[Congressional Record Volume 153, Number 89 (Tuesday, June 5, 2007)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1194]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                          BRAVO TO THE AUSSIES

                                 ______
                                 

                        HON. JOHN J. DUNCAN, JR.

                              of tennessee

                    in the house of representatives

                         Tuesday, June 5, 2007

  Mr. DUNCAN. Madam Speaker, one of my constituents, Rip Kirby, sent me 
the following article and asked that it be placed in the Congressional 
Record.
  Mr. Kirby was the Founder of the Baseball Chapel for the minor 
leagues of professional baseball. He is a respected Christian leader 
and an outstanding American.
  Many people in this Country and really all over the world are 
becoming fed up with ``political correctness.''
  I would like to call this article to the attention of my colleagues 
and other readers of the Record.


                          Bravo to the Aussies

       I had seen this before, but felt it worth sending again and 
     again to see if our government can have the guts to follow 
     suit.
       If anyone has a link to the White House, send it. Though 
     doubt that anything will be done. But maybe in time we can 
     make a difference with as many decent politicians we can 
     elect.
       This country needs to get God and human decency back into 
     our society and stop letting others take advantage of our 
     freedoms.
       I and most Americans see nothing wrong with the stance that 
     Australia has taken. They deserve our applause.
       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 be 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 
     Wednesday 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 immigration, 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. ``This is Our 
     Country, Our Land, and Our Lifestyle, and we will allow you 
     every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done 
     complaining, whining, and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, 
     Our Christian beliefs, or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage 
     you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, 
     `The Right To Leave'.''
       ``If you aren't happy here then Leave. We didn't force you 
     to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country You 
     accepted.''
       Maybe if we circulate this amongst ourselves, American 
     citizens will find the backbone to start speaking and voicing 
     the same truths!

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