Bayview, although you married an immigrant (she is American no? - correct me if I am wrong), I sometimes get the feeling from your posts that you are not comfortable with new arrivals.
I'm not referring to the shrill, troublesome ones who arrive by boat and burn down detention centres - regardless of their origin, these people are clearly violent and they have no place here. Jewish and Vietnamese refugees in the past never did anything like that.
I'm referring to ordinary people who arrive legally, by plane, and try to make a go of things. Like that kid who got made Harvard's grade. She's done us proud We need a ship-load of people like her, don't you think?
Have I read you wrongly? If so my apologies in advance.
I just gave the immigrant kids a wrap - "They try harder, study harder".
My wife is Australian born to a Croatian Father and Dutch Mother, who met each other on the boat when they were immigrating to Australia back in the '60's.
They worked their butts off and bought a house in Noble Park when there was nothing there, and are still living in the same house today.
My FIL ran his own printing business and did cleaning jobs at night to earn more money to raise their 5 kids (2 sets of twins).
My MIL was a nurse until the 5 kids came along.
They are two of the best humans on this planet...do volunteer work for the local community and the Church, etc.
They live a quiet, generous to others life.
MY FIL watches soccer and barracks for Essendon.
My MIL, is addicted to knitting etc and makes loads of things for the Church to use for fundraising and so on.
They never bleat on about the homeland or "back home" or rant and rave because of some politician or some political or civil uprising event over there, etc.
They might mention it they way I would or other Aussies might, but it's just a discussion and a "tsk tsk" episode. The end.
In their hearts and minds they are 100% Aussie.
So, no; I don't have a problem with new arrivals, if they can be like this.
The problem I have with new arrivals is when they come over here, won't learn the language, won't assimilate, try to impose their culture and religion and homeland negativeness and violence on our Country.
If you want to live in my Country;
Be able to speak English,
Assimilate
Be accepting religiously of all people and religions.
Be productive and an asset to the Country.
My niece was married 2 weeks ago to an Indian man. He arrived in Aus 3 years ago, and could not speak any English at all.
Now, he can speak terrific English, and works as a taxi driver and security officer. He has assimilated 100% into Australian life.
He gives and receives racist jokes like water from the friends and family. It is quite hilarious. He can laugh at himself and has others laughing with him, have a beer, watch the footy and so on.
A terrific human (not because he has a beer).
He is the sort of new arrival I want.
The thing I don't like about new arrivals per se is that folk here in Aus blindly think more people is better for the economy.
It isn't.
I lived in the USA for 3 years, where they have a Country similar sized to ours, with 300 million people.
I can promise you that their lifestyle is not one bit better than ours, and in many, many instances it is worse.
Yes, the potential to make vast fortunes is there for a few due to the size of the customer base, but as for lifetyle and standard of living - we have a better one already.
Look at joints like India and China, and even England - waaaay too many people, and their lifestyle for the majority is not good.
The question is; what is enough?
50 million, 100 million, 200 million? We can accommodate that many because we have the space.
So what? Doesn't mean we have to fill it.
Let's call it 300 million - like the USA. Stop at that level. That's enough, yes? It's bloody hard to feed that many.
Now; go and live there for 3 years, and see whether you reckon here is better, or there.
