Comments on: Post 100: Thinking about Values

By: Stilgherrian · How this ordinary aircraft will change my life

Stilgherrian · How this ordinary aircraft will change my life — Wed, 07 Nov 2007 00:17:06 +0000

[...] pondered Australian values before, but I mention all this today because in just under three weeks I’ll be sitting in [...]

By: Stilgherrian : What’s more Brtish than a Spitfire?

Stilgherrian : What’s more Brtish than a Spitfire? — Mon, 04 Dec 2006 03:54:39 +0000

[...] A BBC story—reminiscent of the Australian values debate — suggested everything from gin and tonic to the National Health Service. But Fisher chose the iconic Spitfire fighter aircraft of WWII. [...]

By: Richard

Richard — Sat, 07 Oct 2006 13:06:51 +0000

Could it be that an essential Australian pastime is discussing these things? To put it another way: we seem to have a burning desire to debate our ‘values’ in a (relatively) frank and free manner, rather than having them handed down to us in a little book. Self-obsession isn’t always unhealthy.

Right or Left, I believe that nobody in Australia could keep a straight face under a dictatorship. I’m glad we’re predisposed to mockery rather than torchlight rallies.

On the subject of food, as a ’70s immigrant from Britain I would define modern Australian cuisine as a happy marriage of South-East Asian and Mediterranean influences. (The people that actually own this country might beg to differ.) Whatever it is, I’m happier with chilli prawns than steak & kidney pie!

By: 'Pong

'Pong — Wed, 04 Oct 2006 13:54:40 +0000

Why, why and why? Big questions! Haven’t we been told that we asked too many questions? After all we are only human, cannot make sense of everything. But we can’t help it, can we? That’s how it works. Ask kids.

To ask about values is always a tricky thing. Australian values? I think many Australians are happy to leave it as an open question. Food for example, I did ask what was an authentic Australian cuisine, like you say to French, Chinese, Thai or American. Can you say loudly it’s Vegemite or beef pie? Every now and then, Australian cultural identity is a political game played to sound a popularity index. Remember years back when Latham was ALP’s leader, he proposed to rethink Australia’s multiculturalism? http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2004/04/20/1082395854874.html?from=storyrhs How far did the policy go? How far did he go!

I doubt that I will have to take that Howard’s test if I want to consider being an Australian. It is interesting to see what would be in the test, tho.

Personal Values: I think what you believe you are is not far from what you are perceived. Truth and honesty have come to my mind about you.

Regarding those first questions I think you just simply care about what is going in the world and want to share your view about it. Hey, isn’t that blogging thing about— screaming, ranting or just expressing?

Darn! I am spending more time commenting your blog than posting my own. *slap*

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 11:21:06 +0000

Actually, now that I can finally catch up on reading the whole issue, Crikey also has an article on values by Max Wallace (subscription required). He reckons Australia's core values are secular: (1) scepticism towards all authority (2) mateship and (3) a fair go — the same as the values of the French Revolution: liberté, fraternité, égalité.

By: Stilgherrian

Stilgherrian — Tue, 03 Oct 2006 09:15:21 +0000

Today's edition of Crikey lists more un-Australian things, including the new industrial relations laws and preventing southerners from migrating to Queensland.