Australian of the Year

[knocker]

While I agree that it was not a matter of 'if' but 'when and by whom' that Australia was colonised, the fact remains that the major incursion on indigenous Australians commenced on January 26th by the British Government who wanted to rid themselves of their excess convicts! Hardly a lofty motive or vision to set up a new land. How can we expect indigenous people to celebrate that date?

Because even though we may regard their conditions at the time as being 'primitive' - it was their culture, their belief system and their life as they knew it. And a society's belief system and culture drives everything they do. And that changed irrevocably on January 26.

When Australia becomes a Republic, that date will become Australia's Day!

Well I for one am proud of my heritage. They deported him here as a thief and then he went on to become mayer of melbourne lol

 

[Calliope]

Because even though we may regard their conditions at the time as being 'primitive' - it was their culture, their belief system and their life as they knew it. And a society's belief system and culture drives everything they do. And that changed irrevocably on January 26.

At least the Brits are now getting their comeuppance. They have been invaded by millions of people of different cultures and belief systems to such an extent that they have had to switch from fish and chips to curry.

 

[cashcow]

At least he doesnt play Sport

You're my hero (for that statement at least)

 

[Prospector]

At least the Brits are now getting their comeuppance. They have been invaded by millions of people of different cultures and belief systems to such an extent that they have had to switch from fish and chips to curry.

and not to mention their economy!

Your cool cashcow!

 

[Largesse]

they should have made that trooper that earnt the Victoria Cross Australian of the Year

he makes me proud to be australian

 

[cashcow]

they should have made that trooper that earnt the Victoria Cross Australian of the Year

he makes me proud to be australian

No doubt a worthy candidate. His actions, like others' who went before him, were an outstanding embodiment of the values on which the ADF is built.

 

[Julia]

1. Mick Dodson responds to being annointed Australian of the year by declaring that the date of Australia Day needs to be changed. He states it is actually Invasion Day.

2. Next day, the Prime Minister, very clearly rejects this suggestion. Makes it clear the date will remain unchanged.

3. Mick Dodson is interviewed on the 7.30 Report and asked about his determination to have the date changed. He says "Oh, I don't really care about it one way or the other".

What a difference a Prime Ministerial statement/rejection can make.

Seems Mr Dodson has been somewhat put in his box.

 

[Doris]

1. Mick Dodson responds to being annointed Australian of the year by declaring that the date of Australia Day needs to be changed. He states it is actually Invasion Day.

Didn't he say it should be a topic for discussion as "some people call it Invasion Day"?
That's what I heard him say on an ABC news interview.
Does anyone know why this topic was on the Qld Gov't's books?

 

[Doris]

... the fact remains that the major incursion on indigenous Australians commenced on January 26th by the British Government who wanted to rid themselves of their excess convicts! Hardly a lofty motive or vision to set up a new land. How can we expect indigenous people to celebrate that date?

Did you know this was because of the American War of Independence?

The yanks then refused to take the convicts and told the British to find somewhere else for their POMS!

Australia would never have been founded if not for the Americans defeating the British!

 

[noirua]

Did you know this was because of the American War of Independence?

The yanks then refused to take the convicts and told the British to find somewhere else for their POMS!

Australia would never have been founded if not for the Americans defeating the British!

Hi Doris, Is this leading up to making an American, Australian of the Year? I wonder who that might be?

 

[Prospector]

Australia would never have been founded if not for the Americans defeating the British!

A slight but very important correction required: Australia would never have been founded by the British

Do you really think the other European countries (Dutch, French, Spanish etc) and Asian countries (Indonesia and China) would not have colonised 'the Southern Land'? Occupation of Australia was not a matter of 'if' but 'when and by whom'. I actually agree with Dodson - I have always felt a rub celebrating an event which started the downfall of the Aboriginal culture. Bring on the Republic and make that Australia Day.

 

[wayneL]

Do you really think the other European countries (Dutch, French, Spanish etc) and Asian countries (Indonesia and China) would not have colonised 'the Southern Land'? Occupation of Australia was not a matter of 'if' but 'when and by whom'. I actually agree with Dodson - I have always felt a rub celebrating an event which started the downfall of the Aboriginal culture. Bring on the Republic and make that Australia Day.

Jeez! We could be speaking Dutch with an Australian Accent. That would be funny. :

 

[Prospector]

Jeez! We could be speaking Dutch with an Australian Accent. That would be funny. :

That would make us sound like Seth Africuns! or even New Zealunders...

We have just come back from the Maldives and India; coming from South Australia we do speak a little differently (ie better pronounciation :fan) to those in the eastern seaboard States - the locals and European expats thought we were British. So then we started speaking "G'day mate speak" and all was good!

 

[Macquack]

Hi Doris, Is this leading up to making an American, Australian of the Year? I wonder who that might be?

I bet that turncoat Rupert Murdoch would put up his hand.

Isn't it time the 77 year out passed on the baton so the next generation of Murdoch's can lose some of his $8.3 billion fortune.

Anyway, he has had his 15 minutes of fame when he made it onto an episode of "The Simpsons" - "I'm Rupert Murdoch, The Billionaire Tyrant"

 

[MrBurns]

I bet that turncoat Rupert Murdoch would put up his hand.

Isn't it time the 77 year out passed on the baton so the next generation of Murdoch's can lose some of his $8.3 billion fortune.

Anyway, he has had his 15 minutes of fame when he made it onto an episode of "The Simpsons" - "I'm Rupert Murdoch, The Billionaire Tyrant"

Very smart man, he's an Aussie but not stupid enough to let it stand in the way of making money and anyone who did would be a fool to himself and a burdon to others.

 

[Macquack]

Very smart man, he's an Aussie but not stupid enough to let it stand in the way of making money and anyone who did would be a fool to himself and a burdon to others.

Murdoch is not an aussie, that's the point.

Murdoch has lived in the United States since the 1970's, and he gave up his Australian citizenship in 1985 to become a U.S. citizen.

"Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. "
Thomas Jefferson

 

[MrBurns]

Murdoch is not an aussie, that's the point.

Murdoch has lived in the United States since the 1970's, and he gave up his Australian citizenship in 1985 to become a U.S. citizen.

"Merchants have no country. The mere spot they stand on does not constitute so strong an attachment as that from which they draw their gains. "
Thomas Jefferson

He's a Yank for convenience, do yar eally think you wouldnt do the same if you were in his shoes ?

He's probably got dual citizenship anyway.

 

[Prospector]

He was born in Adelaide, but as he now has US citizenship, I suspect the American officials could not even countenance that dual citizenship could exist. It is only just in the last few years that Australia could cope with it unless you were British origin. He is still considered in South Australia though as being a local!

 

[knocker]

A slight but very important correction required: Australia would never have been founded by the British

Do you really think the other European countries (Dutch, French, Spanish etc) and Asian countries (Indonesia and China) would not have colonised 'the Southern Land'? Occupation of Australia was not a matter of 'if' but 'when and by whom'. I actually agree with Dodson - I have always felt a rub celebrating an event which started the downfall of the Aboriginal culture. Bring on the Republic and make that Australia Day.

Don't forget the Portuguese.

 

[dutchie]

Jeez! We could be speaking Dutch with an Australian Accent. That would be funny. :

Yaa dat woood bee vunny

vrolijkheid

Dutchie