Being different is good until ....

Being different and wanting to preserve one's uniqueness, traditions and thoughts is one thing, trying to conform others to the same and only accepting your beliefs is another, whether it's in our own lives and we have someone in it who thinks only their way of thinking is right, or if it's in politics or public life, it's all the same...be who you are but respect others for who they are.... something to think about....if I learned anything from all my years of counselling it's that there are more than one right way to look at things.


Prime Minister John Howard - Australia
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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.
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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
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
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"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two
laws governing people in Australia : one the Australian law and another
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.
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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.
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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."
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"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
come to our country, and apparently some born here, need to understand."
"This idea of Australia being a multi-cultural community has served
only to dilute our sovereignty and our national identity. And as
Australians, we have our own culture, our own society, our own language and our
own lifestyle."
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"This culture has been developed over two centuries of
struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"
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"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!"
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"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."
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"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."
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"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.
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> "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,
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> 'THE RIGHT TO LEAVE'."
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"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."