Any support John Howard has on his frank and accurate statements about Muslim immigrants to Australia and their need to integrate is most welcome, though Costello's support comes in terms whose vagueness may easily be exploited by the insincere apologist: Endorsing "basic values," and denouncing "terrorism" without elaboration leaves plenty of room for lip service without action.
Also quite prominent in this article is the usual mantra that Islam has been "hijacked" by a Tiny Minority of Extremists, that "this is not the real Islam" -- assuming without demanding or looking for proof.
From News.com.au: "Treasurer keeps up Muslim pressure."
FEDERAL Treasurer Peter Costello says Australian Muslim leaders need to stand up and publicly denounce terrorism in all its forms.
Mr Costello has also backed calls by Prime Minister John Howard for Islamic migrants to learn English and adopt Australian values, warning quarrels of the old country should not be brought to Australia.
"I think the prime minister has a point that migrants who come to Australia are expected to speak English and endorse basic Australian values, and it's going to be a problem for future generations if they don't," Mr Costello told the Nine Network.
"We have very, very successfully integrated people from all over the world in this country because we have had the attitude that when you come to Australia, whatever arguments you might have had in the old country we start again, and we start again with a common set of values and a common language."
Mr Howard caused outrage in Australia's Islamic community this week when he said Muslims needed to speak English and show respect to women.
Mr Costello today said there was a minority in the Islamic community that had been radicalised and was preying upon young people with dangerous ideologies.
It was important that moderate Islamic leaders speak out against the radicals and denounce terrorism in all its forms around the world, he said.
No apologist will get through a sentence denouncing "terrorism" without taking a potshot at US foreign policy, or Israel, attempting to deflect the focus from the doctrine of jihad, and of subjugating non-believers.
"This is where we really need the Islamic leadership of this country to stand up and contend unequivocally that terrorism, no matter who it is perpetrated by, to make it clear that terrorism is never justified, under the cover of religion and to make it clear to would be converts that when you join this religion, you do not join a radical political ideology," Mr Costello said.
He said Australian Muslim leaders had to make it clear that terrorism had nothing to do with real Islam.
"You have seen under the cover of a radical form of Islam, terrorism being perpetrated," Mr Costello said.
"You have seen it with September the 11th, you have seen it in Bali, you have seen it with the London bombings and it is very, very important that the leadership of Australia are very clear and very precise that this is not real Islam, that terrorism is always wrong and terrorism is always to be condemned no matter what religion they seek to use as a cover."
Quaker terrorists, take note.
Gee, you have to have a grasp on the English language, and respect for Women; I bet their panties are in a twist, or maybe on their heads, causing confusion.
The 'radical' form of Islam?
What other 'form' is there? The Irshad Manji 'form'?
"...when you join this religion, you do not join a radical political ideology..."
Apparently Mr. Costello has not yet seen the Zawahari/Gahdan video in which Gahdan clearly stated that there is no separation of church and state in Islam.
"...this is not real Islam..."
Just once, I wish those making such statements would also cite the Islamic teachings, chapter and verse, that support their assertions.
PRCS,
There is the Lahore Ahmadiyya "form" that I'm sure Naseem will bring up since she's posting this morning. They're "peaceful", and concerned about our future bloodshed, but say things about Jesus that would have made Mohammed blush.
CC,
Perhaps I should have asked, what other legitimate 'form' is there?
Thanks.
Philip Ruddock seems to get it, but he keeps a rather low profile these days. Howards understanding of Islam is obviously not very deep, but the 350ooo subversive Mohammedans in Australia seem to worry him enough to say that he doesn't like what he sees.
Costello is a rather savvy politician, but if he talks like this it shows that he is clueless about the teachings of Islam...
We don't really have much time to make our polit-props take crash-courses in Islamic jihad-doctrine and counter-jihad warfare. Something needs to be done and fast. Any suggestions?
Sheik,
Buy a few copies of the Qur'an and some stickies.
Type up a polite form letter asking your elected officials to point out which chapters and verses are being misrepresented by the 'extremists'.
