FW: Very important

Prime Minister John Howard - Australia

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.

If you agree please SEND THIS ON