Math
Australian Identity
Good Morning to one and all, Thank you for giving me this opportunity today.
As this is Australia Day I would like to reflect today on the issue of Identity
There are many Australians who say that Australia has no national identity and would be racist if it got one. Ironically, such an attitude is a uniquely Australian thing to say. But Australia is a country that has been described, as diverse, multicultural and unique. Australian society has evolved in a very short space of time from the earliest convict settlements established in the mid 19thcentury, to the cosmopolitan states that currently exist and attract migrants from all continents across the globe. Australia’s history has been define by conflict, human rights violations, economic growth and the hardship associated with establishing a refined society in a harsh and primitive landscape. One aspect of Australian Identity that is continually misrepresented to the rest of the world is the stereotypical image of the tanned, blonde, athletic, easy going, slow talking Aussie. It is true that our climate and geography enable Australians to spend leisure time at the beach or outdoors. It is also true that Australians tend to love sport. The true Australian identity, however, is linked to opportunity and the hope of a better life. It would be too simplistic to claim that the true Australian identity could be defined effectively by examining the Indigenous communities that existed prior to the British colonization of Australia. It would also be unrealistic to just focus on the British colonies that developed from convict settlements to towns that attracted free settlers seeking a better life from what Britain and Europe offered. Perhaps the only idea that we can retain from these early times is the concept of seeking a better life and this is a common aspect of Australian identity that resonates with all who have come to Australia.
There are still a lot of things to be understood about
Good Morning to one and all, Thank you for giving me this opportunity today.
As this is Australia Day I would like to reflect today on the issue of Identity
There are many Australians who say that Australia has no national identity and would be racist if it got one. Ironically, such an attitude is a uniquely Australian thing to say. But Australia is a country that has been described, as diverse, multicultural and unique. Australian society has evolved in a very short space of time from the earliest convict settlements established in the mid 19thcentury, to the cosmopolitan states that currently exist and attract migrants from all continents across the globe. Australia’s history has been define by conflict, human rights violations, economic growth and the hardship associated with establishing a refined society in a harsh and primitive landscape. One aspect of Australian Identity that is continually misrepresented to the rest of the world is the stereotypical image of the tanned, blonde, athletic, easy going, slow talking Aussie. It is true that our climate and geography enable Australians to spend leisure time at the beach or outdoors. It is also true that Australians tend to love sport. The true Australian identity, however, is linked to opportunity and the hope of a better life. It would be too simplistic to claim that the true Australian identity could be defined effectively by examining the Indigenous communities that existed prior to the British colonization of Australia. It would also be unrealistic to just focus on the British colonies that developed from convict settlements to towns that attracted free settlers seeking a better life from what Britain and Europe offered. Perhaps the only idea that we can retain from these early times is the concept of seeking a better life and this is a common aspect of Australian identity that resonates with all who have come to Australia.
There are still a lot of things to be understood about