Everybody Needs Good Neighbours

On reading this news story today Nicky asked if it was too little too late.

Muslim youth devise plan to tackle radicalism
Young Muslim leaders have forged a plan for improving relations with the wider Australian community.

The leaders devised a strategy to tackle radicalism and the alienation of Islamic youth at the inaugural national Islamic youth summit in Sydney yesterday.

Being the optimist, I replied that I wasn't so sure. Perhaps there is hope, as long as the aim is to enrich Australian culture rather than take it over.

But it's going to take a lot of work and it may not be getting off to the best start, especially since they've played the victim card straight out of the deck:

Delegates have also called for action to address bullying and discrimination.

They also want more grassroots contacts through sporting and social groups, greater representation in politics, and a boost in support to help young unemployed Muslims find work...

Iktimal Hage-Ali from the New South Wales Youth Advisory Council says:"They've stepped up and said 'look these are the issues, but we're not here to talk about the issues again and again, we're here to talk about solutions'."

Let's do that eh? Muslim youth are taught that they are superior and everyone is inferior until they convert to Islam (compare and contrast). As a result, they don't have a lot of respect for the institutions on which Australia was founded. So here is my list of discussion starters:

Bullying - Using your weight of numbers or your physical bearing to intimidate or threaten is wrong.

Discrimination - Targeting people because of their ethnic background is discrimination. Sydney's gang rapes are the most aggregious example of this.
Grassroots contacts - Well, I don't know what Sheikh Khalid Yasin would say about that. Here's another story to illustrate the point. In our fair city we've had a number of quote violent storms. After one significant and damaging hailstorm, an Australian, white, non-Muslim man went to his neighbour next door to see how they fared and whether they needed assistance. Although the wife, a Muslim, was at home, she did not come to the door, nor acknowledge this man's presence. He went away still not knowing if anyone was in distress.

Representation in politics - You may wish to try your luck with The Best Party Of Allah. But remember, Australia is not and will never be part of the Caliphate.

Unemployment - It's hard to believe that there is high unemployment in this country where the rate is a mere 4%, but there it is. Just a few suggestions - learn to speak English, let your daughters and sisters finish their education and get a job if they wish, accept the fact that you will be working with non-Muslims and get over it.

Get back to me when you've got some answers we can all live with.

-- Nora