Thinking of Moving to Australia

[Montalban]

It used to be one of the first questions they'd ask arriving celebs. "What do you think of the country so far?"

 

[Nooj]

Every foreigner I know loves Tim-Tams - you might want to pick some up just to try them.

Hello again, I was looking at the other thread from an American thinking of migrating over and noticed someone mention that in general Aussies were not as patriotic as Americans.

I know after 9/11 a lot of Americans wear there patriotism as a badge of honor, but with Aussies it has seemed to me they are just as patriotic they just don't jump around scream about it

Is this even close to being accurate?

Patriotism...it's a word that's not really part of the Australian vocabulary. We don't use the term often. That's not to say it doesn't exist, it's just a sort of quiet love.

 

[ebia]

Every foreigner I know loves Tim-Tams - you might want to pick some up just to try them.

[mutters]just a cheap and less nice version of Penguins[/mutters]

Patriotism...it's a word that's not really part of the Australian vocabulary.

Nor British. It always seems a very American word.

 

[Montalban]

Nor British. It always seems a very American word.

Patriotism is the virtue of the vicious.
-Oscar Wilde

 

[Montalban]

Every foreigner I know loves Tim-Tams - you might want to pick some up just to try them.

Not a foreigner, but I hate Tim-Tams. I preferred Jaffa Cakes but Arnotts stopped making them.

 

[ebia]

I agree Jaffa Cakes are way better, but they aren't distinctively Australian.

 

[Montalban]

I agree Jaffa Cakes are way better, but they aren't distinctively Australian.

So says my link, if you follow it

 

[AnthonyB]

I always thought crucial choice was between Tim Tams and Mint Slices?

 

[Montalban]

I always thought crucial choise was between Tim Tams and Mint Slices?

I love Mint Slices.

 

[TheDag]

Hello again, I was looking at the other thread from an American thinking of migrating over and noticed someone mention that in general Aussies were not as patriotic as Americans.

I know after 9/11 a lot of Americans wear there patriotism as a badge of honor, but with Aussies it has seemed to me they are just as patriotic they just don't jump around scream about it

Is this even close to being accurate?

when I hear of aussies being patriotic I find that in the majority of cases it is an attempt to hide racism rather than actually being patriotic.

 

[Tahoenite]

when I hear of aussies being patriotic I find that in the majority of cases it is an attempt to hide racism rather than actually being patriotic.

Could you please elaborate, I don't think I understand?

 

[TheDag]

when I hear of aussies being patriotic I find that in the majority of cases it is an attempt to hide racism rather than actually being patriotic.

Could you please elaborate, I don't think I understand?

often this patriotism leads to comments like why don't you back to where you came from (this is made funny when the person being spoken to was actually born here) and things like that. They often use the flag as a way to cover their acts. there have been violent attacks on people of foreign heritage by people waving the flag. They then claim to be patriotic australians when in reality they just don't like you if you are different and have different coloured skin. Does this help? If not I will try and get back to you when I have more time.

 

[nolongerhome]

For a short, sad history of what most Australians would think of when you say patriotism, see this:

2005 Cronulla riots - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In general, I think Australians are much too laid-back to buy into patriotism, with the sole, but notable, exception of sporting-related patriotism. It seems like the only people that feel much political/cultural patriotism are on the extreme.

 

[Montalban]

For a short, sad history of what most Australians would think of when you say patriotism, see this:

2005 Cronulla riots - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

In general, I think Australians are much too laid-back to buy into patriotism, with the sole, but notable, exception of sporting-related patriotism. It seems like the only people that feel much political/cultural patriotism are on the extreme.

This is a terrible incident to example as it's not typical of Australian patriotism at all.

Your article notes: "On December 4, 2005, a group of volunteer surf life savers was assaulted, with several other violent assaults occurring over the next week. These incidents were widely reported and commented on in Sydney media."

These volunteers had been assaulted by Moslems. This angered the community. They struck back. Later Moslems had their own counter-strikes.

It's interesting to note at the time examples from the wider community who dobbed in their own sons to the police when they found out, compared to the wall of silence from the Islamic community.

 

[Monarchist]

Its not politicaly correct for Australians to be patriotic anymore
and as a people white Australians should be embarassed and ashamed for what happened to aboriginals as well as anything we do to immigrants unless it is giving funding
Australians are now taught to be ashamed of our heritage and any conservative opinions because then it will be classed as mob rule

Like any country we have segragated communitys that occasionaly clash

Take note of the date of the 2005 riots

 

[jasent2010]

What do you think of Dick Smith setting a 70 000 annual migration limit?
I want to know how he worked it out

 

[Montalban]

What do you think of Dick Smith setting a 70 000 annual migration limit?
I want to know how he worked it out

There's two standards.

I recall at around the same time two interesting incidents happened as an illustration of this.

Cardinal Pell was accused of improper relations with a man. At the same time the Lakemba Sheikh was pulled over by police for irregularities to do with his car.

Which is the more severe accusation? Well Pell forgave the man who withdrew his accusations. The Sheikh pretended to have a fit and claimed that the whole NSW police force were anti-Moslem and should apologise to him

 

[glymph]

There's two standards.

I recall at around the same time two interesting incidents happened as an illustration of this.

Cardinal Pell was accused of improper relations with a man. At the same time the Lakemba Sheikh was pulled over by police for irregularities to do with his car.

Which is the more severe accusation? Well Pell forgave the man who withdrew his accusations. The Sheikh pretended to have a fit and claimed that the whole NSW police force were anti-Moslem and should apologise to him

Wow - a religious leader claiming persecution. Who would ever have thought that could happen? At least the good ol' Pell would never do that though hey? (Except of course when he's raving on about how Christians face global bullying and intimidation and what-not.)

 

[Montalban]

Wow - a religious leader claiming persecution. Who would ever have thought that could happen? At least the good ol' Pell would never do that though hey? (Except of course when he's raving on about how Christians face global bullying and intimidation and what-not.)

Pell showed restraint and good grace.

 

[glymph]

Pell showed restraint and good grace.

On this one occasion you may be right. In general he lies about atheists (eg by saying that "atheists sponsored no community services"), has unkind words to say about other religions whilst too often (although I'll grant not always) being dismissive of faults in his own and he plays the persecution card often.

While I would count the sheik as considerably worse than Pell, I certainly wouldn't hold Pell up as an example of anything good.