Dear SPQR,

You're asking me about my point in stereotyping,
what a laugh.
Look at your own posts and
your references to documentaries and the ABC?
Stereotyping big time!

I was merely replying to your question
about what my sources were. And as I stated
it was a social history text with the
title, "The Changing Australians."
For high school students - so that they would
study the past, and help them better understand
our heritage and national identity.

See you on another thread.

Dear Lexi,

Thanks for those quotes; puts things in perspective - as things change so much remains the same, at least for some. Still, it has been a feature of the genuine 'Aussie' to be able to laugh at him (or her) self - though that has perhaps become more difficult in our new and ever-changing multicultural environment.

Even after being born here, and after 68 years in 'the Lucky Country' I still don't feel like I fully 'belong', just as after 23 years in my current locale I am still not a 'local'. Though with weathered facade and greyed hair I tend no longer to stand out as a 'stranger', just another 'oldie' with long hair and a beard - neither of which is so common nowadays, but is not too out of place for a 'bushie' (in the Aus vernacular sense - I am no acolyte of the lamentable G W).
My surname is a giveaway of course.

Chifley and Caldwell did achieve something amazing for Oz with their immigration initiative, but still drew a line in the sand.
I seem to recall Arthur Caldwell saying "Two Wongs do not make a White".
It is however understandable that Aussies (including myself) would much prefer all new prospective citizens (and those born here of immigrant parents) to undertake to assimilate, so that the culture might 'evolve' in a relatively seamless and orderly manner.
There is much in the Aussie culture worth retaining (binge-drinking, dole-bludging and hooliganism excluded), and one must hope that new citizens can appreciate and emulate the very best of those aspects.

Intellectual cafes? Not really the Aussie cup of tea - just as bush poetry is not for everyone (nor the opera, jazz, theatre, or rodeos and bull-riding).
But, each to his own. Oz has broad shoulders.
The internet is of course great for all who may be reluctant to get up in public to expound philosophically - thereby risking microscopic scrutiny of persona as well as argument.
The intellectuals can just resort to a nice dinner party now and then.

Indy has no understanding of the world.
Belly,
says he who puts plugs in his ears, sticks his head in the sand & lets his imagined friends have their way with him.

Belly,
I just spotted this on the net. I strongly suggest you attempt to understand that.

The real problem
• Neither the oil crisis nor the food crisis (nor the climate change crisis) is the real problem
• As a world, a society, as people – we are in the midst of a thinking crisis

Dear Saltpetre,

Thank You for your post.

Margaret Mead, the American Anthropologist
stated that, "Instead of being presented with
stereotypes by age, sex, colour, class or
religion, children must have the opportunity
to learn that within each range, some people
are loathsome, and some are delightful."

And that's what I've learned on my journey,
my spirit is uplifted by these encounters.
I've met some amazing souls, and their light
fills me.

May your light continue to shine.

Lexi,
paleeeeeze ! Margaret Meade ? The whole world knows about this academic being hoodwinked by so-called natives.