We are a new country and do not need to develop the distinct ways of living developed over time as in other nations. These traditions are often based on necessity due to circumstances and climate. Examples: we have had no internal wars leading to a need to identify with one’s own race or religion. We have not had to avoid certain foods because of health issues. Our knowledge levels will not lead to traditions originally based on superstition.

New groups of people arriving in Australia have always taken time to assimilate and be accepted. There has always been some distrust with the introduction of new cultures - fear of the unknown maybe. It is the turn of Islamic immigrants. With time this too will pass. Australia’s own culture will be all the richer for it.

A sense of belonging is not based on what you eat for dinner or how you celebrate holidays but being part of a group that satisfy your personal needs for socialization, friendship and support. In Australia we have a huge range of options to choose from.

Our culture is one of freedom, freedom of choice and a massive and diverse range of things to choose.

We still are a ‘Lucky Country’

And thanks everyone for your lovely comments.

Snoskred

People who don’t prescribe to the “new norm” aka the edicts of Bushites are offered the chance to “Go Elsewhere” if white and “Go Back Home” if not white. This is a sentiment expressed sadly often.

It has, I think, ripped off the PC bandaid that allowed us—especially liberal whites—to traipse about in ignorant bliss that racism is alive and well.

This is why I am eager to open discussion about this. And in the world at large as I hear xenophobia story and closed culture stories from almost every Western and 1st World Nation.

It reminds me of the Jamaican terror, before the slave uprisings.

We are a fearful people, and to salve that fear, we distinguish and separate different.

One thing I hear in your post is the pleasure you took in your friend’s cultures, with their strong cultural identities and customs. These things promote a feeling of place and belonging, which I think we all crave.

This is actually crucial to my point, when I said we need to consider race, not as a factor on our own end, but as an aspect to an individual we like and know, or even just someone we happen to cross paths with.

Andrea at Garden of Nna Mmoy plucked the sentiments right from my brain. I think you read her; I am recalling a comment from you and hope I haven’t confused myself.

And for the fact that the blogosphere is US centric? This also illustrated my point. The majority is often unaware of their inadvertent bias.

It’s why I ask for respectful acknowledgment based on the other person’s cues, which, actually, goes for pretty much anything to do with another person.

Thanks for playing with your thought-provoking posts.

Julie

Excellent post, btw.

Chani - I knew you would understand that sense of “displacement” probably better than anyone.

Anne - Thanks for commenting! It also demonstrates how different the Aussie experience can be. I grew up about 20kms from Adelaide, which was a reasonably large city. It was also close to a university where people from all over the world came to study, so that may explain a lot of the diversity I experienced.

Lawyer Mama - I think the issue is that this is a *new* thing. As in places you could get bacon before, suddenly you cannot. The other thing is - take for example the alcohol example. The other religions aren’t saying “You can’t have any alcohol on the premises in order for me to eat there”. That is essentially what happens with Halal - you cannot have bacon/pork products in food preparation areas. So to cater for the Halal market, some places are no longer using bacon. That’s a major change to our culture.

I agree with what you say about Islam from the little I know about it - as I said in my post, the veil is not something Islam dictates, it is interpreted. It’s all about the interpretation. I find it difficult to understand because I do not think women are “uncovered meat” which is there to tempt “cats” (men). Men have to be able to control themselves. If the only way they can do that is by women being veiled, they’ve got some serious issues that need working on, in my opinion.

Thanks for the comments all.

Snoskred
http://www.snoskred.org/

If your country is open to many cultures, then this is part of it. Many Jews and Arabs in the U.S. don’t eat certain foods. Hindus don’t eat beef. Some religions don’t drink alcohol. But the culture is still rich.

I think part of the problem with Islam is that it has been twisted by some people. Islam itself isn’t a religion that teaches that women are less than men (at least no more than Judeo-Christianity does), but a certain interpretation of the religion does. Compare it to fundamental Christianity if you will. It’s a version of a religion taken to an extreme. (Ooh, I may get flamed for that comment.) While the idea of being veiled is abhorrent to me, many Islamic women are quite proud of it. I respect that, wherever I may be.

Thank you for the thoughtful post.

Personally, I grew up in a tiny country town that was made up of extended family. There was never anyone ‘different’ around, unless you counted the itinerant railway workers.

My family have lived in this town since way before Ned Kelly and I am held here by something deep inside and unidentified. I see the landmarks around me and I know I am home. This, to me, is as much a part of my culture as the aussie pie.

More in common than differences.

Peace,

~Chani