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Australian values « Previous | |Next »
January 27, 2006

The underside of one nation conservatism that its politicians are turning to when they affirm national values as a cohesive force to unite Australia's multicultural citizens:

LeunigA4.jpg
Leunig

Australia's national values are liberty, justice and fraternity or mateship are they not? How do these translate into the demand for multicultural Australians to completely integrate (assimilate) into mainstream (Anglo-British) Australian society? Why does ethnicity as fraternity override freedom and justice? Doesn't that mean multiculturalism is out and assimilation is in.

Doesn't this indicate that Australian values are being coded as the values of one nation conservatives?


| Posted by Gary Sauer-Thompson at 6:48 AM | | Comments (1) | TrackBacks (1)
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» Dworkin on (deliberative) democracy #3 from philosophy.com
I want to pick up on this previous post on Ronald Dworkin's Is Democracy Possible Here? Principles for a New Political Debate Dworkin is arguing that his two principles---every human life is of intrinsic potential value and that everyone has a responsi... [Read More]

 
Comments

Comments

It seems to me that the questioning of Australia's social values from the philosophical perspective is not appropriate. Philosophy can not determine an absolute value of anything, which was its failing in Ancient Greece, and its ultimate failing that led to its demise as an important contemporary discipline.
What the issue really is, it not so much the questioning of Australian values, but that of the national purpose, and the motivation that should go along with it, and imbue Australia's population with a desire to follow those that lead the nation.
As strange as it may seem, while most large organisations, public or private, have statements of values which are largely derived from its purpose for being, Australia as a nation does not have such a coherent statement. We have the constitution, but do Australians still humbly rely on "the blessing of Almighty God"? Certainly fewer of us see the Queen as someone of stature to head the nation. Much of our national values are intangible conventions and traditions never written down. Even the claims of Christian values are questionable because they are in fact Jewish for the most part, but largely misinterpreted by the Catholic churches for an inordinate period of time. And claiming these would not be such a good idea if we do indeed desire "multiculturalism", given that Christianity and most other cultures had been at war (quite literally) for much of its history. In fact the war with Islam never stopped, but merely abated for a century with the weakening of the Ottoman Empire, and the temporary irrelevance of the Persian Empire.
The values of the Australian nation at Federation were indeed very different. Above all was the intention to elevate most others to a higher level of civilization experienced by the Europeans. That this is not entirely achievable in a short period was hardly recognised at the time. However neither was it recognised that there would be consequences to such unwanted but well meaning activity. Aborigines were much happier living off the land, Asians were happier in states ruled by despots and lacking any sense of just and ethical judicial process, and the Muslims were quite happy with regarding half their female population as possessions less valuable to the man's horse, but more valuable then the dog because they could bare children.
I think its time we did write our values down, and one suggestion is that we should affirm the great Australian value of minding our own business, but not being told how to run it by others. If Muslims on arrival wish to set up micro-cultures as if they had never left their own countries, and then complain that their rights are being impinged, then they should be reminded that they came to Australia, and this choice of change in residence was likely to incur other changes that they need have foreseen before making the decision.
It seems to me Australians (those who only have only one passport) have a hard enough job figuring out who they are without having to contend with helping others to do the same.
Maybe start there. No dual citizenship. If you are Australian, start by living in Australia, and paying taxes here, and contributing to its security and prosperity. At least these values can be quantified.
Regards
Greg