Abbott - Multiculturalism paves the way for Aussies
February 26, 2006I’m occasionally surprised by Tony Abbott. I disagree with his stance on the RU486 issue (as Jay and Silent Bob said: “A woman’s body is her own business”), as well as several other socially conservative issues. So it really surprised me when he made this speech supporting the right of immigrants to come to Australia -
Of course, every migrant community has taken some time to identify fully as Australian. People should not be expected to forsake their affections or lose interest in the culture that shaped them. It would be odd if they did. As the Prime Minister once said: “We all love Australia but we never forget where we came from.”
Even so, the act of migration signifies at least an implicit willingness on each migrant’s part to become part of a different society and to be changed by it. Native-born people have not had to make a conscious choice of Australia in the way that every migrant has. In that sense, each migrant’s arrival is another vote of confidence in our country. I’m sure this is what Ronald Reagan had in mind when he said that each migrant makes America more American.
Whoever wrote Tony Abbott’s speech, give him a payrise. It’s the best example I’ve seen of taken an American quote and applying it perfectly to Australian situations. “Making Australia more Australian” - I like it!
