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It's amidst this climate of terrorist threats and anti-refugee sentiment that a more sinister form of "Aussie pride" has developed. Extremist groups like Reclaim Australia and the United Patriots Front have formed. They advocate Anglo-Saxon privilege, claiming they have more rights than those of different ethnicities. And they've conducted nationwide anti-Islamic rallies, including protesting the now approved Bendigo mosque.The 2005 Cronulla Riots was the first overt sign of this jingoism and it's the Australian Islamic community that have borne the brunt of it ever since. Kuranda Seyit, spokesperson for the Islamic Council of Victoria, thinks it's disappointing that these small, but very vocal "white supremacist groups have exploited" the notion of Australian patriotism, along with using Islam as a "wedge" to divide the community. "They imply there are some segments of society who are not patriotic because they don't adhere to the way of life they espouse, which is drinking alcohol and having pork on their barbie," he said. To Seyit, there's much more to being an Australian than this.Like much of the community, Muslim Australians hold the more complex set of values underlying national identity in high esteem. "They love the freedom of Australia. They love the values of mateship and the values of a fair go," Seyit said and went on to elaborate that "these values are what it means to be patriotic."Small, but very vocal white supremacist groups have exploited the notion of Australian patriotism…
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So in the face of all this, is it possible for people who migrate to Australia to feel part of a broader patriotism that includes them? Well according to Race Discrimination Commissioner Dr Tim Soutphommasane it is. He was born in France, after his parents fled Laos, and then grew up in southwest Sydney. "Those who express jingoist national pride have a certain view of what Australia means," he told VICE. "But a modern Australia is one that is multicultural."Soutphommasane believes that patriotism needs to be reclaimed and that this new expression of national identity would embrace the diversity of multicultural Australia. "It's great that people can be part of Australian society, regardless of their background," he said. "People can be Australian in many ways, and they should feel comfortable in their skin."This burgeoning identity would be based on common values, rather than belonging to a certain ethnicity. And when you look beyond stereotypical portrayals of what it is to be Australian, you find that this in essence is something that already exists.Follow Paul on TwitterHe was stopped from laying a wreath to commemorate Aboriginal people who've died at war…