cont'd

And just to balance things out:

Peter Faris writes:

2) "My family has been in Australia since before the 1880s.
My son is of the fourth generation to live/own property
in Far East Gippsland. My great-grandfather opened the first
store (Snowy River Store) in Orbost (FEG) sometime (I think)
in the 1870s. My grandfather (A Scot) was the first doctor
in Orbost in 1884 and served the community, rich and poor,
black and white, until his death in 1928. I still have family
in Orbost and I live about half of the year nearby.

My ethnic background is 50% Scot and 50% English
(Protestant N-Ireland). I am an Anglo-Celt.
I am proud of my ancestry.
I am proud of my country.
I am not ashamed to say so.

My people were immigrants and I am proud of that.

I welcome all other immigrants and descendants of immigrants
to what is our country - it belongs to us all."

Foxy
The hoax was a cut and paste of the opinion under your “please read on” with a few pointed additives including a few sentences on perverted patriotism with the Rudd header and signature.

Like I’ve said the content isn’t really the issue there are several flaws applying it to Aus. Firstly our national motto isn’t “In God We Trust” that’s the motto of The USA (Somebody has plagiarized it), . There are several other ill considered issues, flaws in logic in the base piece but the Most offensive bits were the add ons on questioning people’s patriotism and singling out Muslims and non WAS(P/C) in particular. The primary issues to me were
• The cowardly nature of the hoax
• Its effects of their appropriating The PM ‘s credibility and authority on these vulnerable people.
• That they were attempting to hide their racist (superiority) jingoism behind a smoke screen of patriotism.

My secondary issue was to provoke a discussion about the moral and practical uses and abuses of patriotism as opposed to the extremes like jingoism and chauvinism.

Dear examinator,

I got my examples of 'patriotism,' from
the following website:

http://www.farisqc.observationdeck.org/?p=209

However, Thanks for your explanation.

Keep smiling.

Foxy

I found your post rather at odds with how you usually present - thanks for providing the link from where you took that observation.

Australian culture is not static - we are a far different nation to that of 40,000 years or 200 years ago and changing all the time. These changes are due in part to the arrival of different people. Some of it has been good - greater tolerance for difference, some very bad indeed - annihilation and loss of an ancient culture from which we could learn a great deal about land management (vis-a-vis bushfires and indigenous flora/fauna for cultivation).

We have set laws that apply to all Australians (new and original) however qualities like respect, communication, understanding, empathy, consideration, appreciation only occur where we are open to the new, the different - they require a two way street. Sure immigrants can do well to leave the negative aspects of their old homelands behind (which is usually the reason for coming here) but we stand to lose any positive benefits if we expect them become clones of some largely imaginary Australian ideal.

I bet you still make borscht. Wonderful stuff.

And, for me, Pho Soup is like comfort food these days. And I find the sarong and brolly the best way to dress in this long hot summer.

So when I see jingoism like:

"IMMIGRANTS, NOT AUSTRALIANS, MUST ADAPT"

I cringe. I also admit to cringing when I read that a hijab covered face is permissible as a photo on a South Australian driver's licence - there has to be balance.

I prefer that "immigrants and Australians learn about and accept each other" - Okay it does not flow off the tongue, but even though I am sixth gen. Aussie I will never become like a Cronulla Yobbo and that is what I think of when I see blogs like Faris QC.

Banjo: << Why would you deem someone a 'cowardly low life' for expressing a point of view and advocating that all in Australia adopt our way of life >>

Probably because they did so fraudulently, in passing off their hate-spam as an official communication from the PM. "Cowardly low life" seems perfectly apposite to me.

Foxy - you do know what a notorious wingnut Peter Faris QC is, don't you?

Dear Fractelle,

I do make borsch, (and many other european
delights). Though in all honesty, not as often - because
they're too rich for every day fare.
Especially in summer - where we tend to
stick to sea-food and salads. (Mostly salads)
And the occasional
glass of red (or white).

Your sarongs sound divine. I usually stick to slacks,
or light wispy skirts in summer.
But I've bought some gorgeous material and will be
making a few caftans - (at least that's the plan).

Dear CJ,

I had no idea who Peter Faris was.
I simply stumbled onto his site - thinking
it was legit. Under ther heading of 'Australian Patriotism,'
And I thought, "Aha, this is what examinator is talking
about, good example ... et cetera."

Now, much to my embarrassment I'm finding out.

Is my face red!