Multiculturism

[sssaau4]

What is it?

Say I come here and i am asian.

I can speak my language at home to my family, I can cook the food i like at home (or anywhere) I can do my rituals to my gods, no one will care.

So what is that multiculturalism all about?

it seems like empth words to me.

i don't understand.

i come from a different culture, english is my 2nd language.

i cook my countries food at home and hubby puts up with it or i cook him something else if it's too much of an aquired taste.

i speak english (foreign) to other people in the shops because no-one would understand a word if i spoke in my native tongue.

so what exactly is multiculturalism?

is it some ideal where i could talk in my native tongue here and expevt other people to understand me?

is it the freedom to cook my "foreign" meals as i please?

can someone please enlighten me what it actually means?

[k0llectable5]

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@boris1gary wrote:

secondhandwonderland, I'm confused, I thought you didn't agree with the bit in bold? 

Have a read of that article.  I think it outlines Australian culture pretty well.

As well as the mindset that the people will be given a "fair go," (ie: a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for those in need),  respect for the rights of the individual, allowing people to adhere to their own cultural and religious customs, freedom of speech and association, freedom of religion and a secular government, equality for men and women, equality of oppertunity, peacefullness, women usually greet close family and friends with a "kiss on the cheek" while most men will greet other men with a handshake, whereas it's totally acceptable for couples to hold hands, cuddle or even kiss in public. A vibrant arts, sporting and musical scene.... do I need to go on?   

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Wether I agree or not is irrelevent. you asked for a list of Australian cultural values, and so that is what I provided and believe to be the essence of Australian culture.  

I may believe in Australian culture, dont mean I agree with all that it entails 🙂

[cherry*135]

I'm off out now, to the Wednesday market..hmm what shall I choose for a late lunch.. Vietnamese, Persian, Chinese ..hard decision.

[k0llectable5]

Have vietnamese, pho.  Rice noodle soup with beef and meatballs mmm.

[lyndal1838]

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@am*3 wrote:

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@lyndal1838 wrote:

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@am*3 wrote:

siggie.. the op uses different ID's . I do know what I claimed is accurate.

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You are right am*3...and she can be controversial on all of her IDs.

A lot of posts on this thread have gone missing since last night,

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I didn't notice that. Controversial, yes. I like this thread topic though as it is not aimed at any one race or religion.. just Multiculturalism as the topic.

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Have you read the OP's opinion of Australia and Australians on the Burqa thread?  Controversial is an understatement and it makes me look at this thread in a different light.

[the_great_she_elephant]

Some people rattle on about ":Aussie culture" as if it was something sacred and set in stone. It is not, culture is a living thing and it changes with time. - often for the better. When I first came to Australia in the 60s Aussie culture dictated that women should not be seen in public bars  - and any woman brave or foolish enough to enter one  would be told the rules in no uncertain terms. We were graciously permitted in lounge bar or beer gardens.

[k0llectable5]

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@the_great_she_elephant wrote:

Some people rattle on about ":Aussie culture" as if it was something sacred and set in stone. It is not, culture is a living thing and it changes with time. - often for the better. When I first came to Australia in the 60s Aussie culture dictated that women should not be seen in public bars  - and any woman brave or foolish enough to enter one  would be told the rules in no uncertain terms. We were graciously permitted in lounge bar or beer gardens.

 ____________________________________________________________________________________________________

I totally agree She ele.  You only need to look at this countries short history to know that it has changed for the better in alot of ways...  

My debate with am3 though is more about whether it actually exists or not (Aussie culture I mean)

I think really what am3 is trying to say is that multiculuralism has been a massive part of Australia from the very inception of this country.  So why would peeps have a problem with it now, when the whole country is built on it.  

All I can say is that those early settlers/immigrants were very different to the immigrants that we are seeing today.  And their reasons for coming here are very different too...

[chapmmarga]

Yes Boris, I travel overseas frequently and am fluent in several languages.I also hold 2 degrees and do not consider myself to be an imbicile. If I am travelling to a country whose first language is not English, I attempt to learn the basics of their native tongue so I can hold a very basic conversation with them. It is common courtesy, that is all, at least I make an effort,unlike some..

My therapist says I am fine by the way..lol, no paranoia here

[chapmmarga]

So that no one else could understand what she was saying. This I know after being told by someone I asked why they did this.(a friend, who also did not like this happening).

[chapmmarga]

Yes, I do travel to non English speaking places and make a concerted effort to at least know enough of the countries language to ask for things needed. I asked a friend of mine whose relatives emigrated here in the 1970's why people talk in their own language in public. Her response was interesting.

I was told there are several reasons other ethnic groups do this.

1)  They are insulting you and can not be charged or seen as being labelled as racists as it is said in their native tongue,not English.

2) They know it annoys most of the English speaking population.

3) To press a point, eg '" I am insulting you and you are too dumb to understand what I am saying "'

Oh, my therapist says I am fine, no paranoid tendencies here...yet..lol

[***super_nova***]

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@secondhand-wonderland wrote:

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@boris1gary wrote:

secondhandwonderland wrote: So you dont believe that there is such a thing as Australian culture?

Please tell me what this is? I hear about it a lot  - what is it - can you define it - maybe list what it is?

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http://www.canberra.edu.au/seasu/intl-student-support/living-in-act/living-in-aust/australian-cultur...

Have a read of that article.  I think it outlines Australian culture pretty well.

As well as the mindset that the people will be given a "fair go," (ie: a spirit of egalitarianism that embraces tolerance, mutual respect, and compassion for those in need),  respect for the rights of the individual, allowing people to adhere to their own cultural and religious customs, freedom of speech and association, freedom of religion and a secular government, equality for men and women, equality of oppertunity, peacefullness, women usually greet close family and friends with a "kiss on the cheek" while most men will greet other men with a handshake, whereas it's totally acceptable for couples to hold hands, cuddle or even kiss in public. A vibrant arts, sporting and musical scene.... do I need to go on?   

I know some of the points I mentioned are in fact social customs, but imo it's all a part of Australias amazing culture.

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But what of the above is strictly Australian?  What i mean is something that does not exist anywhere else, did not exist before we did it?  You know like  like Kangaroos and koalas.  The thing is Australian culture is a mixture of lots of cultures; the culture that has been here thousands of years and those that arrived more recently.  It is the influence of all of these cultures that make for the vibrant society we have now, and the new cultures arriving now will just enrich us, if we let them.  But of-course, we kicked and screamed everytime a new culture was being introduced.  You know it is not all that long ago that everything shut at midday Saturday, you could not have sidewalk cafe and all what you could get was white TIP TOP bread.