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Philosophy Religions, schools of thought, matters of importance and navel-gazing |
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#1 | |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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Quote:
![]() As far as I can see, it doesn't matter either way if we're a republic or not. The only difference either way is the commonwealth games, and there's still the Olympics anyway (which we kick arse at too if you look at our medals per capita). Australia is the way it is BECAUSE we were settled by convicts and free settlers. That's what makes us great. We began from the downtrodden underclass and a collective vow has been unconsiously taken by all of us to never be treated like second class citizens by the world at large. We are a young nation and we're proud and free. We have achieved marvels of science and technology. We have a lifestyle most countries envy. We are a nation of people of all colours, creeds, religions. We are truly multicultural and that's as it should be. Australians are citizens of the world and we are all equal. There's nothing wrong with England. I don't resent my heritage from there, but I'm an Australian. I'm not British. I, like all other Australians have my own unique Australian identity which is far removed from that which most Brits would identify with. So to answer the original question of this thread, I don't think there's any difference. Where you start from is rarely the same place you end up. It's very hard to look forward if your head is turned in the opposite direction.
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Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
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#2 | |
Encroaching on your decrees
Join Date: Feb 2004
Location: An island within the south-west coast of Scotland
Posts: 7,016
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Quote:
Some of the things one reads about treatment of the aborigine population and their culture make me question this bit, but I'm happy to be corrected. I'll also be the first to say the British can be appalling racists.
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Living it up on the edge ... of civilisation, within the southwest coast of ![]() |
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#3 | |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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Quote:
Times are changing now. There's quite a discussion about our recent change of government and the events of the first day of parliament if you care to look here. Times are changing. I have high hopes for the future of our country as we work towards leaving the crimes of our forefathers in the past.
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Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
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#4 |
dar512 is now Pete Zicato
Join Date: May 2003
Location: Chicago suburb
Posts: 4,968
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There was an NPR or maybe BBC radio show recently about an incident with an aboriginal in Australia. I got the impression from the show that Australian aboriginals were discriminated against.
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"Against stupidity the gods themselves contend in vain." -- Friedrich Schiller |
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#5 | |
trying hard to be a better person
Join Date: Jan 2006
Location: Brisbane, Australia
Posts: 16,493
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Quote:
My point is that I'm hopeful of better things in the future for all Australians. I understand that you're calling me a liar for suggesting all Australians are equal, but in reality we are. The problem is, the sins of the past are hard to shake off and there are a lot of things which can be done better. Any Australian citizen is entitled to the same benefits if they need them. It could also be argued that Aboriginal people have an advantage over some other non indigenous Australians because they are entitled to 'extra' financial assistance for things like apprenticeships, training and even home loans believe it or not. I don't see it that way, but some people do.
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Kind words are the music of the world. F. W. Faber |
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#6 | ||
polaroid of perfection
Join Date: Sep 2005
Location: West Yorkshire
Posts: 24,185
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Quote:
Keep your chin up, at least you're with the good guys, even if the general public forget that sometimes. Quote:
All countries carry some shame from treatment of other people/ countries/ races whether new or old world. But I'd like to think it wasn't anyone here on the Cellar, any more that I'd expect a German poster to apologise for the two World Wars. So it's always going to be a case of not - what we did - but - what can we do? Good on ya cobber, keep up the good work.
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Life's hard you know, so strike a pose on a Cadillac |
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