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COMMENTS:
Voted : Common sense
I live in australia snd think its important to learn it if you don want to lear it that tells me you really give a stuff for the country.
If the Australians are going to rely on such tests for immigrants, then it is only fair that all current Australians either pass the test or be deported.
I think most australians would be able to pass the english requirement and basic history/cultural questions.
Do you now? Then Australians must be brighter than most Americans. In a survey by the Pollard Institute (2006), only one American in five was able to answer three common history questions, and only one in twenty could identify Massachusetts on a map.
Voted : Common sense
and fair... although, "tough English language tests" should be more likely moderate.
I think it's an absolutely ridiculous waste of tax payers money for bilingual government forms... In fact, America needs to officially make English our national language.
by MO_ on Sat Sep 23, 06 10:26am
[+]
Marge: I've got a feeling any quiz on culture and history will be very simple. They won't ask the names of all killed in the boston massacre (or the aussie equivalent of meaningless historical trivia) they'll ask things that everyone ought to know. But I think you added that just to get in a swipe at americans.
Mr. Herzog: If a "swipe at Americans" is pointing out that most Americans do poorly on American history and geography quizzes, then so be it. I happen to agree that immigrants should be required to speak the language of their new country within say, five years, and they should know some of the broad strokes of the nation's history. My point was that we all need to know these things, and some of us need to learn to speak English. No "swipe" intended.
I guess if I wanted to keep my country 'pure' and so reduce the gene pool, hey that would seem a spiffing idea.
Its not like diversity and cultural exchange is important in the 21st century, I mean what have the immigrants ever done for us (paraphrasing The Life of Brian)
Nothing thats what...
Except building the rail system. oh and providing the labour in which nation build their infrastructure, erm oh yes, leaps in the sciences, new and exotic dishes, a sense of world community, the musical influences, the art, the willingness to do all the jobs natives seem to believe beneath them, fight the wars for their adopted nations and on and on and on.
So, you're right, we dont need any of this unless they can pass an English and History exam.
Lets just shut the door and pretend the world isn't happening.
Voted : Racist patronizing
I'd like to see a control group of native-born Aussies take this test as well, to see how many of them fail. Here in America, there are people who don't know who the first POTUS was. Or what POTUS even *stands* for. Live in fear, die in a cave with your head up your a$$.
See, here's the thing, Canada's own questions on history, most of us wouldn't know, or they're so outdated.
For example: "What is the most valuable manufacturing industry in your region?"
by aya on Sat Sep 23, 06 7:19pm
[+]
Steel wtf? The test has nothing to do with race and everything to do with culture, and it’s just absurd that you would try and suggest otherwise.
I live in Australia, in an area with alot of vietnamese immigrants. You will find the majority of them speak vietnamese and have very poor english skills. I know a vietnamese man who has lived and worked in australia for 16 years and has very poor english skills because he is constantly speaking vietnamese to his friends and family. If he had of made a decent effort to speak english during the past 16 years it would be alot easier to understand him and you wouldn’t have to feel like you’re walking through vietnam everytime you go to the section of the local shops owned predominantly by the vietnamese.
Australia is a civilised peaceful place because it exercises western values. I have no idea why you automatically assume that multiculturalism is important simply because it is multiculturalism. What if a muslim wants to migrate to Australia but wants to keep his traditional values of oppressing women and stoning homosexuals? That can hardly be considered important in the 21st century. And unfortunately, just about every muslim that migrates to Australia continues to practise Islam. Islam isn’t part of Australian Culture! And it seems that everywhere Islam goes.. it brings trouble. So Australia has every right to maintain it’s peaceful culture. If immigrants want to live in this country (most often because it is more peaceful than their home country) than they should practise the culture and speak the language that made this country so great.
And how many of these immigrants contributed to leaps in science, art, exotic dishes and the like?
I don't suppose you think that all african americans have the right to walk into anyone who owns a hair straightener's house and start using their electricity and eating their food.. simply because Garrett Morgan invented a hair straigtening preperation. Nice logic.
Voted : Racist patronizing
It's not "racist" exactly, but, from the way the description sounds to me, this test seems far too strict.
Voted : Common sense
I don't see what is supposedly racist about it. I favour the language test. The cultural test has potential to be good, if the right questions are asked- such as asking question about tolerance, women's rights, etc- which is central to Western values.
The history test seems a bit more unnecessary. I don't think it it has the same practicality as culture and language. In fact, I say scrap the history part of the test. Not because it is racist- it is not racist at all- it's just uneccessary.
Steelhamster- you list some positive things immigrants have generally brought to some countries. Okay. But, the issue here is not getting rid of immigrants- but rather giving preferential treatment to those that would integrate easier. This is not about stopping immigration, I repeat, it is about pro-integration. There are many of applying immigrants to Australia, who I am sure, would pass the test. Immigration to Australia will continue.
Narcissus- I agree with you that it is about culture and not race. As to your Vietnamese example- I think that the second and third generation immigrants in Australia probably are better integratied lingually and culturally. The first generation, such as the one who lived in Australia for 16 years, by statistics, has the record of lagging more, and then their children and grandchildren integrate more so.
Now, on to the topic of Islam. I think Islam can be compatible with Australian culture. I believe it is an error to claim that Islam is completely incompatible with the culture of a Western nation, such as Australia. There are many Muslims in the West that are Westernised. By Westernised- I imply they have embraced to significant extents repsect for individual rights, women's rights, tolerance of differing groups, etc.
Oy Vey... This has nothing to do with whether or not Aussie nationals should take/pass this test, or Americans for that matter, here... if we were educate within our country, who cares what we've retained, we're already functioning within our native society...
Government and religious organizations offer all sorts of free/low cost programs to educate someone immigrating. All they need is to speak enough of the language to memorize a syllabus, with all the questions and answers attached, then take a closed book test. If they expect less, their opportunist, and will surely become dependent upon government aid.
by MO_ on Sun Sep 24, 06 9:53am
[+]
I just saw the results of this pole... what a load!
53% say that these measures are racist...
I'm still Liberal... but ashamed for these ballot results!
by MO_ on Sun Sep 24, 06 10:04am
[+]
Voted : Common sense
No, margaret123.
Being born within a country has its inherent rights. Believe it or not, that's how it used to be in USA.
There is a process to immigrate into a country and even become a citizen.
Steel: so you're saying requiring basic english skills and some knowledge of history will exclude all potential immigrants? In other words, you believe immigrants are incapable of learning english or having the least understanding of any history?
Because to say that basic requirements such as these for new immigrants is the same thing as demanding no new immigrants become citizens is the same as saying that all immigrants are incapable of performing these tasks. Do you believe foriegners are incapable of learning a new language or memorizing a few dates? Because I think that many will be able to perform these tasks.
In which part of my answer did I imply that?
I feel that so called 'tests' on knowledge is vague.
How many immigrants (legal ones) came to America from Europe, but were unable to speak English? Their children and grandchildren are now absorbed into the culture while still holding ties with 'the old country'
 Poll, I work with a Pole...
by MO_ on Mon Sep 25, 06 3:09pm
[+]
Sure you did steel. You went on with your sob story about how great immigrants are and what a loss it would be to no longer have any. This article isn't a ban on immigration, it's a limitation on it. You have to speak the language and no something about the country you're going to live in. THat's all. Immigration is still allowed.
But you took this as a ban on all immigration. Which means either you didn't read the article, or you believe no immigrants will pass these requirements. Which is it?
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