What price a country?

Most people in Australia believe in a fair go; that most immigrants are welcome as long as they don't bring their bad habits here. We love our ethnic foods, we love our multicultural festivals, we're friendly to our neighbours, no matter where they came from and we will help a local community no matter where the citizens were born.

Australians are known for a laidback lifestyle and laconic humour, our generosity of spirit and the indefinable ethic of 'mateship'.

But don't think we'll accept anybody. Australia, like every other nation has a right to chose who shall and shall not be allowed to come to the country; as a tourist, as a worker, as a new citizen.

So what's this all about, huh? Is there some reason why the Treasurer isn't allowed to express his opinion?

Is there some reason why new citizens shouldn't be loyal to this country? Why they can't respect what Australia is all about? Isn't that why they came here in the first place? For freedom, for democracy, for a better life?

Mr Costello said: "anyone not prepared to accept Australian values, and who had citizenship of another country, should not remain an Australian citizen."

As westerners, we are required to accept the cultural, social and legal values of any other country we move to, or, indeed, visit. Our country isn't any different.

Simply put: You don't like how we do things here, then go where you do like how things are done.

Australia is for Australians, and we come from here, the Americas, the Asias, Europe, the British Isles, Africa, the Pacific Islands, just about every nation you care to name. What we don't want is for radical bigots bringing their shit over here and causing a ruckus.

I don't care where you come from, you don't like your own country? Change it from the inside, don't come here and criticise us for not doing enough, for being culturally insensitive, for being intolerant. You don't like our own country? Go somewhere else, don't harass our women on the beach because bikinis offend your eyes, don't roam in vicious packs attacking lone people and blame it on the victim. Don't demand we understand your way when it is not our way - make the information available, and we will read it. Don't curse at our lack of attention when you won't even learn our language.

What really pisses me off is that anyone who expresses an opinion, an opposing opinion, on this topic is branded a racist. Sorry, but bullshit.

This country was built on certain values, is maintained by certain values, and is respected for those values. That is the Australia I live in. If you can't or won't accept those values, then fuck off.