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Thursday, September 27, 2007

Prime Minister of Australia John Howard speaks to Muslims

The latest from Australia (one of my favourite countries)


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.

"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", Treasurer Peter Costello said.

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 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."


"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."

"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."

30 comments:

Errol Larkan said...

This is so spot on. Good on you Peter Costello and John Howard. It is about time someone had the common sense to see this issue so clearly and say so so definitely. I have thoroughly investigated the Koran and the Hadith and the life of Mohammed and I have no doubt that Islam is irrevocably unable to accept the laws of democracy and freedom and mutal respect that we Australians take as given. This is happening all over the world. Europe is waking up finally and Australia can avoid their problems by making quite clear what the conditions are for entering and living in this country of ours. If you are nor prepared to live under our democratic laws dont enter or leave. Proud to be an Australian and proud of my Prime MInister and our Treasurer. Errol

Anonymous said...

The reverse would never be considered.. If you live in a muslim country you abide by their laws!.. (there is no other choice)
Good stand.. I wonder where it will lead..

bout time people stood up for our country.

Unknown said...

Oh yeah, Howard sure is a crazy. They’re proposing the deportation of law-abiding people based solely on what they believe, secret surveillance of religious groups, the end of secular schools, a crackdown on Muslims who haven’t taken their loyalty oath.
There is no serious movement in Australia to have Sharia serve as an alternate source of law. Australian law rules Australia. Every child knows that. But it sure is a nice bogey man to throw out when foreign policy decisions aren’t working out so well, and elections are coming up.

Anonymous said...

i want to know what elaham is thinking about this?

Anonymous said...

Thank GOD!!!!!! Yes, I said God. Good show and FINALLY!!! I am an American and TRULY wish that my President would do the same thing. I love my Country and am sick and tired of catering to the simpering idiots every whim.

Good show Mr. Howard, I would live in Australia.......


Trey

Anonymous said...

well said Mr Howard !! I arrived from the UK 27 years ago - and have been back to visit family every three years or so. The UK has gone steadily downhill in this time due to the pandering to Muslims in particular, Thank God I dont live there anymore - and I am determined that this country does not suffer the same fate just because the locals (Australians)are a generally laid back people. Welcome to Australia if all you want is a better life for you and yours - if you want Sharie law - in the best Australian vernacular , BUGGER OFF !!!

Anonymous said...

to learn more about Muslims in Australia I recommend the following website http://www.muslimsinaustralia.com
(video clips available)

Anonymous said...

johnno... australia will be civilized in the future as well... means more understanding, more tolerance and more open minded people...

Tushar Sashittal said...

Today is a happy day for me, for today someone as high as the Australian PM has come out openly in support of truth. The truth that "the Islamic scriptures and the life of the prophet" are the root causes of terrorism was a well known fact, but people never had the guts to come out openly against it. Today is the day when he has shown the islamic radicals their place, and their apologists in the media and intelligencia that their days of false propaganda are numbered.

Along with a direct attack on the mullas and madrassas, Australia should realize that the terrorist B teams sitting in media and positioning themselves as human rights groups, are equally dangerous. They have successfully taken the steam out of anti-terrorist campaigns across the world.

An an Indian whose history has been blood-stained by islamic barbarism, I feel very encouraged about the Australian stand. And I sincerely hope the almighty gives the leaders of my country the backbone to stand up to the challenge that threatens to exterminate the civilized world.

Anonymous said...

Can someone find an actual link to this speech? Everything he's ever said is archived by the Aussie government, but I can't find this speech. Help?

Unknown said...

I understand this post has caused a wide interest among the readers,aswell as the comments that I have received here,I have received many e-mails regarding this article.As I made it clear in the beginning of my article,this was sent to me by my Aussie e-mail,and it is a summary of Mr.Howard speaking on Australian national tv,so I am afraid I dont have any link for you guys out there,if anyone comes across this,do indeed let the readers know.I hope this helps all of you interested in this subject out there.

Elham

Anonymous said...

Australians show their level of intelligence by rejecting somebody who wants to run the country by dividing people with populist agenda... hope this will be a lesson for all racists (or religionists) around the world!

State and Religion

not

State with Religion

Anonymous said...

First off, was Little House on the Prairie forcing religion down everyone's throat? They're not teaching Protestant vs Catholic in schools. Just the general acceptance of God (one nation under, at that).

Secondly, he's not saying other's can't practice their own religion. He said, "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."

