Dear David F.,

Vilnius is interesting in that it is a city that
has been part of many more histories than just
Lithuania's and many more people than just Lithuanians
call it home.

The history of Vilnius involves other cultures entering
the city, as well as Lithuanians (willingly or unwillingly)
going to other countries. As a result, Lithuanian culture
there has a distinct global multicultural aspect.

There are many communities that are part of Vilnius and
add their own traditions and customs to the Lithuanian
mix. Some are Polish, some are Russian, some are German,
some are French - but all are Lithuanian.

A visit to the city just may surprise.

CM,

No, I don't think so. Lithuanian -Australians should be allowed to marry Lithuanian-Australians. Or anybody else they damn-well like. And they're still Australians.

My bet is that Foxy's children haven't all married Lithuanian-Australians. And if they did, they would all still be Australians. Greek-Australians marry Greek-Australians. Italian-Australians marry Italian-Australians. Aboriginal Australians marry Aboriginal Australians. And they're all Australian, not one tiniest bit less than you and whoever you married.

It's called life. Get used to it.

Joe

Hi Joe,

You're right. Our family is a broad mix indeed.
From Lithuanian -
It goes to British, to Scottish,
onto Swedish, German, Russian, and who knows what
the future will bring.

Canem Malum,

Today one in three marriages in Australia are inter-cultural.

Your hope of a British Australian community re-emerging is
rather slim especially when you stop to consider that
there are only 1.2 million UK citizens who live in
Australia out of a total of 25.5 million people - which is
Australia's total population.

Even in the UK inter-cultural marriages are the norm.
Yet all consider themselves as British.

Foxy,

Below is another short psychotherapy session to assist you in recognising your Asianess:

http://pursuit.unimelb.edu.au/articles/how-does-australia-manage-population-growth

Study this image of a Melbourne street scene (I think it is Flinders) for several minutes then close your eyes and say to yourself "We are all Asian now." I suggest doing this about half a dozen times.

Misopinionated,

You may well be Asian, although I doubt it. I assume that, like Foxy and me, you are a non-Asian Australian living - like the rest of us - and forever - in close proximity to Asia.

Maybe going to school in Darwin influenced my attitudes - up there, one is closer to Singapore than to Melbourne. Darwin is probably the most cosmopolitan, happily mixed, vibrant city I've ever lived in. And it's much more so now than sixty years ago. If I had my time over again, I'd be up there like a shot.

Joe

LOUDmouth,

Looks like you are in need of a bit of psychotherapy yourself.

You and Foxy just have to give up on this illusion you have of not being part of the great Asian nation that Australia has become.

We are all Asian now and you and Foxy need to come to terms with it.

It was Geoffrey Blainey who pointed out in the 1980s that multiculturalism in Australia was a subterfuge for Asianisation and that the road Australia was taking would lead to us being an Asian nation. And he has now been shown to be correct.

Unless of course you are prejudice against being Asian: Is this what you are saying?

Loudmouth, look into the picture and embrace your Asianess.