Different country, same sh*t
Posted on Thursday 7th June 2007
Despite coming halfway around the world, things are not as dissimilar as I was expecting. I’ll give you two examples:
- Politics: Australia’s current prime minister is John Howard. He is a right-wing bigot who mirrors Bush and Blair far too closely. An ardent supporter of the Iraq War, he has capitalised on the current climate of fear to retain power. Australians are patriotic and, if anything, a bit insular - something Howard has been preying on. With an election due later this year the incumbent government has been blowing it’s own trumpet to the media. Obviously Howard has been taking lessons in spin from New Labour and I am becoming increasingly annoyed at the vast amounts of my tax being spent on this propaganda overkill.
- Moaning: There is a popular conception here of the “Whinging Pom“, in that there is a stereotype that all British people have a perpetual glass-half empty attitude. Australians like to believe that they are easy-going and relaxed about life. Let me dispel that myth right now! The Aussies whinge just as much as any other nationality. When it was 40+ degrees for days on end people grumbled, and since I shared their gripe, had no problem with this. But now the weather pattern has changed to a more European climate they are all moaning because it happened to rain on and off for 3 days. And these are the same people who told me how sick they were of the drought! I’m sorry guys - you can’t have it both ways!
Suddenly I’m not feeling so homesick after all!
I would recommend viewing the “OZ Brothers”, from the Late Show, circa 1993. It would provide in a few minutes glimpse into our own form of whinging. The key difference between Australian and English whinging is subtle, but definite. The English present their whinging finished with a conversational suffix, either being a stoic “never mind, then”, or a dour, northern “MUSN’T GRUMBLE.” My Nanna said that for years.
Australians prefer a conversational prefix. Beginning with a “This is BULLDUST”, quickly followed by a series of words that resemble “raga-faga-jeeeez-bladi-bladi-fugen-bla”.
The other difference? The English are much better at putting up with their lot. It’s something I do like about them. Countless stories about the average man during the Blitz would attest to this.
Hi Ric have to agree with Anthony’s comments! !