Truth The Aussie Way

BILLINGSGATE JOURNAL (Dateline Sydney, Australia)

BULLETIN: Sometimes even a posting by the storied Dr. BILLINGSGATE can be superseded by an article from an outside source. In this case I am quoting a release from today's Investor's Business Daily titled, "Truth The Aussie Way":

Courage: Radical Muslims continue to threaten the foundation of civilization, but the West can't bring itself to talk candidly about Islam. An inspiring exception can be found Down Under.

While our own leaders, despite a few mutterings about "Islamofascists," let political correctness get the better of them, a spokesman for the Australian government has reportedly "read the riot act" to Muslim leaders.

Not what you would expect from the chief of Australia's office of multiculturalism and immigration. But Andrew Robb didn't hold back as he spoke to 100 Australian imams last week- end in Sydney.

"We live in a world of terrorism where evil acts are being regularly perpetrated in the name of your faith," said Robb. "And because it is your faith that is being invoked as justification for these evil acts, it is your problem. You can't wish it away, or ignore it, just because it has been caused by others. Instead, speak up and condemn terrorism, defend your role in the way of life that we all share here in Australia."

Will Robb apologize? Of course not. He has nothing to apologize for, and Muslim extremists wouldn't except it anyway.

But the point is well-taken: If Muslims wish to live in developed nations, they should exercise their religious freedom according to civilized norms. And that includes refraining from violence and speaking up about the violence carried out by their co-religionists.

Robb's bluntness is characteristic of the government of Australia's no-nonsense prime minister, John Howard. It's even weighing a citizenship test that examines immigrant's knowledge of Australia's history, culture and system of representative government as well as their commitment to the country's "common values."

Howard himself has called Muslim migrants to task for refusing to embrace Australian values and has urged a full integration into Australian society. This would include learning English and treating women as equals rather than inferiors. Will someone else in the West second his commitment to candor?

We're not asking for a blanket rebuke of all Muslims or a condemnation of their religion. We just want mainstream Muslims to rise to the challenge and denounce the terrorism carried out in their god's name. When they start doing that -- and there are enough of them to force change -- then non-Muslim leaders won't have to.

Western leaders should have no fear of inflaming Muslims or anyone else by speaking the truth. The fear should be in what happens if the truth is continually swept under the rug.