Dear Al,

You're a bit of a worry.

"The French are finally deporting Roma"

mmm.......

"...promoting harmony and a national identity..."

mmm........

Would that be Christian harmony, Al?

Jewely most of my friends originate and come from countries other than Australia - 20 year friendships through thick and thin. I have been there for them, and new acquaintances, with most dilemmas they have encountered reciprocated.

A few friends from India
A few friends from Greece
A few friends from New Zealand
" " " " Tonga
One family from Lebanon [awaiting catch ups together]

and....I love their customs, stories about their backgrounds and accents.

There is a key or important factor to take into account nevertheless.

When people are working full-time and raising kids rarely is their time for people to be 'there for one another' to give a great deal.

Working long hours has taken its toll on many people and the financial side, however, some people will wake up to the fact that when they are about to depart this world and reflect, (myself included), what have we done for other people apart from working for payment in careers, jobs etc.

Its a fact that in spite of some Australians bagging the U.S. at times, most people who return from the States commend many United States people and children on their 'excellent manners' and 'hospitable natures'. On the other hand, many Americans have frequently complimented Australians visiting the U.S. about our friendly, warm and giving dispositions. Work colleagues return with many accounts and compliments received.

If we are a country who does not have any type of positive identity, some of which relate to laws and legislation, why do immigrants flock here, most of whom stay to raise their children and/or stay permanently? Many girlfriends originally from o/s and their parents refuse to consider returning to any of their countries of origin.

Oprah commented about Australians being the only country she had visited, whereby we had been the most hospitable, giving, friendliest, fun and outgoing people around the world.

Yes we do have an identity, although I am naturally patriotic yet non-discriminatory.

Lexi, "And women as sex objects - in the 'Antz Pantz Sic Em Rex,' ad."

Sex objects?!

Heh, heh, perhaps you could blame, make that applaud, women for recognising the sensuality and humour of women. The only male in it was Rex the echidna and he had a tongue for ants. Ad Agency: The Campaign Palace, Australia. Copywriter: Mara Marich, Art Director: Sarah Barclay.

Women don't have to be prudes any more. Men don't have all of the good ideas.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QXZqGI9zW0Y

Hi Poirot... still investigating these things ? :)

No..it would not be 'Christian' harmony, but social,cultural and legal harmony.

Surely you saw the doco about the Roma and their begging/thieving activities..and how this was an enculturated aspect of the whole community?

Christian harmony is something which is separate from community harmony.
We have our own harmony (or pitched battles :)which is based on a different foundation and is stable.

Social harmony is something which needs to be managed in terms of various factors such as racial and language mix, creeds and cultures.

S...trengths
W...eaknesses
O...pportunities
T...hreats.

You can only run a business on that basis and dare I say... a country too.

If you ran your business on the basis of

S...trengths
O...opporunties

but ignored your Weaknesses and Threats... you'd be outta business before you can say "redundancy payout"

David Cameron has been pursuing a process of 'Giffinization' in his public statements.. having learned from John Howard in his 'Hansonization' of his Liberal output back in dem days.

Poor old Griffo is rather annoyed about being shown to be 'right' at the cost of his electoral base being eroded.

Lexi challenging subject. There is a lot of fuss in some ways over national identity from the cultural perspective. Much of national identity is also tied up with political culture ie. principles of democracy/freedom, interaction with the rest of the world.

Mateship is often put forward as very Australian but it is often misunderstood IMO. Mateship had most relevance in the battlefield, however 'at home' mateship might often mean keeping 'mum' about important breaches of trust and faith or digging in late at the pub with your mates and coming home drunk to your family. Mateship often meant concealing atrocities - even if the issues were not always black and white. Some of those old fashioned perceptions of mateship have morphed into a more congenial version today and Australians are seen more than just beer swilling oafs.

Australians, probably due to a strong early representation of Irish ancestry, tend to be fairly easy going with a dry humour that is sometimes lost on other more 'literal' cultures. I found this even in the US where there is a lot in common, but the humour was often taken literally and the nuances lost in interpretation. The Brits and the Aussies tend to be more sympatico in that respect.

Patriotism is all very well in most circumstances, but if patriotism leads to the ill treatment of others causing great hardship via economic disparities, due to some warped sense of patriotism, it tends to rank a bit of the 'me me' attitude that is all too pervasive.

I have strayed a bit Lexi. Our national identity should be tied up with the way we treat and interact with the rest of the world.

Issues of national costume, flora and fauna, food, dances, anthems etc are only one facet of identity.

I guess if Oprah said it then it must be true and nothing to do with who helped out financially with the trip over or what that encouraged. I think I’ve heard her say the same thing about a number of countries as most celeb’s do.

But to answer why immigrants flock here – because their home country was crap in a lot of cases. Immigrants also flock to where I came from, the reasons aren’t usually flattering.

I don’t think I was focusing on the adverts that portrayed men or women in a certain light. Anti and the boys have made me super critical of MvsF adds anyways. It was more the completely stupid stupid statements made in adverts that give one the feeling that the whole industry sees the public it is targeting as morons.

But most of all I have noticed people do not care. I’m shocked at the agencies in Human Services where not a hint of humanity or compassion can be found and where middle management and down appear scared or cult like in their dealings with the public. If you look at the systems in place it becomes clear they are developed not to help people but to generate income in private industries.

So I guess I see the Australian Identity as a money making entity that defines its peoples worth in cash terms. And as long as footy, barbq’s and beer are continuously pushed as something the cool kids are doing then those systems grow bigger and uglier by the day.

I still love the land and the Aussie friends I now have. But the Australian public is circling the govt drain.