|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 12:11:54 GMT
No, it's not Australia Day yet and yes I had to look up the date like just about anyone on the other side of the planet -- 26 January.
But I thought it might be interesting to mention because a new video has just been made to celebrate the event and it is apparently already stirring up a bit of controversy after just 2 days, with apparently a bit too many smiling Conservatives (whom we anti-antipodeans don't even recognise) but also the lip service paid to the varied origins of Australians but not really bothering to show much in the way of an example...
Anyway, the new words to a catchy old tune remain basically fun and the video also shows what the rest of the world tends to admire the most about Australians -- the illusion that they are always having a good time.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 15:42:20 GMT
Well, that reminded me of a beer commercial from the 1970s. And most everyone is Austraila is white, drinks beer and dresses really badly. Who knew?  |
|
|
|
Post by bjd on Jan 14, 2015 15:42:25 GMT
Oh, I thought Australia was more like this:
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 18:25:48 GMT
Also, questa can correct me if I'm wrong, I did not see a single Native Australian in that video. The closest were the dancers near the end, but they looked like islanders to me.
Even Canada, which is has a terrible record on Native issues, is always sure to include photos of happy First Nations people dancing and barbecuing salmon, or whatever. Sort of shocking.
Oh, cynical me.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 18:30:01 GMT
They were probably aborigines, but reading the Sydney Morning Herald, I think the main complaint was the lack of Asian Australians. Even though Australia kept the Asians out for many years, they are now a very important of the culture, but maybe they just don't drink beer.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 18:39:04 GMT
I still think it's appalling, given that those dancers were in a school gym somewhere, shaking what god gave them. I know Native Australians have contributed more than that to the culture. And isn't it nice that they decided to let the Canadian immigrate?  |
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 14, 2015 22:17:51 GMT
www.abc.net.au/news/2014-03-08/chooky-dancers-flying-high/5307810 The dance group shown are the Chooky Dancers who combine Arnhem Land Elcho Is. dance with modern music, have large international following. The rest of the song is the usual 'sending ourselves up' by cramming in all the 'icons' of Australia. Even the name Straya is now part of our lexicon just as calling each other Bruce or Brucette was a generation ago. It could be that in sensitive times, the makers of this satirical piece thought that including people from other cultures may have caused more offence than merriment. Even the group of kids in the end is a send-up of all the classrooms around the country with their flags or maps of where the kids came from. In recent years politicians have tried to politicise Oz Day and whip up Fourth of July type patriotism and flag waving. Australians know that the day is meant for a Party, on the beach or in the bush, with your mates. It is the end of the long summer vacations, kids back to school, people back to work next day. It is also a day where most people are aware just how lucky we are.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 22:27:43 GMT
I was relieved that in the clip that I posted, Paul Hogan no longer seems be an essential part of Australian culture.
|
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 14, 2015 23:04:07 GMT
This is for lizzy www.google.com.au/?gws_rd=ssl#q=gurrumul Paul Hogan is nowadays persona non grata. Not only did he do the dirty on his lovely wife after she stood by him through the hard times and had a heap of his kids, but he ticked off with that blonde young enough to be his daughter. Now he is having all the plastic surgery Hollywood can provide to stay looking young. He also diddled the tax man in an un-Australian way and expected us to pay his court costs. A pox on him is the general feeling. |
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:21:09 GMT
Thanks for that, questa!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:22:10 GMT
And no Mel Gibson either? Perhaps just a traitor?
(Then again there are so many Australian born Hollywood stars who have abandoned the country, perhaps too many to even mention...)
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:23:17 GMT
He's an American!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:24:23 GMT
Not a real one, though.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:27:13 GMT
Born in Peekskill, New York?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:43:24 GMT
Which he left at age 12?
I'm sure you know that Boris Johnson, the mayor of London, is an American, too in that case. USA #1!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:52:11 GMT
Well, Boris always had British citizenship. But I'm not sure anyone really wants to claim Mel as theirs anymore. Too bad, The Year of Living Dangerously was one of my all time favourite movies. Ah, Australian New Wave Cinema, there's something to celebrate!
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:54:17 GMT
I agree with you about The Year of Living Dangerously -- totally fantastic. Did you ever see Tim, his first movie?
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 14, 2015 23:58:14 GMT
Yes, I did. Don't remember a lot about it, just Mel looking hot and steamy. With Piper Laurie.
|
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 26, 2015 22:15:06 GMT
It is customary on Australia Day for Honours to be awarded to those citizens who have gone above and beyond in their service to various aspects of Australia. In the early '70s we dispensed with the Knights and Dames and instituted the Order of Australia in several ranks.
Last April, without consulting his Cabinet, let alone the People, Tony Abbot PM resuscitated the Knights and Dames Awards and you could almost hear the sound of 22 million face-palms around the nation.
"How out of touch can he be?" was the question. Not enough it seems, because yesterday, again without his Cabinet's advice, he has awarded a Knighthood to HRH Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh and 65 other titles.
We are not amused! Abbot has been losing it for a while and now he has made Australia a laughing stock.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 22:25:54 GMT
Any hope for the republic to come about any time soon? When would the next referendum be?
|
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 26, 2015 22:54:19 GMT
The last referendum was a joke. Instead of asking for a yes/no answer, we were presented with a totally unworkable scenario of a 'republic' in a convoluted way and asked 'do you want this?'
Since then the question has been overtaken by the economy, wars, and the apparent love affair the under 30s are having with the Royals. (Thanks Wills and Kate)
I think that this latest faux pas may help the Republican cause, specially as the leader of the republican movement is Malcolm Turnbull, and he is likely to be the next PM if Abbott gets the chop. Turnbull as leader, is the only hope the Liberal (Conservative) have of being re-elected.
|
|
|
|
Post by Deleted on Jan 26, 2015 22:59:40 GMT
Well, sorry for you questa, but Happy Australia Day anyway!
|
|
|
|
Post by questa on Jan 26, 2015 23:48:59 GMT
Every circus needs a clown
|
|