Personally take a copy of the Qur'an, some stickies, and a copy of your letter, to each appropriate politician's office, leaving them with an office staffer. They probably log receipt of such visits and materials.
Politely state your concern and your desire for a written response.
You might, alternatively, flag applicable pages of the Qur'an for specific responses.
You may not get a response, but you will know that the official at least does have the appropriate information in hand.
It's a start.
Grand Alliance of Jews, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs
It is time to form a Grand Alliance of Jews, Christians, Hindus and Sikhs to fight and resist the clear and unacceptable Islamic threat to our cultures and our democratic ways. If our governments and leaders won't properly recognize the threat and defend us, then we owe it to our families to rise to our own defencse. Spread the word throughout the internet, and let this idea take root and grow.
Let us ally ourselves, and give those who threaten our safety the jihad they so desire - culturally, politically, and physically - and prevent the West from committing suicide.
"Lead, don't appease."
- Rosemont
Well at least we are seeing our leaders speaking out about SOME of the issues in this divide. Can anyone point out to me where Messrs Bush or Blair have reminded Muslims to speak the national language (which one was it in USA again?) or to remind them to respect women? Evidence please?
I think some people understimate the Australian leadership. We now have evidence that Howard has reminded Muslims that Australian law takes precedence over any idea of personal sharia, and that political activities under the veil of religion will not be tolerated.
This is more evidence of the Australian direct way of calling a spade a spade. Americans and Brits should take note.
Sorry I overused the word "evidence" Yes i didnt post links sorry too, as I am off to work. Im sure someone will castigate me for that.
If they don't want to integrate, they shouldn't be allowed to immigrate!
"Mr Howard caused outrage in Australia's Islamic community this week when he said Muslims needed to speak English and show respect to women."
Show respect for women? He really said that? This is outrageous! This contradicts the koran, this is outrageous, this is islamophobia. I'm going to rage.
And that is a sentiment shared not only by Bush,Dan Bartlett his advisor and speech writer, Karl Rove, the neo cons, but even Oreilly, Adams Apple Coulter and all of the pundits at Fox even Oreilly - but of course Roves best friend (Grover Norquist) is a Muslim, what can you expect from a man who wants to legalize illegal aliens and give our port operations over to the Arabs, and whose family calls Prince Bandar, Bandar Bush and who plays smackey lips with "King" Abdullah..
But let's hear the mantra.."it's the liberals, the lefties"..
"There is the Lahore Ahmadiyya "form" that I'm sure Naseem will bring up since she's posting this morning" from above.
- If she hasn't been washed away. Lahore is suffering from seious floods caused by monsoon rains at the moment, and power and telephone services have been disrupted. Scores have died in N.E.Pakistan in the last few weeks. Allah must be angry with them for not being good enough Muslims. You would have thought that after those earthquakes they would have starting trying a bit harder.
Don't pin too much faith on Howard & Costello. To help their pleas maybe Howard should change his name to Abbott so we'd have the Abbott & Costello show. Wake up Howard and Costello. These two alleged politicians say that there is no way that sharia law will be established in Australia. It has already been introduced by stealth. We have 'women only swimming sessions at council owned pools. We have 'women only' gym sessions. We have the cruel slaughter of animals so that halal meat can be sold...and on and on it goes.
Howard & Costello, answer me this: whose turn is it to have the brain this week?
No other Western leaders have come close to Mr. Howard's candid statements and probably never will, at least not in the forseeable future. I have the utmost respect for Mr. Howard, a courageous leader who puts the welfare of his country and his people ahead of bellicose, threatening,unassimilable muslim traitors, and who is not helplessly contrained by political correctness.
Nothing would be more encouraging to me than to hear our president, or even a few members of Congress, officially declare that we will not tolerate the muslim fifth column in America. Instead, the Bush administration has decided that the best way to win the hearts and minds of muslim fanatics is to invite them to America to attend school or work so they can see firsthand how lovable we are, and to appease them with concessions and platitudes at our expense. And if any country has ten or twenty thousand unwanted ethnic muslims that just can't seem to get along with the majority sect in their native country, no problem, send them to America. The taxpayers will support them whether they want to or not, but don't hold your breath in anticipation of their heartfelt expressions of gratitude for our generosity.