We are all created equal, and deserve equal respect, by and between women, blacks, Jews and Indonesian. But every country is a home, and that home should be where a person/family lives with what they believe in. Our beliefs are shredding (have shredded and continue to shred).

My thought is, we cater to Spanish-speaking people in the USA because corporations want their money. That's interesting because the Indians (not Native Americans, mind you), have more money than the Mexicans. Alas, so do the Japanese here in the USA. But wait a minute, the vast majority of them speak English, so they don't need to be catered to. I do believe we should have a national language and a national belief, albeit allowing others to honor theirs, but being it's our country, we should be able to teach the beliefs our country was founded on. That is unless, not enough of us in our country still believe in that belief. Although that'd be ironic we follow the constitution, but not the underlying foundation it was built on.

I personally look forward to a time when I can afford to move my family to a place where the country stands up and demands respect for what it was founded on. We're not all the way there quite yet, but most likely will be in my lifetime. Money and power are becoming fast this country's new foundation.

Anonymous said...

Amen! It's about time someone took a stand and said it like it is and straight forward. More people need to follow by this example. I too wish my President and Senate members in the United States would do the same thing. Stop catering to everyone and abide by the Country rules! Period !

Anonymous said...

If a country is a christian country, they can bring christianity into the classroom. If you don't like it, or if this goes against your beliefs, then go to a different country.

Anonymous said...

As a U.S. citizen, I wish our President take a stand like this. I'm so tired of calling the utility companies, or almost anywhere now and getting a phone menu in Spanish. I'm in America, I shouldn't need to learn Spanish for day to day life. We should have English declared as our national language. And qualifying for a college scholarship because you're a minority? Whatever happened to that being based solely on grades and academic qualifications? I truly believe if our President would ever summon up the guts to make a speech like Howard did, he'd get more support from the U.S. people than backlash.

Anonymous said...

@ Ashkan.
So according to you, someone who is in his own country and tells a visitor how to behave while the visitor is enyoing the comforts and safety of that country, is a racist, backward and stupid?

Well then you have the right to leave.

He is not threatening with stoning, whiplashes or decapitation. He is laying out the rules of a very fruitfull society which, by the way, has welcomed these imigrants with open arms. When i'm at somebodys house and i'm asked to take of my shoes before entering i do it, even if i find this pointless and stupid. When i'm at the dinnertable with my host and he's having a prayer before dinner, i keep quiet and wait for them to finish. I don't believe and i don't care for any church. This is a way of giving respect to the person that lets you in to his home.
Respect is the main word here Ashkan.
Something you obviously have not learned, you make it obvious by your remarks.
I live in Holland and i can see what is happening to this country. When i got here i learned the Dutch language asap. now no one believes that i am a foreghner. I still have my identity, but out of respect for the country that harboured a fugitive from communism i learned to participate in this beautiful country.
Now there are 16 milion people living here in Holland, more then 3 milion are non dutch, 1 milion of them are muslims. They give nothing and expect everything. Every week there are reports of rapes, beatings and killings, 70% of them are done by foreighners (either Turks, Marokkans or Africans) I know this because i was a priosonguard for 3 years in the biggest prison in Holland. Most of these purpetrators flee to their own countries and are safe from any procecution. I have a lot of turkish, marokkan, egyptian and african acquaintances and from conversations i know they do not obey the Dutch rules and laws. You may imagine what the result of that kind of population does to a hospitable, warm and kind country.

I have been to Australia before and I am seriously thinking about mooving permanently. Because of the kind, straightforward people who live there. I would like to be part of a society which is for freedom of speech, freedom of religion and human rights and dares to defend it even if harsh language or actions are needed. Our ancestors have done it before during the WWII.

Regards,
Kamil (NL)

Unknown said...

If I could move to Australia today, I would.

Unknown said...

To everyone who said this guy is crazy, racists (or religionists), or the person who said he wants to Jeremy who said deportation of law-abiding people based solely on what they believe....


DID non of you read what he said? If you want to live under Islamic Sharia law.. look it up google it there laws are scary and Prime Minister John Howard said you will not live under 2 our laws (Australia) and yours...

ok jeremy think of this we live in the USA with laws.. well my law says i can have 100 wives, beat them, and kill them as i wiah and see fit.. so in your mind should i be above the usa law or told my religion is wrong??? ya get mad when you say NO my religion is BS and wrong..... wait thats what Howard is saying open your eyes and read nut shell Howard said love our country and do as our laws say or get out which is 100% right
1st SGT. Moore U.S. Army ya I have been there done that so i know both sides Afghan and iraq.. Airborne Infantry

Anonymous said...

