The true heroes of this world have rarely been given the praise due until after they die. If acknowledging the great feats and sacrifices of some of our early settlers is pride then we should be greatly proud.

We live in a nation where people from many many nations want to come and live. This might have something to do with our forefathers who fought wars, built hospitals, schools, universities parks and many other things that has made our so sought after by so many. Many had work ethics many of us know nothing of now.

Compare our tolerance to most other countries in the world and while not perfect we finish right up there.

We still have many today who sacrifice a lot to bring many of our indigneous people health services, food and water. Our army is a credit helping out in Tsunamis (despite Ausies not being particularly liked by some).

We dominate in the cricket, rugby (sorry NZ I forgot u were not part us), netball, hockey, darts etc. Western Australia in particular produces more than their far share of champions

I am not sure what percentage the author wants us to feel shame and what percentage he wants us to feel pride.

I have no doubt that we have plenty to be ashamed of but not if you measure us against other countries

G'day Mercurious, good to see your follow up. Mind you, I reckon what you wrote is uninteligable semantic drivel and behind it maybe another agenda.

I've a great deal of pride in my ancestors being able to survive enslavement and torture when transported to this country. I also have great pride in the other side of my family, who suffered indignity and cultural genocide by the followers of god when they devastated the indigenous ways of life.

As a veteran, I have pride in the dedication of all those, including my own family, who actively served this country throughout its history, because of the despotic decisions made by others and the need to defend it.

I don't have pride in people like Bob Hawke, who were a party to the destruction of our values and living standards with privatisation. You also forget the pride displayed by the religious of our world in their fantasy past and the way they express, even though it has such devastating results for everyone. You see it every day with their breast beating cowardice, how do you feel about that.

So which pride, are you, and aren't you talking about. To me, what you write is purely to do with your frustration at not being able to be, other than what you've been indoctrinated and programmed to be.

Maybe the reason you don't understand what being proud and having pride in the efforts of the past is, because you don't understand the reality of the world. Having pride in what others do, is having faith you to can be that strong, not for semantic reasons and its called self-confidence. That comes from the security of knowing, others have shown the way and you can do it.

Maybe your problems your educated, yet know you still don't have a clue, so are trying to look like your significant.

Hi Mr. M,

If you feel ashamed of this country/ this country's founders, I have 2 questions for you

(1) Why do you live here?

(2)Do you achieve anything by getting ashamed? Do you change Australia's past?

You can't. Another thing you forgot is:

Without those people, you may not be enjoying the benefits.. the standards of living which you now freely get here.

You must feel comfortable and live. If not, please Go to your 'lovely' places which you like.

Problem solved. Isn't it?

Don't know the full extent of your loyalties, Mercurius, but so far you seem spot on. Especially so you are spot on about mentioning that pride in your country should not be the main means of learning history.

As any new-chum writer of history knows even in your first couple of pages based on the research of a competent historian you find yourself wondering what you should scrub out. As personally I had the experience trying to write a novel on West Australian history, of whether I should dwell much on the execution-style shooting of Yagan's father Midgerecoo by troopers outside the Perth colonial barracks. Furthermore as natives were encouraged to observe the shooting as well as whites, one wondered if
one should give the whole damn thing away?

That was only one instance, certainly now understanding why John Howard tells us to forget about our history and just have pride in it.

Mercurious states: "To take pride is to take that which does not belong to us."

This is the aspect of the article I disagree with. If we feel ourselves to be part of a larger, ongoing entity, then the achievements of our forebears do belong to us.

I can admire the Buddhist temples in Kyoto, but I can't take pride in them. Pride arises when we feel that some entity we belong to created whatever is being admired. If I don't have such a connection, not being Buddhist or Japanese, then I can certainly enjoy and admire what's there, but I'd be unlikely to feel pride.

It would be excessively denatured not to feel instinctively proud at times of what has been achieved by the larger entities you belong to, such as your family, your city, or your nation.

Australian youth must be taught our history, both the good and the bad. Not teaching history only leads to ignorance which allows people with a political agenda to manipulate people. Knowledge is power which is why certain groups wish to deny such power.

It is sad to see that school leavers have no knowledge that Imperial Japanese soldiers landed on Australian land in the Northern Territory and far north Western Australia. Aboriginal tribes people informing the Australian Military of Japanese roaming through bushland, etc.

Many do not know that Japanese mini subs were sunk in Sydney Harbour - most people do not know that both Australian and American vessels were sunk off Victorian ports.

When we are not taught world history no matter the nation, we can't expect people to learn from past mistakes.

If it happened it happened and must be taught as such no matter who it offends.

Also, students must be taught to question and debate the evidence provided to them by their teachers and the government educational departments.

Knowledge is power, power that should be in the heart and minds of the people.