"I'm an Indian-Australia" I didn't know that Mr O, what tribe? Are you an Apache? Did you ever get a run on that smash hit Aussie TV show 'BONANZA'. I believe Hassy is a great fan. Four all white guys, not a sheila in sight, out there on the 'Pondarosa', that 10 million acres of land Ben stole from the Indians. Ah yes, there it was true ethnic diversity, with white guys Ben, Adam, Little Joe and the mentally challenged fella Big Hoss. Yes, the good old days, when the lads could come home from a hard day of shooting Indians and Mexicans, or politically incorrect people, and Hop Sing the dill of a Chinese cook would have 15 fried chickens on the table, mostly for the obese dumb arse Hoss, he ate 10 chickens at a time, to gorge themselves on. For a bit of ethnic diversity the lads would now and then take a trip into Virginia City where they would shoot up the saloon, kill half a dozen badies, and be home in time to consume another 15 fried Hop Sing chickens. Good wholesome family entertainment, stuff the kiddies could watch, back there in yesteryear.

Paul1405,

Australia should have its own Ponderosa.

But instead of four white ranchers and a Chinese cook we would have to have a white cook and four Chinese ranchers. Otherwise it just wouldn't be Australia.

The cook could be John Smith (who has a birth certificate to verify he is white) and the ranchers can be Ping, Ding, Ming and Ching. Now that's what I call Australia.

.. would you want to be identified as one?
Hasbeen,
A few years back, a married Australian couple friends of mine wen to Bali for a holiday.
they told me that, after seeing the antics of many Australians, they told everyone they were from NZ.
'Nuff said ?

Would I change Australian identity?

Most Australians are comfortable in their own skins.
Most embrace this country with all of its iconic
landmarks and are proud of our cultural achievements
and events. Our cultural mix is now in our national
DNA and its part of our lifestyle - it's who we are.

Mor than 1 in 4 were born overseas. Today we celebrate
the richness of our lifestyle which comes from the
input of so many cultures.

The most impressive Australians are not the heroes, saints
or sages of an earlier "golden era" nor are they
contemporary sporting heroes. They are political leaders,
medical doctors, scientists who have had an actual rather
than a mythical influence on the everyday lives of
ordinary people.

Fred Hollows, Dr Victor Chang, Dr Munjed al Muderis, Dr
Catherine Hamlin come to mind, to mention just a few.
There's so many more.

What it means to be Australian today has morphed to meet
the challenges and diversity of our changing times.

Today we are more sophisticated, more mature and more
representative of our place in a global interaction.
We are a country with its own global cities, leading
edge technologies, business hubs. We're a fashion
destinatio0n and a nation hosting iconic events. We are
known for innovations and international success beyond
just the sporting field - beyond beaches and sweeping plains
and far horizons. Today we're much more than that. And
we are recognised internationally.

Dear Foxy,

«Would I change Australian identity?»

It is not possible to change one's identity - you are what you are.

You can of course change your feelings and ideas about anything, but none of that can change your actual identity in the least.

Yuyutsu,

What is being discussed here is our national identity,
not our individual one - and as individuals we are the
ones who make up the national identity. As pointed
out earlier - Australians today are comfortable in their
own skins. Our cultural mix is now in our national DNA -
it is part of our lifestyle - it's who we are. More than
1 in 4 were born overseas. Today we celebrate the richness
of our lifestyle which comes from the input of so many
cultures.

As stated previously - what it means to be Australian has
now morphed to meet the challenges and diversity of our
changing times.