Campese says sorry for Ahmed comments

Bottom line is don't change team rules for any faith otherwise something new will always come up, we all play under the same rules as Australians

UTK is handling this the way it should be, following his religion by not drinking but not asking any rules to be changed for him

Ahmad should get advice from UTK on how to handle this given both have the same background

I agree Sheek Political correctness advocated by people who call themselves progressive is one of the most hypocritical thing I ever heard, an absolute betrayal of progressive politics. Progressive values - nothing is sacred, everything is up for debate, we should always look to improve society and allow self-scrutinised our own society, cultures and traditions and look for ways to improve ourselves. Cultures are fludiic and constantly change. Values and beliefs have to live and die within their own merit and cultural status shouldn't enter the debate. People shouldn't be obligated to like, respect or celebrate our own cultural values of the majority. then we have political correctness, this is part of their culture, we shouldn't criticised their cultural values, we have to accept cultural beliefs of everyone. Honestly I find that so bloody offensive because these political correct crowd forget one thing. There are progressive people in every society and culture who don't follow cultural traditions who criticised their own culture. By advocating political correctness, you are selling out liberals, progressives within their own community. Then they say garbage like people within their own culture are allowed to criticised but not people outside it. A good argument is a good argument irrespective of who is telling it. Judge ideas, arguments bt its own merit not the person who is telling it. PC people care about preserving all cultures except their own which just makes them self-hating traditional conservatives. They are just as bad as nationalist saying people are obligated to follow Australian culture and traditions simply because it is Australian but at least the nationalist are consistent. I'm not necessarily against people expressing cultural values and beliefs. The key is that we treat those values on its own merit and whether it is part of their culture or not is irrelevant to the quality of the values and beliefs.

My issue here all along, is not with Fawad Ahmed, but Cricket Australia. And particularly the false perceptions that flow from their subterfuge, in the form of religion, racism, etc. CA is faced with several problems. One, the game is dying from lack of popularity. This is partly CA's fault through their "grab the cash first" short-sightedness. Two, there is a lack of quality spinners requiring CA to quickly facilitate Fawad's hasty citizenship. Offering Fawad a sponsorship exemption was designed to shore up Fawad's support of CA. The lack of quality spinners is also a CA created problem. This is a cynical exercise by CA, who make out they're empathetic of Fawad's religion, but make no mistake, they had their own agenda to follow. Three, CA is conscious their sport is overwhelmingly anglo-white. Again, this is a fault of CA & its predecessors who have done very little to encourage non-whites, eg, aborigines, to take up the sport. Again, their support of Fawad is highly cynical as it gives the impression that CA is all-inconclusive. Well, what have they been doing for the past 150 years to integrate their sport? Fawad Ahmed is no doubt grateful of the opportunity afforded him by his new country. But make no mistake, he's being used by CA for their own purposes. And here I will leave it to rest..........

Thanks for the response Sheek. I appreciate your points in that last comment and I can see your where you are coming from in regards to the tolerance/capitulation line which is a very valid point however I don't think it fits the bill in regards to this particular instance. "I see no reason to appease any minority group if it means capitulating on your own values, culture, etc." This line in particular stood out and I think it accurately captures Ahmeds position on this whole issue. He was offered by his employers the opportunity to stay true to his values and he did which his team and those that know him have no problem with.... who cares what the minority (Campese and a few roarers) think. I think that sums it up best sheek ;) good discussion

Religion is part of culture - culture are open to scrutiny and are fluid in any liberal democracies. Cultures aren't sacred.and neither is religious beliefs or practice People have the right to religious expression but people shouldn't have the obligation to accomodate every religious belief within their workplace If your religious expression is contradictory to the obligation of the workplace than choose another workplace

Ken, Put down the khawaja pom poms and read up on what happened rather than being misguided by others.... NO ONE has asked for the rules to be changed.

Well done CJ, There's a job for you as a bomb disposal expert if you want it! ;-)

That's a reasonable question, Renegade. But it's horses for courses, I think. Goodes was right to pull that young girl into line. It was between the two of them. I don't think the matter should have got the publicity it did, but sometimes when you're in the public eye, it's difficult to hide your actions. I'm trying to get some Roarers to see the difference between tolerance & capitulation. Do you support a particular position because you really believe in it, or are you just trying to appease the politically correct? I see no reason to appease any minority group if it means capitulating on your own values, culture, etc. Tolerance is a two-way street but ultimately the culture character of the majority takes precedence. There are some minority groups who want all the concessions to flow their way.

Because religion is intertwined with culture, and in democracies people have the right to religious expression. Any more questions?

Calling someone out for being obviously bigoted is not throwing the word around.

Good on UTK for declining, rules should not be changed for one player otherwise we open the door for further changes for all other faiths as well.

I agree with Vivek, Khawaja's example can't be denied, a non drinking muslim player himself but not asking for any changes on his behalf to the rules, that's how it should be

Maybe Australia could try some sort of immigration policy that blocks people from 'alien' cultures coming in and trying to take over. Only the right sort of immigrants could enter. You could call it the 'Right Australia Policy'. Wonder why it hasn't been tried before. And the scary thing is, Kevin is probably nodding his head saying 'bloody good idea mate', while everyone else is horrified.

Campese was one of my all time favourite footballers and goes down history as ne of the Australiangreats of any sport of any era yet he said sorry be a little easy on him and if tis new spinner has these beliefs well so be it at lest he is out there having a go for us and we need everything we can get at th momnt and he can accompany Nathan Lyon at the other end . Also cricket is good it is multicultural like other sorts and why shouldn't it be ? Julian Weiner Jewish Len Pascoe in the 70s Yugoslave Kawaja is Muslim to I think Mike Valetta Italian decent we even ad Keppler Wessels cause South Africa where banned then and we gave him a go in Qld and Australia also many more so if your good enough go or it just ask Bobby Simpson who took Richard Cee Quee underhs win NSW batsmen of the 90s cause some people in life and sport especially are so racist and it is a disgrace sport is there for all to enjoy Isay

I guess we should remember the fact that Campo isn't apologizing for disagreeing with the logo being taken off, but the fact he said Ahmed should 'go home'. That's the issue here. It's a bit like how it would be fine for a US senator to disagree with Barack Obama on policy, but if he suggested Obama should go back to Africa, there'd be a separate issue.

"Anyone who has played sport understands, or should understand, the team concept. Everyone gives up a little of their feelings of entitlements, their individuality, for the greater good of the team." Does that mean Adam Goodes should have just kept quiet in regards to the comments he was objected to by the Collingwood fan and Eddie Maguire earlier this year because the majority of the team were not affected by it?? For the greater good of the team??

The khawaja fan club has somehow bought the saviour into this as well.... Vivek, Please explain how Ahmed has asked to change the rules??