When does a migrant become an Australian? 2012 Speech

 1. When does a migrant become an Australian?

In order to find out the above question's answer, we must first

define the term Australian. Under the 'White Australian Policy',

Australian did mean White with Western Culture background.

However after the introduction of multi cul turism in the

nineteen seventies, its meaning has been transformed gradually.

2. Today the word Australian might include people from all sorts

of backgrounds with the sharing of the common core values such

as solidarity, independence, organic society and

self-determination. Solidarity means the support of people by

other people because they share feelings, aims, etc. It refers

to the ties in a society that bind people to one another. In

the case of social solidarity there is an emphasis on unity,

group consciousness and social cohesion. Organic society here

is also ref erring to the interdependence of the component parts.

On the contrary, independence and self-determination exercise

self-government over its individual cases with no external

compulsion or interference.

3. Suppose Australia is a trunk of an apple tree as a big family,

then all the migrants of different ethnic backgrounds would be

the branches of the tree as the members of Australia. The roots

of the tree absorb water and nutrients from the land, which is

Australia and give to the branches which then sprout flowers

and bear apples. The leaves also receive sunlight and carbon

dioxide which the tree can use to convert carbon dioxide and

water to food. In other words, the tree and the land depend on

each other. The trunk and branch also rely on each other. All

sorts of elements cannot leave each other. The branches are

necessary to the tree for survival just as different cultures

rely on Australia to live. Within the dependent and independent

relationship, both sides develop its strength and create its

variety.

4. The diversity of different cultural backgrounds could

contribute to Australia's development and progress and coexist

and flourish together. But we should not limit to the surface

of diversity of languages, religions, dress and food. We should

think about the deep cultural part including history, tradition,

etc., not the festive level of events.

5. Consequently, if we realize that a migrant becoming an

Australian is really a very important issue, it would

demonstrate we could make differences in our daily life, since

only differences can make cultures alive or bring vitality to

our life. In fact it is only through experiences with other

cultures that traditional cultures change and adapt to

different environments.

6. If we could accept this kind of philosophy as our new version,

we would not be far from the answer to today's question. If a

migrant grafts himself or herself into a trunk of a tree as a

part of Australia, he or she would be ready to become an

Australian. Therefore it is very important that a migrant

identifies himself or herself as an Australian subjectively.