Perceptions of Australia

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by Chewbacca: I heard that Australia has a holiday dedicated to honoring the Aborigines. I forget the details, I recall it had something to do with addressing past wrong-doings against them, sort of a holiday of reconciliation. Please correct me if I am wrong and give me more details either way. [img]smile.gif[/img]

I think what you're referring to is National Sorry Day (actually I'm not sure that's the name [img]graemlins/blush.gif[/img] ). Here is a link to a site about it which I found by putting National Sorry Day into google (there were many other references [img]smile.gif[/img] ). There are marches across the nation, though it is not a 'holiday' (as in a public holiday).

Anyway interesting post Sylent! [img]graemlins/thumbsup.gif[/img] I'll certainly be interested in seeing people's views.

Edit: Just noticed you asked Aussies for their views too... well like you Sylent, I'm not terribly impressed with the federal government (though I love my state government! Go Peter! ) however I do feel pride to be an Australian, despite disappointment at the ungenerous spirit you often hear expressed from 'ordinary Australians' as Howard likes to call them. I remember when we beat England in the soccer a few months ago, I was buzzed all day, so proud I was of them and to be an achieving Australian! I suppose I'm proud of the nation we say we are, even if we are not always that [img]smile.gif[/img]

[ 07-09-2003, 05:09 PM: Message edited by: Aelia Jusa ]

[Night Stalker]

[quote]Originally posted by Aelia Jusa:

Originally posted by Chewbacca: [qb] I remember when we beat England in the soccer a few months ago, I was buzzed all day, so proud I was of them and to be an achieving Australian! I suppose I'm proud of the nation we say we are, even if we are not always that [img]smile.gif[/img]

*Gasp!* Did I see a non North American dare utter the "S" word?!? *shocked*

[Aelia Jusa]

Originally posted by Night Stalker: quote: Originally posted by Aelia Jusa: Originally posted by Chewbacca: [qb] I remember when we beat England in the soccer a few months ago, I was buzzed all day, so proud I was of them and to be an achieving Australian! I suppose I'm proud of the nation we say we are, even if we are not always that [img]smile.gif[/img] *Gasp!* Did I see a non North American dare utter the "S" word?!? *shocked*

LOL [img]tongue.gif[/img] . Football is rugby league, man!

[Davros]

Originally posted by Aelia Jusa: quote: Originally posted by Night Stalker: quote: Originally posted by Aelia Jusa: Originally posted by Chewbacca: [qb] I remember when we beat England in the soccer a few months ago, I was buzzed all day, so proud I was of them and to be an achieving Australian! I suppose I'm proud of the nation we say we are, even if we are not always that [img]smile.gif[/img] *Gasp!* Did I see a non North American dare utter the "S" word?!? *shocked*

LOL [img]tongue.gif[/img] . Football is rugby league, man! [/QUOTE]No it isn't - footy is Australian Rules

[Dagorion]

I seem to remember myself bringing this topic up some time last year for a school assignment...
http://www.ironworksforum.com/ubb/cg...=010618#000000
Strangely I now can't seem to get any definite images of the stareotypical Australian, although at the time I did have the image of a fat man sitting in front of the TV swearing 'cause his Football team was loosing.

[wellard]

G'day cobbers

Australians do a lot of navel gazing and over the top patriotic shouting of its sports teams, and I'm more than guilty of that.

One of the reasons for that is our country is so young, just 103 years old. And of that, only the last 25 years I would say have been out of the protection of our mother country. We do not have our own flag. (Spot the difference with ours and NZ. plus there is THAT flag in the corner) Our leader is the ruler of another country and by law must be born in that other country. Our past misdemeanours are only now coming to light and our older generation is having difficulty believing them let alone accepting our responsibilities to help put things right *both with our aborigine's and the white Australia policy *

In short I view ourself as a nation, like a teenager on the verge of full adulthood, one who has just moved out of it's family home and is looking for it's place in the world. Full of boisterous humour and competitive energy but still insecure.

[Epona]

I met a couple of Australians once. In the course of a few days one of them managed to blow up an electrical adapter, grab hold of an electric fence, and burn his hand on a halogen lamp because he wanted to see if it was hot. The other one was obsessed with Bundy and orange robed monks, thought he could speak French because he knew the international hand signal for a coke while saying 'coke' in a French accent, and thought I was a man called Nigel. I therefore conclude that all Australians are insane. [img]tongue.gif[/img]

[Xen]

I personally think that Austarlians are nice people,they say Mate a lot.
But there are all crazy . In Australia,there are sooooo many deadly bugs and spiders and snakes...

Steve Irwin and Micheal(Shark) Gordon are crazyest people i`ve ever seen...

But they are funny...

[Bristowe]

Originally posted by sylent: I haven't heard of the reconciliation holiday either, but hey. Bummer about Howard being so tight lipped... It only suggests that he's still trying to sweep the past under the carpet. Saying sorry wouldn't make a difference, but its an acknowledgement of wrong doings in the past which at present most people don't even know much about. Anyway... don't get me started on reconciliation. I know generalisations are generally wrong, but hey... everyone makes them, or at least they are so regularly made all around us that we can't help but notice them. Edit: BTW, Nice Sig Bristowe, very classy [img]smile.gif[/img]

Ha~ Thanks [img]smile.gif[/img] You know, at one point i had also wanted to use that .gif of that shadow thief as part of my sig but then i saw yours and decided i shouldn't lol

Edit: Btw thanks to Deathbringer for hosting the pic haha~

[ 07-10-2003, 06:13 AM: Message edited by: Bristowe ]

[sylent]

Good to see a lot of responses here [img]smile.gif[/img]
Deathbringer sure seems like a busy man, lots and lots of sigs done by and/or hosted by him. I've had this little assassin man on mine since I can remember. I guess it was inspired by Memnoch's Genie, Wah's Lich, Ertai's little character.. and so on... was a bit of a fashion for a while. Anyway, not to stray off topic

I love that Analogy Wellard, The young teenager. So very, very true!
Good work Mate!

I pretty much feel how you described the Aelia. I also always get the impression that Australia is the underdog, so being successful in a sport against a monstrous country like England ( ) is a pretty big thing. Same with at the Olympics. I don't see it as a territorial thing, just a bit of fun to support someone. Lets just say it helps me get used to losing!

I was also thinking that Australians got a certain Rep after the Sydney olympics from the constant chants of "Aussie Aussie Aussie!"
Passionate to say the least. I'm aware that they're just generalisations, and not everyone is going to fit into them, but the citizens of a country are generally moulded around their countries culture.... it just so happens that Australia doesn't have a majour culture to identify with... we just call it "multi-culturalism"... instead of an identity crisis! just kidding, but I still find the idea amusing.