Amel – do you actually read posts before you reply? Where did I say that Australians are ‘only 2 race groups’? You are generalizing when you say ‘people like you’ unless of course, you are so all-seeing and intelligent that you can judge people you have never met.

“When I first met an Australian man and his wife I thought they were from the United Kingdom”

Why? Because the wife was Chinese? Or because they were ‘polite’? You say that you thought they were British, obviously because polite Australians are so rare. That sounds racist to me.

O sung wu –“ I'm sometimes ashamed, to admit that I'm an Australian, for fear that I may inculcate an image, in the mind of someone that I've just met, as being a bad mannered, rude, and uncultured individual”

If you are ‘ashamed to admit’ that you are Australian, perhaps you would be happier living in some other country. And if you are truly afraid of being regarded as a ‘bad mannered, rude and uncultured individual’ because some Australians may behave in this fashion when overseas, then you are just as much a racist as Amel. I have observed the same behaviour in people from many countries and cultures – rude, pushy Hong Kong Chinese; vulgar foul-mouthed British; impolite, abrupt French people – but unlike you, I do not judge the the whole country by its tourists. If this is your opinion of Australians, I cant imagine the type of person you mix with.

And you people dare to label Australians as ‘racists’ – what a joke. Read your own words sometime.

Good evening to you Dee...
Wow, you sure put me back in my box, didn't you! What an absolutely brilliant word...racist...! Interesting, that when an individual cannot find a word or phrase that may fit, or better describe someone, they simply wheel out that tired old noun 'racist'! I feel a little chuffed, now that I've been officially 'tagged' or at the very least, included in an (Dee's?) inventory of, those of us that are ostensibly, socially challenged in some way. I believe I've finally made it...I've been outed as a racist! Wish I was sufficiently erudite, to possess such an insight into the soul of an individual. And, to be able to classify or categorise their 'type' by virtue of a simple paragraph or two of an opinion. Categorised to the 'DEE' scale of human dynamic.

o sung wu, you said: 'I do know however, that we Australians don't enjoy a particularly good reputation abroad..'

Go and get stuffed, as we say. (Too 'boorish' for you? - Too bad). Australia has one of the best reputations among the world's nations. I've met so many people from different countries over here in Europe who almost overwhemingly have a high regard for Australia and it's people. Britain 'sends' it's 'Barmy Army' to all corners of the globe, but does that mean that all British are like that? Japanese are generally very polite but I have met many who are not.

Quik quiz: Name one other nation that does not contain large numbers of 'loud, self-opinionated, boorish folk, who labour on incessantly, with jingoistic opinions on all matters fundamental'. You most certainly cannot, except perhaps for some small island nations in the Pacific.

You actually fear that you 'may inculcate an image, in the mind of someone that you've just met, as being a bad mannered, rude, and uncultured individual'? How ridiculous. That's just your own insecurity.

o sung wu, you wonder whether Australia has a culture and suspect that it does not. I think of culture in terms of the characteristic beliefs and ways of doing things of a particular society. Not "high culture", but simply "the way we do things here". In that sense, any group of people will have its culture.

Our culture - our way of doing things - is certainly derived from Britian: it is similar, but not identical, to the cultures of England, Scotland, Canada, New Zealand and so on. These cultures area all part of the British family, just as the cultures of Italy, Spain, Mexico and Brazil are all part of the Latin family. Similar in important ways, but not identical.

Yes, o sung wu, I agree that ‘racist’ is a tired old word that has been rendered meaningless. It is a word I usually don’t use, and it does not fit this scenario, but I don’t know what other term describes your judgment of Australians by a minority of loud-mouths. A few years ago, this would have been called ‘culture cringe’ – so if its ok by you, I will retract the word ‘racist’, which I agree is unsuitable, and substitute ‘culture-cringer’.

I responded to you more sharply than I meant, but I am very tired of hearing ‘the Iraq war/refugee policies/drunken louts/ take-your-pick, makes me ashamed to be Australian’.

If a person is so thin-skinned and disloyal that they are ashamed to be Australian, for any reason, I can only repeat my suggestion that this person would no doubt be happier in another country.

If you would like to witness ‘bad mannered, rude, and uncultured’ people, come to the eastern beach suburbs of Sydney sometime. You will hear the foulest language you have ever heard, and see the rudest and most inconsiderate people you have ever encountered. Those loutish Aussies again?

No, English and Irish backpackers.

'afternoon to you all...empirically, you've said it all Ev, with your..."go and get stuffed"...and ..."Too 'boorish' for you? Too bad"... As they say in law...res ipsa loquitur. Interestingly, I merely entered an opinion, and made an observation. I didn't attack an individual, nor was I rude. I guess it doesn't take much to encourage an intellectual pygmy, such as Ev to ooze from the sewers of life.
Thank you Ian, for you response, I take your point; apropos our (Australians') cultural heritage/s from the English, et al. I guess we've all got to have our origins from someplace. And dee, thank you for your abridged/modified comment too. Indeed, I'd leave Australia tomorrow, if I could find a reasonable democracy that'd have me. I'm so absolutely, totally dispirited with Australia, and all things Australian. I'm a war Vet., in receipt of a 100% Disability Pension, and a retired copper,(also on invalidity) after many many years service. Sure, they throw a bit of cash at us. (for which I'm very grateful) And they gave me half a dozen 'gongs' to wear on ANZAC day. Essentially though, they're just waiting for me and blokes like me, to die. Everything that I hold dear. Every principle, standard of behaviour, and honourable intent, that we, as Australians should embrace, is rapidly diminishing, and soon to disappear. To be replaced with more 'political correctness', multiculturism, which simply will not work. And yes dee, I've worked the patrols that take in the Sydney beaches. Our morally corrupt political leaders, and the academic arrogance. The list simply goes on and on and on...........