SNH

In the last decade or so, the worst thing about Australia has been the ever-increasing arrogant patriotism.

John Howard introduced this new stereotype of Australia, which everybody lapped up. Now people throw around terms like 'un-Australian', 'mateship' and 'diggers' nonstop. If I hear one more time about 'the great Aussie spirit' I think I'm going to kill somebody!!!

The flag waving has turned to violence and ignorance, and it seems to be getting worse and worse.

And Australia used to laugh at the frightening patriotism in America!

kporte

this is blown wildly out of proportion. a few dickheads take it too far but if patriotism is a bad thing count me in as a baddy.
Brits could do with a bit more of this instead of constantly running the UK down

livinginreality

Ok I don't know 20 odd million people,but ALL the people I know personally crap on about Australia this Australia that,I also listen to the radio (local Adelaide station)and for whatever reason the DJ or adverts will constantly bombard you with "As Australian as"or "You can depend on it because its Australian"to "Be proud to be Australian"Sounds like brain washing to me?And OTT!! What exactly is the "spirit of Australia"?Never could quite work that one out even when I lived there!

mika24me

I argee the "australia is the best country in the world" attitude gets a bit grating. However in the UK everyone hates being here, and is always talking about leaving or how the country has gone to the dogs. I bit of patriotism here would not be a bad thing at all.

livinginreality

I totally agree,as long as its not shoved down your throat 24/7 lol !!

jond

Aah, that's the trump card, 1 out of 20 odd million Aussies agrees so it must be true[/QUOTE]






Here we go again, because somebody has said something you probably don't agree with you immediately jump on them with the old "you haven't spoke to every one of 20 million" rubbish.

It was my opinion and I only put about my mate because if I didn't all you get is, that you are a whinging pom etc, which by the way I am not.
If you had to qualify everything you write on this forum by having to speak to the whole population first there wouldn't be much on here would there.

mr mover

After reading this thread , my soon to leave list just got longer........mm

MartinLuther

I'm guessing you're a grammar Nazi then?

So what did I misspell?

How many question marks do you need when asking a question? Shouldn't you have started that sentence with a capital?

Jeysus, you're the worst grammar Nazi I've ever seen

Dorothy

Glad you're happy back home, NS.

ExKiwilass

the obsession with "punching above their weight internationally" Um, no one cares.

"the little aussie battler"

sr71

I disagree with much on this thread, I think a lot of it is actually pretty hypocritical at best.

For example, compare the patriotism and "Australia is the best" attitudes when it comes to sport - equally repugnant is the hype that surrounds the England football team, or the arrogance when the English win the rugby or cricket.

For me the worse things about living in Australia are :

Terrible driving standards.
Poor/different sense of humour.
Distance from Europe.
Poor television.
Poor internet standards (both connectivity and lack of online shopping).

MartinLuther

Isn't that the UK?

Notts_bloke

What do you mean? We used to own most of the world.

ABCDiamond

Don't worry too much, most Shops do actually open on Sundays...

MartinLuther

Used to being the operative words. (It was a long time ago. Before I was born. It's time to let go. )

When I lived in the UK the concept of the UK punching above its weight in military terms was quite popular with the pollies. That's what I mean.

Look, see here, for example http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/sta...world_role.stm