Saturday, November 17, 2007

Worth repeating

Aussie PM John Howard on multiculturalism:

"Immigrants, not Australians, must adapt. I'm tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. 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 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. ...This is our country, our land, and our lifestyle, and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But if you complain about our flag, our pledge, our Christian beliefs, or our way of life, I highly encourage you to take advantage of our other great Australian freedom, ‘The Right to Leave'!"

It would be nice if the Canadian political class could be as sensibly direct.

[via, and]

4 comments:

Anonymous said...

Amen to that!

Bruce Stewart said...

Australian Prime Minister Howard is a very sensible man.

Actually, so are most Australians. They don't suffer from national-hand-wringing-itis syndrome, do they?

Anonymous said...

Can you imagine the bawling and hand wringing in this country by the media and commies if Harper said this out loud?
(real conservative)

JR said...

I think the message would be accepted enthusiastically by most ordinary Canadians. However, the lib/left, multi-culti pushing media and other chattering classes would go ballistic.

But perhaps, as Conrad Black suggested, if it were suitably tempered for "comparatively gentle Canadian sensibilities...might even elect Stéphane Dion."