This Should Apply Here

Excerpts from an on going debate in Australia.
This is true and can be checked at
http://www.snopes.com/politics/religion/australia.asp

Muslims who want to live under Islamic Sharia law were told on Wednesday to get out of Australia, as the government targeted radicals in a bid to head
off potential terror attacks. A day after a group of mainstream Muslim leaders pledged loyalty to Australia and her Queen at a special meeting with Prime Minister John Howard, he and his Ministers made it clear that extremists would face a crackdown. Treasurer Peter Costello, seen as heir apparent to Howard, hinted that some radical clerics could b e asked to leave the country if they did not accept that Australia was a secular state, and its laws were
made by parliament. "If those are not your values, if you want a country
which has Sharia law or a theocratic state, then Australia is not for you",
he said on National Television.

"I'd be saying to clerics who are teaching that there are two laws governing
people in Australia: one the Australian law and another Islamic law that is
false. If you can't agree with parliamentary law, independent courts,
democracy, and would prefer Sharia law and have the opportunity to go to
another country, which practices it, perhaps, then, that's a better option",
Costello said.

Asked whether he meant radical clerics would be forced to leave, he said
those with dual citizenship could possibly be asked to move to the other
country. Education Minister Brendan Nelson later told reporters that
Muslims who did not want to accept local values should "clear off.
Basically people who don't want to be Australians, and who don't want, to
live by Australian values and understand them, well then, they can basically
clear off", he said.

Separately, Howard angered some Australian Muslims on Wed nesday by saying he supported spy agencies monitoring the nation's mosques.
Quote: "IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT. Take It Or Leave It. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks on Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians."

"However, the dust from the attacks had barely settled when the 'politically
correct' crowd began complaining about the possibility that our patriotism
was offending others. I am not against imm igration, nor do I hold a grudge
against anyone who is seeking a better life by coming to Australia."
"However, there are a few things that those who have recently come to our
country, and apparently some born here, need to understand." "This idea of
Australia being a multi-cultural community has served only to dilute our
sovereignty and our national identity. And as Australians, we have our own
culture, our own society, our own language and our own lifestyle."
"This culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and
victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom"

"We speak mainly ENGLISH, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language. Therefore, if you wish to become part of our society .. Learn the language!" "Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian, right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation, and this is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the world as your new home, because God is part of our culture."
"We will accept your beliefs, and will not question why. All we ask is that
you accept ours, and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us."
"If the Southern Cross offends you, or you don't like "A Fair Go", then you
should seriously consider a move to another part of this planet. We are
happy with our culture and have no desire to change, and we really don't
care how you did things where you came from. By all means, keep your
culture, but do not force it on others.