Fungo Bungo man from Africa?

botheration: "I find it odd when people say they are proud to be Australian (or American, or Yugoslavian, or whatever). We are who we are - we had no choice where we were born. But I find it endlessly fascinating to be Australian; to explore its variances."

Exactly. In my own case, I think that I was fortunate to be born in Oz rather than elsewhere, but I feel no great pride in it. In terms of identity, what is far more salient to me than being "Australian" is being a good father and partner, being respected in the community in which I live, being a good friend to the relatively small number of people who I count as friends, leaving as small an environmental footprint as possible, etc.

Yes, it's nice to be Australian, but it was really just the luck of the draw. It probably means much more to those who left everything behind and chose to come here.

ET: "I see myself as aussie and as nothing more!"

What a shallow and boring person you must be.

"That’s why people like you should be ignored when in comes to debates regarding the future of our great nation."

On the contrary, that's probably why I have a more balanced view than you do on the subject. Haven't you heard that patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel?

Besides which - and fortunately - I have every much as right to express my opinions about Australia's future as you do, both at the ballot box and in forums such as this. Given that I'm probably much better educated about Australia's history and diversity than you are, perhaps it's you that should "just sit there and be quite (sic)".

You might just learn something.

Perhaps as CJ points out we should be more glad to be an Aussie than proud. I do feel a sense of pride in the country, but its not that chest-beating nationalistic pride that can turn so dangerous. I am proud of the relative balance that our country has achieved, and the little contribution that I have made towards that.

Pride in one's country can probably also be linked back to pride in your own heritage/ancestry. I come from a line of bush battlers, who started with absolutely nothing around the 1850's, and through hard work and sacrifice, have achieved quite a bit.

My ancestry is solely European, and mostly Anglo/Celtic, with a few interesting mixes thrown in. And I know I tend to view things with somewhat of a British colouring.

But more than anything, I AM glad to have been born in this country, to my family. I cant think of anywhere else I would rather live (although there are lots of places I'd like to see)!

I think Australia used to have an identity as a land of strong, fit men who were honest workers and loyal fighters.

Multi-culturalism is burying that identity while offering no alternative.

To be "Australian" is to be 'born' here.. or.. (dare I say it) "Born Again" here.. as in a migrant who comes here and decides 'this' is now 'home' and nation etc.. thus they adopt the mentality of being an Australian.

Once that hurdle is surmounted by a migrant..the rest is easy, they simply open up to all that is 'Australian' within good conscience and responsible social intercourse, and away we all go.

If one is born here and a parent tells the child "We are Chinese" or.. (name the ethnicity) then, I would regard such parents as 'non' Australians who neither have respect for or deserve it from, true Australians.
A True Australian would not say "I am British" or.. "I am Scottish" no, not at all..they would simply say "I'm Australian"

We can then speak about our ethnic/racial ancestry as a separate and secondary question and issue.

It follows from the above, that all who call themselves Australian and have been appropriately 'born again' culturally, or born here naturally, will absorb that which is most valuable and or most prevalent, which may not neccessarily be the same :)

Jack the Lad said: "I think Australia used to have an identity as a land of strong, fit men who were honest workers and loyal fighters."

Wow. No chicks then? So I guess that means all you strong, fit men are ... gay?

Now *that's* an enlightened way to think about the Australian identity!