It's not enough for our southern border to be wide open to terrorists and Mexican illiterates, criminals, drug dealers, and pregnant women. The Bush people have imported tens of thousands of muslims, placing large groups from the same locale in several American sites, which has overwhelmed and totally disrupted the lives of the local people. These small cities and towns are unequipped and unprepared to absorb thousands of aliens who cannot speak English and come from a culture so far removed from our own that adjustment is probably impossible, much less assimilation. These ethnic/cultural enclaves are being created all over America; we have become a dumping ground for the excess population of the third world, which still hasn't discovered birth control. Why bother with birth control when the surplus can be exported to America.
The fools in charge think that the muslims in America are assimilated-- normal, taxpaying, lawabiding citizens like you and me. America is different, America won't experience Europe's muslim problems. We're already experiencing the same problems on a smaller scale. If the tiny population of between three and six million muslims in an overall population of three hundred million people can manage to make the news every day of the week with a major grievance or lawsuit, there is a problem. If an advocacy group representing this minute segment of the American population has enough clout to influence policy at the FBI, we have a problem. If this drop in the bucket of people, represented by tenacious advocates at CAIR and the ACLU, are successful in changing the content of school textbooks and the policies and procedures in public schools, we have a problem. To accomodate this micro minority and their Constitutional guarantee of religious freedom, radical changes have been made in almost every institution in America. Muslims are anathema to peace, harmony, tolerance, and liberal democracy. They disrupt every society they invade and as their numbers increase, they become more aggressive, more outspoken, more demanding, and more implacable. The games have just begun and for a glimpse of our future, see Europe.
I believe Mr Howard and Mr Costello know more about islam than they let on. I also hope they have had a bit of insight from other countries who are now experiencing huge problems.
The opposition are too scared to say much because may of their seats are in islamic areas in Australia, eg Morris Iemma the NSW premier. His seat includes Lakemba which has the biggest mosque here.
I hope they keep up this kind of pressure. The local mo's are not happy!!
HAVE RESPECT FOR WOMEN? SPEAK ENGLISH? How outlandish.
Susanp
Re the "dumping ground for the excess population", a recent report from the Center for Immigration Studies shows that recent Mexican immigrants to the US have a higher birth rate than those who remain in their own country. I'm sure that this will be true of Muslim immigrants also. Environmentalists and population control advocates - take note.
RBLA, I haven't heard that bit of wonderful news, but it stands to reason that since they receive state-of-the-art medical care here, more of their offspring will survive, offspring they spawn with wild abandon. Ditto muslims. The muslim worldwide birthrate is already obscene since they do not practice birth control or abortion. The average muslim family has ten children but a polygamous male could father fifty or more. They are practicing polygamy in the US, as well as FGM, and every other despicable, illegal islamic cultural perversion.
And any good muslim will tell you that the female uterus is islam's most potent weapon. Proliferation is a lethal weapon in jihad's arsenal, and muslims are human factories that produce jihadists by the millions. Don't you just love their "family values?"
Would that the UK had a ruling party leadership that was as straight up and forthright as Howard and Costello. Australians who live in London return with stories of how the UK has fallen victim to uncontrolled immigration and political correctness, and they don't want it to happen in their own country. Good on them.
At a library on Blackstock Road in Finsbury Park when I registered last year, I was given a form to fill out asking my ethnicity. There were about 30 possible ethnic categories provided: Vietnamese, Chinese, Somali and so on, even one for the Irish, but for the English, Welsh and Scottish there was one category - White.
Costello did a lot of damage to his credibility earlier this year with his whining about Howard promising to step down and let him be PM.
Made himself look a right idiot and turned off a lot of his supporters. I was one of those.
This is his way of trying to slink back into favour with the electorate, as it is becoming more and more obvious that the bloke in the street is not happy with whingeing muslims.
As for Howard, I believe he is a lot smarter and more cunning than people realise. He'd have to be to stay in power for so long.
He would also be aware of the lefty influence in the msm here, and amongst the self-titled 'elites'.
I think he knows a lot more than he lets on.