Radar:

I feel that you've summed it up in a nutshell. You've said it much better that I could have done. Bless You!

Belly:

I always knew you're just a great big bear (a cuddly one).

If Boazy reckons it's been done to death, you had better believe it!

I would have thought "Bathurst" would have the more Australian reply to his last question...

Bugsy, my first thought

When I read Al's question

Was the Melbourne Cup

It is always interesting to get Australians to talk about "being Australian".

But it is rarely particularly enlightening.

Nor would you expect it to be. Think of the kind of answers you would get if you asked Austrians about "being Austrian", Americans about "being American", or Russians about "being Russian".

The first thing that happens is that they will instantly parrot a self-image stereotype. For instance, if you asked a Frenchman about "being French", you wouldn't hear him say "well, we are a generally surly lot who look down our noses at foreigners". He would be more likely to say something along the lines of "we are artistic, food-loving philosophers".

So it is on the whole, more an image of an image, if you see what I mean.

And it is all a little misleading as well.

For every Australian I know who is "easy-going, friendly and tolerant", I could name at least one other who is prickly, antagonistic and prejudiced. For every Italian who is rude, condescending and devious, I could name at least one who is polite, egalitarian and straightforward.

But here's another thought.

On the "world stage", our image is tied up with that of our Prime Minister.

Which of the following would you regard as having an "Australian identity", or be closest to it:

Malcolm Fraser (1975-83)
Robert Hawke (1983-91)
Paul Keating (1991-96)
John Howard (1996-2007)
Kevin Rudd (2007-10)
Julia Gillard (2010-)

Answers on a postcard, please...

Ah that is easy, Pericles.

Sir Les Patterson, so typically Australian !

Australian Identity.
Lexi,
Do you think Australians are any different ? Put anyone into a particular situation/environnment & you'll find they all react the same. Only the circumstances are unique, not the people. Anyhow, that's my view.