I am from Canada, an extremely and too permissive country as far as immigration goes. Our Prime Minister could learn from Mr. Howard and if I could, I'd move to Australia too. He is saying what most of the people think but are scared to say themselves.

Anonymous said...

You live in a secular country, you better abide by the laws, you show tolerance, you show compassion and you consider other points of view. Whats wrong with that? We cannot make live in a world with constant fear and under opression, that is so middle ages.

Anonymous said...

FINALLY someone standing up to defend our culture, beliefs and values and put an end to this harassment by people trying to undermine our societies. BRAVO MR. John Howard and collegues. WHAT A RELIEF. I am dutch and pray that the same attitude will soon be adopted by the dutch governement but I think that will remain a dream never to come true considering what happened after the announcement of the film FITNA by Geert WILDERS of the political party PVV. TOTAL PANIC and they distanciated themselves from it by sending out excuses worldwide. WHAT A COWARDS. They do not realize that they are soo stupid that they are almost giving away their country. The FINA film only showed what we already all know or have seen.

SO : message to all muslim people. It is obvious from your actions that you are after taking over our western countries. I suggest you concentrate on Holland since its government and its legislation are so LAX that it is your absolute best chance to get there. Moreover it is situated in the center of Europe and is bordered by the sea and of its total population of around 16 million, AT LEAST 3 million are of non-dutch origin, mostly muslims to my opinion. In the big cities the dutch have become a minority and Rotterdam will have a muslim mayor soon. The ideal stronghold for muslim power in Europe and governed by a bunch of DUMB-ASSES that are protecting those that are undermining their society who are slowly but surely infiltrating all important positions.

By the way it is only 60 years ago that people committing treason against their country were put against the wall and received a bullet in their head. It's probably time to re-install these measures because most dutch people are getting ABSOLUTELY SICK AND TIRED OF THIS BULLSHIT. Many villages are being terrorized by young muslims and nobody is doing anything. Ducth people resign by moving away, THIS IS WHAT THE DUTCH GOVERNMENT IS LETTING TO HAPPEN. It is NOT protecting its own civilians anymore. It is throwing away what has been acquired by hard work and sacrifices over centuries.

I suggest people to send a copy of the speech given by Mr. Howard to their friends and relatives and DEMAND from their governments to take the same stand to protect our religion, beliefs, culture and values agains these barbarians! I hope you all rememered how the dutch filmmaker Theo van Gogh was SLAUGHTERED with a knife by a muslim while riding his bicycle in Amsterdam (Yes this happened before our own eyes in our own country). If they want to live here THEY adapt to OUR culture and learn OUR language and marry people from OUR culture, abstain from wearing a burka (I get the creeps when I see people wearing these in our streets), and more important SHUT UP and just participate in our society to make life agreeable for everyone. Any individual expressing and/or promoting ideas about jihad against the west should be exported back to his own country immediately. The mere fact that muslims always marry people from their own religion is already proof of what they are after.

UNITE TO BE STRONG AND SUCCEED IN HOLDING UP OUR BELIEFS!

Anonymous said...

John you are right on, I wish America could adopt this attitude. We consider the feelings of immigrants far more than the citizens born and raised in our country. Conform or get out, yes this is a good thing.

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Anonymous said...

I totally wish I was living in Australia now! Had the opportunity BUT returned to the U.K. I am not proud to be british and believe this country is on a rapid decline. Our laws are becoming racist!!!

Anonymous said...

I wish countries like Great Britain would be this bold. It is not possible to please all people!!!

Anonymous said...

Yeah JOHN HOWARD... Speak the truth and protect the country many generations of your poeples had faught for. I only wish our PM and Government in CANADA could adopt "the same mind" as the same is happended here.. Not just with Muslims but the East Indians, chinese, japanese and more the like. They aswell do not want to learn the language and adopt to our way of life in CANADA.
If someone did that in your home would you say, pls stay what more can I change in my home for you?!!!
Time to STAND UP and hoping CANADA and the like GROW SOME!

Anonymous said...

