OMG – I agree with Amanda Vanstone

Not the most pleasant thing to realise, but I almost have to agree with Senator Vanstone – if Sheik Taj el-Din al Hilaly doesn't like Australia, he should bugger off.

I am not a White Australia Policy advocate, but after a stint in Asia I came back with MUCH less tolerance of people banging on about Australians being racist or intolerant. In Hong Kong I saw (and was occasionally the target of) some of the most amazingly blatant racist behavior.

Australia is NOT perfect on this front, but if you don't like the place YOU DONT HAVE TO LIVE HERE. Given the sectarian violence all over the Middle East, I find it hard to accept al Hilalys assertions that "Western people are the biggest liars and oppressors and especially the English race".

I am not sure that its a competition and if it is, I suspect its one that one of us wants or needs to win – unless, aparently, there is some political mileage to be had from it.

What disturbs me the most about this is that al Hilaly (can I call ya Taj?) seems to be flip flopping on his positon of contrition after the whole "meat for cats" episode now that he is in another country and playing to a different audience. The upshot is that yet again Australian Muslims are going to have to deal with fall out of ill advised comments from their "leaders".

My hope if that they are able to see themselves as part of the Australian community rather than only as Muslims and respond to al Hilaly that they do not need or appreciate his input.

I was on the train this morning and there was a Muslim mother wearing the headscarf, the hajib. With her she had one of the most adorable and engaging little girls I have ever seen. The little girl was only about 2 or 3 and did not say a word, but she was captivating. This shy, reserved Muslim mother was the centre of attention in our carriage as her daughters smile reached out to everyone there.

Thats the image I hope for Australia. A place where the culture is shared, where we enjoy and respect each others difference without the need to dominate or over power. Where a little girl feels that comfortible to smile at strangers.