The Sydney Morning Herald reports that residents of Camden (an area in Sydney’s south-west) are fiercely opposing a proposed Islamic school in the area. Apparently, census figures have the local population at 69% Christian and another 13% as “no religion”, so there would certainly be a question as to whether those wishing to build the school can justify the need for it.
But as usual in these situations, the responses are quite hysterical:
A Camden Advertiser reader who identified only as Hayley said she felt sick. “The thought of our beautiful Camden accommodating to this religion is a disgrace … This Islamic school will change the town forever,” she said.
Oh, honey. This isn’t 1955.
A resident of 14 years, Gary Wright, said if Camden Council wished to bring crime and corruption to Camden and make it a “dirty looking town like Lakemba I supose (sic) they will go ahead anyhow”.
That’s … pretty deep.
But my favourite:
Some residents have also been circulating a text message urging people to voice their opposition to council.
“The council requires 600 written dated n signed letters objecting2the proposal of the muslim school in camden. DONT MISS the oppoutunity2have your say before its2late,” the message says.
It gives a postal address for the mayor and tells recipients to forward the message to everyone they know.
Fingers crossed they spelled the mayor’s address correctly.
4 comments ↓
As mentioned in the comments on the LDP article, the Liberty and Democracy Party have come out in support of the school.
http://planetirf.blogspot.com/.....amden.html
Irfan Yusuf has some commentary on his blog, including an important anecdotal comment from someone (a Muslim) living in Camden currently. This man claims ‘he knows some 70 Muslim families in Camden, mostly professionals or small business people who enjoy the semi-rural lifestyle and/or aren’t interested in paying through the nose for their rent or mortgage. And because they have completely “integrated”, you don’t even notice they’re there.’
Such a claim flies in the face of the ‘are any of them going to join?’ lady on the video.
I wonder and fear the potential of this turning into a national issue.
“This man claims ‘he knows some 70 Muslim families in Camden, mostly professionals or small business people who enjoy the semi-rural lifestyle and/or aren’t interested in paying through the nose for their rent or mortgage. And because they have completely “integrated”, you don’t even notice they’re there.’”
If they have completely integrated then they are Aussies and will not be attending a Muslim school.
So where is the demand for a Muslim school in Camden?
Dorothea,
what do you mean by “completely integrated”?
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