As a Canadian, my British roots and pedigree long pre-dating Confederation (which preceded and arguably led to the independence of Australia, which with whom we thus share culture and heritage, of which we are all proud and together form the British Commonwealth), I can in part relate to what the PM of Australia is saying. On the other hand, I am also a bit miffed at the comment (assuming it is a ver batim comment and not taken out of contextas an English Canadian and also Christian, proud of our roots and heritage, including our culture of multiculturalism (which includes the freedom to worship, as well as the freedom from worship entirely, such that the Catholics and Protestants had to come to grips with each other, and others (and this also includes the right of everyone to be free of all such beliefs entirely) . Indeed, our privilege of multi-culturalism in Canada means that I live in a culural and economic powerhouse, where I am free to be English and Christian, whilst enjoying the marvels of having the globe at my very fingertips; in turn, Canada is vibrant and interesting (otherwise founded in the 15th Century) so not tired and dusty but rather productive and modern, and reason why we are a global power (even the EU had to unite or else become irrelevant; think about it).

Meanwhile, to broad brush all Muslims as radicals is just so wrong that it does not deserve a comment. If we are talking about a radical group of (fill in blank) who couch their own racism and intolerance as some form of religion, then, call them what they are: radicals, which has nothing to do with religion. Funny how, whether it's the ancient Romes who couched their intolerance for the then newly arrived Christians in terms of ancient religion (when that old religion preached tolerance, such that by doing so these folks were not abiding by their religion at all), or the so-called Christian right-wing in the American south, who actually argued that it was their culture and right from god apparently to own slaves, thus put dog collars and leashes on people of color (such that, by doing so, such folks were in fact the exact opposite of what it means to be christian for we are all equal in the eyes of god, including those who don't believe in god as that is a matter between each individual and god), and now the radical "islamic" such and such (who likewise couch their racism and intolerance in terms of "religion" so as to justify their enslavement/intolerance for women and others who don't share their own anti-human beliefs, which of course is not a muslim belief at all, but, rather, a radical anti-human belief by a subgroup attempting to hijack a religion through force, as other anti-human radicals have done before them (including the attempt to justify their intolerance etc. under the (false) guise of religion, and reason why people immigrate, of which examples our own British and European history is replete); the tune remains the same, and this tune also includes the guise of "nationalism" - it bears repeating: like Canada, Australia is stronger as a result of multi-culturalism (for it we were talking "true" Australians, well, perhaps we should be listening then to the tune of the didjeridu as played by the Aborigines).

Anonymous said...

Part 2:

This of course is not to say that, just because some group or sub-group claims something should be permitted because it is tied to their religion, that the thing or practice in question is off limits for regulating in turn. I mean, I don't run around the streets of a major city with my basket-hilt sword, even although my British culture/ceremony demands it; indeed, we adapt. Culture is learned, and is ever changing, and for good reason: after all, if Robin Crusoe were alone on the Island, he can do anything he pleases, but not so once Friday moves in since, no longer alone on the island, civilisation and common sense demands it. Criminal behaviour and terrorism are just that, criminal, and have nothing to do with religion or culture, and never did. Sadly, so long as there are people on this earth, there will be criminals and totalitariats, and many of them (if not most) try to couch their egoistic behaviour under the guise of religion or nationalism (which nationalism is the mother of all religions, when one thinks about it), but a thug is a thug regardless, so let's use our god-given brains and in turn not broad brush but see the thugs for who and what they are, and punish not the innocents but the thugs.

In the words of the PM himself (interesting), which are good words and thus bear repeating: "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."

Myself, I thoroughly enjoy the luxury and privilege of living in a G-8 country, a proud member of the British Commonwealth (and natural friend of Australia and New Zealand, whom we consider family), and am as proud of our multiculturalism (who wants to grow old and irrelevant, frankly) as I am my British heritage. Then, as the French are oft quoted as saying, the more things change, the more they remain the same.

In a changing world full of doubts and uncertainties (no more so than the Roman empire long before us, however, which likewise bears repeating), such "fear of the uncertainty" is perhaps understandable; this is especially true in economic times like these, as the world adjusts from a bipolar to a multipolar system. In the meantime, I guess picking on "newcomers" (who don't yet vote) is politically popular these days (well, yesteryear it was the communists under the bed whereas today it is the terrorists under the bed), but being of British heritage in Canada (and thus of sound, sober second thought) we, too have a saying when one visits and/or immigrates to Canada: "Welcome to / Bienvenue au Canada, by all means enrich us with your talents and knowledge by adding them to our own, , but kindly leave your baggage, clan squabbles and grudges at the border."

Forgive me for being "traditional" but wiser words in my opinion have never been spoken. Cheers. ~ Signed (An English Canadian enriched by multi-culturalism, and better for it).

Anonymous said...

prime minister Rudd would you ever think of running for pm in Canada......God bless you i wish i was Australian.