywi

stone report rightly identifies. But if Ms Darshan-Leitner wants to be even-handed in her fight against terrorism, she needs to look at her own government's

ing, dic

Your ec

"Ruddbacked

Accordingto the five individuals named in the complaint,

Carter's book is "demonstrably false and misleading" and "his

program of state-sanctioned violence through the 43-year occupation of Palestine, continued settlement expansion and the killing of 1400 people two years ago in Gaza.

("Mine ruary I itwas

down tl scalp h

t.

backed

Stewart Mills Balmain

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Fate of our

stat*,

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The Herald'and Channel lO will host a

buried on Christmas Island and that is why_people are complaining. Beverley Howelis St lve"s

conditions Ernailquestions, including yt1ry-,, narne, f ul I hsme addres: aod contact

9n topics relevant to the state election. See smh.conr.au for- fuildetails and

and Barry O,Farrell at noon next fnursOali. Readers are invited to subrnit questioni-''

leaders' debate between Kristina Keneallv

More than one way to share profits
Lam sure all those who supported

day-to-day,_people were caused byweakness, 1o_r!, ncounters with some immigrants irot - * " i- tack of compassion. *u. ot tte murticrirtuirii,t""i;ri woy
w.hen oH

ixfl.fiJ" o il;i;;

woy

Dayid Brooks Casfle Hill keep the dream of multiculturlism alive and well, Chris Bowen eeds to tr_ansport grieving relate,s trom Christmas Island to rdney for much less than gt4,2g5 person. Australians aren t hard )arted, we just hate governments no waste precious resources. Steve Atkins Darlington

Morrison thinlcs his ,,timing was insensitive", and TonvAbbott " supports him (,,Morrison-sees votes in anti-Muslim strategy,,, February l7)? How long afte1 a funeral do tney.think it is OK to express crass and rnhumane opinions? Suzan Burton Rhodes
So Scott

rbnyAbbott) must nowbe b"asking in the glor,v of the historicallyhigh' profits ("Record proft sparki neiv mrrung tax call'i February l7). Shame that neither thev, nor the Australian people at larle, will sna.re rn tie proceeds. With these prolits flowing mainly overseas, no doubt the offshore headquarters an_o rnvestors will appreciate the efiorts made on their behalf_ Tom Cooke Woolooware

.gmpanies, cairipaign }:pill"g mining tax (alondwiih to stop.the

'efugee ere has been

policyis

reir funeral plenty of criticism ne letters page about Tonv bott and Sc-ottMorrison biling r concemed about costs and iot tut people. But ifthe Labor party I not dismantled the Coalitions" :cessfu_l border policies, there ul-d then look statesm-anlike, contrite and thoughtful as you oerver your meaningless apology. The bile is rising.

y.9u lftnkwith, can wedge tron

now expected to believe that since S.cott Morrison apotogisea,he aitu_ auy means it. His apology was a srmpte political reflex found in the Politics lOt Tanual - dog_whistle torarse an oltbnsive issue that you rhe oppoii_

apology I::g]t r. of the p-oliticalWil ls rntellectually bankrupt. are"'

What those baying for a tax on mrning profits dont realise is that all their superannuation fu nds hold. BHp_shares. Keeping the profits in BHp makes^more sense than giving them in taxes to government to be frittered away on more bureaucracy, overseas tnps lor ministers, triple Iayers of hospital administration and more unwanted school halls. David Griffit'hs North Turramurra imposed byLabor on our highly successful mining companiEs ' could easily be repealed when the Coalition next takes office, but companies like BHp will be around a lot longer than any government. Whingeing soiialists wno want to ',spread the wealth tor the good ofAustra.lia', should just take a personal stake in BHp For a small online brokerage fee, theycaninvest directly froilr their own bank account and reap the resource-boom benefits as self_ reliant shareholders. Oh, wait _ they yp.te{ somethin g for nothA super-profits or rent tax

be no needio payfor ruves to attend funeral services

Anthony lnatey Bathurst
Of course families should attend tunerals of loved ones. Butwhy lrps,vrctigg of people smuggiers to Sydney? They should have-Leen

l
S

asylum seekers who drown at , and young Sinan misht still e a family. The deaths-of these

h f( q

rarget is Israel's critics red oflsrael has Ied him to nmit this fraud on the pub_ They allege Carter,s wirk is ion aad has no place in rrks of history',.thev are rg Car:ter and his publisher, on & Schuster, foi g5 million

;onsumerfraud. CamRothbergof Simon & rster says the lawsuit is an mpt to "punish the author, a el Peace prize winner and d renowned statesmen and rublisher, for writine and ishing a book with;,hich rlaintiffs simply disagree,,.

program of state-sanctioned violence through the 43_year occupation of palestine, tontin_ ued settlement expansion and the kiiling of I400 people two years ago in Gaza. Stewart Mills Balmain

stone report rightly identifies. But if Ms Darshan-Leitner wants to be even-handed in her Irght against terrorism, she needs to look at her own government,s

The hlling of 30 Israelis in eight years from mortars and proje-ctiles fired from Gaza is an act of terrorism, as the UN,s Gold-

rng, dldn't they? Greg Cantori Sutherland

.

Your editorial_is wrong to say the "Rudd- Gillard governirent,"

clown the miners while in office _" it w3s !h9 Gillard government that Dac-ked down. This is why Rudd's scalp hangs on Julia Giildrd,s wall. Ross Santangelo Concord

ruary l7). Kevin Rudd was starins

9t*.a down o-n the miningtax ("Miners must

share spoilsY,, Feb_

I

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