Patriotism versus Multiculturalism

Dear Readers--

In the following passages you may see the difference between old ideal of Patriotism and the new ideal of Multiculturalism.

Firstly, from Sir Walter Scott (1771–1832):

Innominatus

BREATHES there the man with soul so dead,
Who never to himself hath said,
'This is my own, my native land!'
Whose heart hath ne'er within him burn'd
As home his footsteps he hath turn'd
From wandering on a foreign strand?
If such there breathe, go, mark him well;
For him no Minstrel raptures swell;
High though his titles, proud his name,
Boundless his wealth as wish can claim;
Despite those titles, power, and pelf,
The wretch, concentred all in self,
Living, shall forfeit fair renown,
And, doubly dying, shall go down
To the vile dust from whence he sprung,
Unwept, unhonour'd, and unsung.

Secondly, from Rupert Murdoch (former Australian citizen):

From the First Boyer Lecture 2008

Finally, Australia will be strong only if it is open to immigration. Thank goodness we are beyond where we were a few decades ago. After World War Two, we opened our doors to Southern Europe and other non-Anglo populations. And after the Vietnam War we began welcoming our neighbours in the region. In a relatively short period of time, we have buried 'White Australia', and in its place have raised a modern, diverse society.

This does not mean we are neutral or valueless. We must expect immigrants to learn our language and embrace the principles that make Australia a decent and tolerant nation. At the same time, Australia needs to recognise that immigrants bring energy, skills and enthusiasm. They often better recognise the virtues of Australian society, virtues that we are too shy or embarrassed to laud.

In my view, Australians should not worry because other people want to come to our country. The day to worry is when immigrants are no longer attracted to our shores. We should be a beacon to all. To our region in particular, we should be a living, happy, civil and contesting democracy that is a model for the emerging democracies around us.

Yes, Readers, Australia will be a better place if we bring more foreigners in, who will shed their old cultures, languages and ways like an old set of clothes. Mr Murdoch apparently doesn't comprehend (or contemplate) the idea that some immigrants might hold on to their old cultures and that these cultures might be incompatible with the current Australia. He also fails to understand is that Australia's culture springs organically from it's people - and therefore if you change the People you change the Culture.

Truly, Thomas Jefferson was right.

"The selfish spirit of commerce... knows no country, and feels no passion or principle but that of gain." --Thomas Jefferson to Larkin Smith, 1809. ME 12:272

"Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains." --Thomas Jefferson to Horatio G. Spafford, 1814. ME 14:119

Mr Murdoch truly is a man who's soul is so dead that he cannot understand that People are attached to their native Land in ways that cannot just be shrugged off as unimportant.

Yours Sincerely,
Mild Colonial Boy, Esq.