Posted on 09/02/2006 6:35:26 PM PDT by GMMAC
Muslim leaders warn of riots
By Luke McIlveen and Steve Gee
Daily Telegraph (Australia)
September 02, 2006 02:36am
ISLAMIC leaders are trying to gag Prime Minister John Howard from speaking out against Muslims who refuse to integrate, threatening that any criticism of their culture could lead to another race riot.
But Mr Howard refused to back down - writing exclusively in today's Saturday Daily Telegraph that he believes a minority of Muslims must do more to fit in here.
The head of Mr Howard's own Muslim advisory council, Dr Ameer Ali, yesterday tried to shut down debate on whether Muslims should learn English and treat women as equals by raising the spectre of the shameful Cronulla riots.
Dr Ali warned: "We have already witnessed one incident in Sydney, in Cronulla. I don't want these scenes to be repeated because when you antagonise the younger generation they are bound to react."
Mr Howard also angered young female Muslim leader Iktimal Hage-Ali, who claimed he was targeting "a minority within a minority". Their criticisms came after Mr Howard said on Thursday that some Muslims refused to learn English and did not want to integrate. A defiant Mr Howard writes today that some Muslims are not doing enough to adhere to Australian customs of equality for women and a "fair go" for all.
"Ninety-nine per centy of the Islamic community of Australia has integrated and is part of the Australian community," he said.
"But I've said before there is a small section, and that is self-evident, that is unwilling to integrate and it's up to all of us to try and overcome that resistance."
Standing by his remarks yesterday, Mr Howard refused to apologise and warned those who are unwilling to fit in would be further marginalised.
"You can't get anywhere unless you learn English. It's the language of the nation. It's the passport to your future," he said.
"You can't get a job, you can't progress, you can't do anything without English and there can't be any compromising on that."
But Ms Hage-Ali, also a member of the Prime Minister's advisory group, said many non-Muslim immigrants also failed to learn to speak English.
"It is a religious group that he has identified. Muslims are already a minority, so effectively he is talking a about a minority within a minority," she said.
She said there were not enough free classes teaching new migrants English.
"There are resources but they cost money. How can they afford the fees?" she said. "I can't imagine an 80-year-old grandmother running out to learn English."
Speaking at the opening of a school hall at Eastwood Heights, Mr Howard said it was imperative that all migrants embraced "Australian values".
He denied targeting only Muslims, saying: "I haven't singled out anybody in particular."
Of the Muslim leaders offended by his comments, Mr Howard said: "They are missing the point and the point is that I don't care, and the Australian people don't care, where people come from."
It sure is. And the Treasurer, Peter Costello, has been using Sunday morning to endorse John Howard's comments. I have been browsing the news sights to see if there is any opposition from other political parties and have found none.
Yes, they are.
I was watching one of our Sunday morning shows here this morning and even the left wing presenters on that show were in broad agreement with the PM - they were stressing that "It's only a minority of people from the Middle East who are a problem" and "It's not just Middle Eastern people" but they were still endorsing the comments.
That's as far as any opposition seems to be going - and that's the lefties.
Shoot the rioters, maybe?
OMG what a quote:
"Of the Muslim leaders offended by his comments, Mr Howard said: "They are missing the point and the point is that I don't care, and the Australian people don't care, where people come from.""
The Aussies are standing with Howard and many are in front, in back and to the side. In fact, they are standing up to combat political correctness before it becomes tenable.
If the muzzies want to riot, well they've seen how the locals react. They respond by stomping on the rioters.
After several episdoes of muzzie abuse and brutality, the Aussie people will not tolerate their "game plan" used in the UK with such appeasing results.
When you speak the truth, people will hate you.
You are right. It is an insult to all non-English / non-Spanish speaking citizens. Why, here in Santa Clara County, voters can get their election materials not only in English and Spanish, but Chinese, Vietnamese or Tagalog as well. It's time we demanded the White House website be produced in all the languages of the world.
After all, could it be this is the reason the hate us so much?
Right. How long has moslem been a race?
You should live in Cambridge, MA. They have ballots in more than 20 languages.
I guess there is no chance of bringing John Howard over to the US and running in 2008? Right now...given the choices...I'd vote for John, and bring in some Aussie rules. And maybe turn the taps on for real Aussie beer. We need a bit of "Irwinism" (my term of the honesty that Steve Irwin gave to us all via his life and his shows). Being real, and honest....might be a refreshing change.
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