The case for multiculturalism<\/p>\n
Maria Vamvakinou MP
\nJakarta<\/p>\n
Since the tragedy of the London bombings, many of the
\ncommentators debating the pros and cons of Australia's policy of
\nmulticulturalism have simply ignored reality.<\/p>\n
Critics focus their attacks on the Muslim community, yet at
\nthe same time, they often commend Australia's post war
\nimmigration policy. This is ironic given that many post war
\nimmigrants were treated with equal suspicion, my family included.<\/p>\n
I most certainly remember the taunts, and the criticisms aimed
\nat those labeled \"dagos\" and \"wogs\", and the allegations that
\nthey were invading our country, taking our jobs, eyeing our
\nwomen, eating strange food, speaking unintelligible foreign
\nlanguages, and not mixing in with the rest of us.<\/p>\n
I am a child of post war immigration, and like many other
\nimmigrants, a success story. But it wasn't easy for us. We have
\nnot forgotten those critics who lurked in our neighborhoods, our
\nworkplaces, and our schools, telling us to go back home. We grew
\nup to be good Australians nevertheless. Our parents integrated
\nand made a contribution, we are bi-lingual, often multi-lingual,
\nand have used our talents, and the gifts we brought with us, to
\nparticipate in creating a vibrant, rich and successful society --
\na multicultural society of tolerance, loyalty, respect and pride
\nin ourselves and Australia.<\/p>\n
The current critics of multiculturalism base their arguments
\non false premises. They argue that multiculturalism inhibits
\nintegration, creates ghettos of immigrants, and is - in the
\ncurrent security climate - a threat to Australian society. Their
\nsolution is to call for the immediate abandonment of the policy
\nof multiculturalism and for Muslims to assimilate immediately.<\/p>\n
Such a view ignores the basic fact that Australia's post-war
\nimmigration policy has been a success; a success which has
\nlargely taken place within the context of multiculturalism. So
\nwhy should things be any different now for our newer immigrant
\ncommunities? Could it be that some amongst us have already
\ndecided that Muslims, no matter who they are or where they come
\nfrom, are an anathema and danger to the community they live
\namongst? And if so, on what do we base this conclusion?<\/p>\n
Many commentators have now said that Australia faces an
\nincreased terrorist threat as a result of the war in Iraq. Indeed
\nmany Australians, who are not Muslim, believe that we have no
\nbusiness being in Iraq and that we were lied to and seriously
\nmisled to the point where we have now become terrorist targets.
\nDo we conclude that they too pose a danger and a threat to our
\nnational security? The fact that Iraq and the war on terror has
\nbecome a contested issue in the wider community has nothing to do
\nwith multiculturalism.<\/p>\n
The critics of multiculturalism seem to have a very narrow
\nview of what it means to be Australian and no idea how
\nAustralia's multicultural image has a positive impact
\ninternationally and can actually aid our national security -- our
\ncurrent close cooperation with Indonesia is a perfect example. As
\na result they are unable to appreciate the true value of
\nmulticulturalism.<\/p>\n
They look to current international events to legitimize the
\nattacks on the Muslim community and to call for the end of
\nmulticulturalism; however they fail to mention the many benefits
\nthat flow from our policy of multiculturalism. Benefits such as
\neconomic and social development which foster harmony, diversity
\nand international strength, and the many other benefits naturally
\nderived from a society whose relations are based on tolerance and
\nrespect. Even John Howard, who once famously said that Australia
\nwas in danger of being taken over by Asians, has back-tracked on
\nimmigration and now regrets his statement.<\/p>\n
History shows us that in time, immigrant communities will
\nintegrate into the broader Australian community through
\neducation, civic participation and business links. As an
\nAustralian MP of Greek background I am proof of that. In my
\nelectorate, I am proud to represent many Australians of Muslim
\nfaith, who are in turn producing their own success stories as
\nthey become part of the wider fabric of Australian society.<\/p>\n
The type of wedge politics that the critics of
\nmulticulturalism are now using may in fact cause defensiveness
\namongst those of Muslim faith, and therefore resistance to the
\nintegration process. For the sake of our children's future it is
\nimperative that we maintain the balance that has made Australia
\nthe successful multicultural society that it is today.<\/p>\n
The writer is the Federal Member for Calwell and was recently
\nin Indonesia on a parliamentary delegation involving Australian
\nMPs and Indonesian MPs<\/p>",
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