What does it mean to be Australian? We are a motley crew. Descendants of settlers/convicts, migrants... we're talking about the British/Irish/what have you... then there's the rest of the migrants and their descendants from the rest of the world. Yeah. We have a common background to make ourselves unique.
I was being sarcastic. Don't you dare conclude that its because we're all migrants or descendants of migrants.
Argh. I'm losing my train of thought here... Basically, our identity... of being Australian is defined by the good old "Aussie Battler" stereotype. I still think it stands true.
It is often said that our nation was born during the Gallipoli campaign of WWI. Since it was the first major international battle Australia fought in. Also because Australia fought under their own army. Oh shit, I can't remember. Sure, the ANZACs (can't forget the New Zealanders) were basically the cannon fodder battalion for Churchill, but important never the less. There are so many stories of how
we* went against old school battle tactics to secure victories and all that. Great stuff, go read some history books, mate. If only I can remember some specifics... some of it made me really mad.
Anyways, ANZAC day was not too long ago. Cue the special features on TV and in the newspaper where they have a surviving veteran, or their grand kid talk about the war, what they did, what it means to them, etc. Same old, same old.
Don't get me wrong, it's good that we're honouring them, commemorating them, I respect them.
What I would like to see, is a migrant, not of European origin or caucasian, present their point of view on ANZAC day, the ANZACs, Australia's participation in theatres of war in the past, and all that other stuff I can't think of but are significant. I wouldn't mind giving my 2 cents!
I could talk about the young men who went off to fight for Australia. They sacrificed their lives so that we can live in a free world.
Bugger, I forgot what else I could say.
But what makes many words is the fact that I have zero connection to those great people. My parents migrated here, and I was born here. I am Australian, I am Asian. I am also neither. I am halfway between the two cultures, you could say I might be on one of those rickety wooden boats floating off WA's northern coast... except I am actually an Aussie citizen and not an illegal boatperson. Ok, dodgy analogy. Anyway, what I'm trying to say, is that I have no connection to what happened in WWI, Gallipoli, whatever. None that I know of. But I can say that it is an important part of Australia's young history, and I believe in it's importance. That is why I would be able to say similar things to what some veteran's grandkid would be saying.
Which brings me to my next point. Political correctness. OMG, this pisses me off so much. I can't remember if the whole "we don't celebrate Easter and Christmas, so why do you have to ram it down our throats" minority groups also complained about ANZAC day. OK, let's assume they did. Those bastards.
There's that old saying, "when in Rome, do as the Romans do". This is Australia, majority do this n this, so YOU, as a minority, a visitor (a permanent one), should do as they do. If that was to happen, there would be no Cronulla crazy bashings. I mean, FUCK YOU, don't change the culture of Australia because it doesn't suit you. You don't fit into the mold? Well, that's your bloody problem, find a solution that does not involve you bludgeoning the mold so that it fits around you.
Yes, I agree with some form of testing or education about the Australian way of life/culture/history for migrants. It will weed out those who really cannot fit. See, I include education, because the tests might be bloody hard, and the good people can't come in. *shudder* Imagine if I grew up in the UK...
Now the Tasmanian miners entombed in... a mine. True Aussie mentality. "get us out of here by saturday! I got a footy match to goto" Or something like that, I haven't been following the news. The way the media portrays those miners in their predicament, their positivity and their she'll be right mate attitude. That's unique. (Edit: Someone said something along the lines of showing strong spirit, I guess that's a better description)
In Gallipoli, there's stories of how the soldiers would play two up, or even go swimming in the bombarded beaches. That's also spirit. "We're getting the crap blown out of us, let's go swim and gamble!"
Maybe because when they get out, they're gonna sue the company for all kinds of reasons. That's... American.
* We? I don't think anyone from my family tree went off to war... I have no connection, but you can see how much it means to me, when I say "we".
