Ignore fools who sneer at Ed Husic's rise Ed Husic is sworn in as a minister. THE toxic bottom-feeders posting messages of abuse on federal Labor MP Ed Husic's Facebook page are indicative of much that is wrong with social media; a place where cowards can share their abundant idiocy with other similarly feeble-minded souls under the cloak of anonymity. This week, the dullards were set off after Husic used the Koran in his swearing-in ceremony in Canberra's Government House. Husic is Australia's first Muslim frontbencher and his appointment was heralded as a "great day in multiculturalism in Australia" by Governor-General Quentin Bryce. But the seething simpletons were appalled by the use of the Koran instead of the Bible. It was called an act of treachery, disgusting, unconstitutional and unAustralian. It has been refreshing to see Husic ignore the tiny but loud minority of bigots, dismissing their concerns as "harsh words out of dark corners." He could've played the victim card but has smartly acknowledged that his hate-filled detractors don't represent the wider population. "There are people that are definitely extreme and they will always try to seek ways in which to divide people," he said. The important thing is mainstream Australia wants everyone to work together. Husic, the son of Bosnian migrants, describes himself as a moderate Muslim, one who doesn't go to mosque or pray regularly but is nonetheless a Muslim. That makes him all the more Australian - how many of our Christians regularly pray or attend church? Husic symbolises so much that is positive about Australia's growing Muslim population. As a moderate, he is representative of the majority of Muslims who migrate here. The ugly face of extremism may make itself known in violent street protests but it is the silent majority of Islamic Australians who make a meaningful contribution to the country. The Muslim community in Australia numbers more than 400,000 and, according to the Pew Research Centre, that will grow to more than 700,000 by 2030. More than 58 per cent of the Muslim population is under 30, significantly more than the national average, and through a combination of high birth rates, refugee programs and family reunions, the Muslim community is expected to increase four times more quickly than the non-Muslim population. Those are facts that, rightly or wrongly, concern some members of the community. It is not just mindless bigots who are uncomfortable with the increase in the Muslim population; many are uneasy about a lack of assimilation and ethnic separatism. The lack of integration in some sections of the community is due to not only cultural issues but significant language barriers, which have contributed to certain ethnic groups having unusually high unemployment numbers and reliance on social welfare. We should never hesitate in calling out Islam, or any religion, if its practices are not compatible with Australian values. There has been a worrying increase in cultural practices such as female genital mutilation and forced arranged marriages. In other parts of the Western world, there have been documented cases of honour killings among Muslim migrants where women have been slaughtered for bringing shame upon their family. Supporting multiculturalism does not mean shutting down debate or criticism of touchy issues; that is a sure way of creating dissent. In a truly tolerant society, we should be able to freely discuss issues surrounding religion, immigration and assimilation without fear of being labelled a redneck. That said, those who condemned Husic for simply using the Koran in an official ceremony are nothing more than fools who are best ignored. I recall no similar outrage when the member for Kooyong, Josh Frydenberg, and the member for Melbourne Ports, Michael Danby, were sworn into Federal Parliament on the Jewish bible. We must distinguish between well-founded concerns and racists who have nothing of worth to contribute. THE uncomfortable truth is that sections of the Muslim community refuse to embrace Australian values and are openly antagonistic to our culture. Their ugly, archaic attitude toward women is of a particular concern. They may represent a minority of the Muslim population but they are there and it is incumbent upon the rest of the community to ensure that extremist views are not tolerated. Leaders in the community should stop seeking to minimise or excuse the hate speech of young men, many of them Australian-born, who appear to despise the country and its culture. A 60 Minutes episode on the murder of British soldier Lee Rigby was confronting for many Australians, particularly those who identify as Muslim. The program included voxpops with members of the Muslim community in the western Sydney suburb of Lakemba and featured a group of young men who were brazen in their support of the terror attack. They called the deceased soldier "a dog" who "deserved" to have been killed in a London street. I've always thought that as migrants, we have an added obligation to be patriotic. After all, we chose to live here. And as migrants, we know how blessed we are to be in this idyllically peaceful and affluent country. Ed Husic's success represents so much that is positive about Australia; it is an inclusive and nurturing nation that grants migrants and their children the type of opportunity that is hard to find anywhere else in the world. No wonder so many are eager to come here and willing to risk life and limb in leaky boats for a better, more prosperous life for their family. No other country gives so much and asks so little of its citizens. Rita Panahi is a Herald Sun columnist. Twitter: @RitaPanahi