Posted on 02/25/2006 10:33:01 AM PST by Pikamax
Muslim call backed By LOUISE PEMBLE and AAP
26feb06
WEST Australians have rallied behind Peter Costello's call for Muslim extremists to be stripped of Australian citizenship.
Callers to talkback radio and letters to newspapers have overwhelmingly backed the Treasurer – with many saying they are sick of even hearing the word "Muslim".
In a letter to The Sunday Times, Wilson resident Richard Sims congratulated Mr Costello for speaking "from the hip".
"As Australians, we do not care whether you worship Allah, Fosters or the Eagles, what we do care is that you do not come to this wonderful country of ours to change it to the way your native land was," he wrote.
WA Premier Alan Carpenter supported the Treasurer's comments, calling on migrants to adopt Australian values while still maintaining their cultural ties.
"One of the great features of modern Australian life is our ability as a community to respect, enjoy and celebrate our cultural differences," he said.
"Everyone who decides to become an Australian citizen should be loyal to Australia and its people, respect our rights and liberties, share our democratic beliefs and uphold and obey our laws."
WA Opposition Leader Matt Birney also agreed with Mr Costello, saying political correctness was to blame. "I believe the vast majority of foreign-born West Australians are loyal to our nation and respect our laws and culture," he said. "What is more concerning is that some sections of the community have taken political correctness too far.
"Their attempts to accommodate ethnic or religious groups, most of the time without any request from these groups, upset the majority of West Australians and create unnecessary tension in the community."
But Federal Opposition Leader Kim Beazley said the blame lay with the Government. "Costello is in power," he said.
"He's been in office for 10 years. If he's got a problem with people who come into this country who are committed to jihad or committed to any form of violence, why doesn't he do something about it?"
In a speech in Sydney, Mr Costello said Muslim migrants who wanted to live under Islamic law should hand back their Australian citizenship.
But Islamic Friendship Association president Keysar Trad accused Mr Costello of "stirring up Islamophobia".
Great, one country standing by their citizens! Go Australia!
They hate the West. Why are they here ?
Doesn't he realize how intolerant and racist it is to say something so insensitive? < / sarcasm>
Reminds me of the Chanel No. 5 Dog Sh*t Association.
Good for the Aussies. Trad should be one of the first to be forcibly bounced out. Wish we had leadership with balls enough to do the same thing. Let's pray the Aussies DO NOT cave in on this.
"... many saying they are sick of even hearing the word "Muslim"."
I know I am.
I'm not holding my breath but maybe this display of PATRIOTIC BACKBONE toward his county might rub off on an American politician, like our PRESIDENT.
Kudos to Australia.
So what's the general public view across Austrailia? Do most of them agree that the radicals should "Clear OFF!"
I've been sick of it for years...so sick that I want islam erased from the world....for there can be no hope of peace on earth as long as islam exists.
If you believe the polls then anything from 85 to 95 percent of Australians back the idea of kicking them out (at the minimum).
Then PM Howard should round 'em up and put a boot in their collective arse.
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