gary
1st September 2006, 05:17 PM
Found this
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.
A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to
Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister
John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would
face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to
Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country
if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were
made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country
which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for
you," he said on national television.
"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws
governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another
the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law,
independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have
the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps,
then, that's a better option," Costello said.
Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he
said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to
the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters
that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off.
Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't
want! to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can
basically clear off," he said.
Separately, Howard 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."
"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the
'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility
that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration,
nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by
coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have
recently com to our country, and apparently some born here, need to
understand." "This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has
served
only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we
have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own
lifestyle."
"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."
"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go," then
you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We
are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we
really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means,
keep your culture, but do not force it on others.
"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."
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.
A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to
Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister
John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would
face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to
Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could be asked to leave the country
if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were
made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country
which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for
you," he said on national television.
"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws
governing people in Australia: one the Australian law and another
the Islamic law, that is false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law,
independent courts, democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have
the opportunity to go to another country, which practices it, perhaps,
then, that's a better option," Costello said.
Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he
said those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to
the other country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters
that Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off.
Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't
want! to live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can
basically clear off," he said.
Separately, Howard 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."
"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the
'politically correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility
that our patriotism was offending others. I am not against immigration,
nor do I hold a grudge against anyone who is seeking a better life by
coming to Australia." "However, there are a few things that those who have
recently com to our country, and apparently some born here, need to
understand." "This idea of Australia being a multicultural community has
served
only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. As Australians, we
have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our own
lifestyle."
"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."
"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like " A Fair Go," then
you should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We
are happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we
really don't care how you did things where you came from. By all means,
keep your culture, but do not force it on others.
"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."