Thread: What is Australias Official language? Not what you think

Originally Posted by KarlB

Not sure what you mean by the original text Hymie, but the official national anthem only has 2 verses though the original version of it has 5 verses.

Cheers
KarlB

Yeah, the original version, before it became P.C, I still know 4 verses, I've forgotten the 5th.

Originally Posted by KarlB

Hmm... what might some of these true democracies be? And indeed, what is a democracy, true or otherwise?

Cheers
KarlB

Just to add to this democracy tangent.

The Victorian ALP has just admitted to using previously secret database of personal profiles of individual voters, complete with information on memberships, letters to the editor, contact with MP and at political rallies. Revealed: How the ALP keeps secret files on voters the Liberal/National coalition has admitted having a similar database without revealing any more information.

I wonder if the databases were started in 1984?

Whether it is in the Constitution or not......in my book is no biggy.....we speak English ( yes folks with a capital). In terms of signage with English and another language for example....wellllll I guess that is a result of being a multicultural country.

I think the key factor is the integration. Sunnybank here in QLD for example has a high proportion of Chinese. One would think they have driven into a Chinese suburb. I am also aware that people that have lived in the area for decades aren't overly impressed. The upside is there is some fantastic food to be had.

In some respects...I don't see a huge difference in some cultures culminating in one area to wanting to live in a particular area for lifestyle or socio economic reasons. I prefer to live on acreage away from the great unwashed , very much like others who live in the same area,

Regards

Stevo

Originally Posted by It'sNotWorthComplaining!

..........................So why not educate them?
If they fear to take on the customs and predominant language of Australia.
If they are intolerant to learn to integrate.
If they find non acceptance of the ways of their new country.................

Crikey! What are you afraid of?

Whatever happened to the concept of 'We are one but we are many.........' from the classic 'I am Australian' by Bruce Woodley of 'The Seekers' fame ?
As far as Asian immigration goes I've found these people to be hard working, multi-lingual, crave education with a passion and with solid family values; being respectful of others, especially the aged. All the while striving for a better future for their kids. Nothing to be afraid of here I would have thought.

Continuing on a musical note
As a National Anthem, 'I am Australian' is more relevant (IMHO), than our 'National Song' as 'Advance Australia Fair' was first called when it became Australias official tune. An absolutely limp piece of dated prose. The only decent version I've heard was to Barnseys 'Working Class Man'.

Deano

Originally Posted by DeanoH

Continuing on a musical note
As a National Anthem, 'I am Australian' is more relevant (IMHO), than our 'National Song' as 'Advance Australia Fair' was first called when it became Australias official tune. An absolutely limp piece of dated prose. The only decent version I've heard was to Barnseys 'Working Class Man'.

Deano

[ame=http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xiEycVMKoJo]YouTube - Adam Hills Advance Australia Fair[/ame] ,

Regards

Stevo

here, its all about Spanish... you have to "press one" for anything in english...

a lot of billboard signs are Spanish only...

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Just to add to this democracy tangent.

The Victorian ALP has just admitted to using previously secret database of personal profiles of individual voters, complete with information on memberships, letters to the editor, contact with MP and at political rallies. Revealed: How the ALP keeps secret files on voters the Liberal/National coalition has admitted having a similar database without revealing any more information.

I wonder if the databases were started in 1984?

None of this is new despite what The Age says. It has been public knowledge since at least 2003 when this paper was published: http://www.utas.edu.au/government/APSA/P.van%20Onselen-Databases.pdf. It was also reported in 2004 here: Voter tracking systems: how to get inside the minds of voters - On Line Opinion - 16/4/2004 and here: http://arts.anu.edu.au/democraticaudit/papers/200410_van_ons_dbases.pdf; and more recently here: Parties allowed to hijack postal votes | The Australian.

As William Bowe says on the Crikey website today:

"None of this is to deny that the specific material The Age has accessed from Labor’s database is highly newsworthy in its right. However, the paper is blowing its own trumpet far too loud when it asserts that “little has been known until now about how the software is used”. Similarly, The Age is quite right to argue, as van Onselen, Errington and many others have done in the past, that the major parties’ collusion in quarantining their activities from privacy legislation is of very serious concern. But these concerns existed last week, last month and last year. What ultimately stands out from The Age’s exposé is its appearance four days out from a state election, in terms that would give the casual reader cause to specifically impute the practice to one party rather than the other."

I am not going to start commenting on 1984 and conspiracy theories. But I will say I believe we in Australia live in a very fine democracy. It is not perfect (as The Age exposé 4 days out from an election illustrates) but it is one of the best in the world.

If your concern for 1984 is the changing of the National Anthem from God Save the Queen to Advance Australia Fair then I suggest you just sing away to your hearts content. I don't think any one will be particularly upset (other than your neighbours).

Now, can we have the names of some true democracies? You obviously don't think Australia is one.

Cheers
KarlB

Karl

Don't get me wrong, I think Australia is a great country, but like many others it could be better. As for better democracies, well, the problem is that EU countries are now out because citizens of one EU member don't have direct democratic access to the EU and irrespective of "democratic process" of their home country the EU can make laws and regulations that over-ride the rights of the member states.

The US is structured better but has been corrupted by capital and the need for political donations.

The result is that while we have an imperfect parliamentary democracy it is one that is worthwhile working to improve. For a start we need a Bill of Rights codifying what are our minimum rights, freedoms and responsibilities, so Government can't by way of legislation or regulation infringe our basic rights. Rights like freedom of association which are being erroded in the anti-bikie laws.

Now I'll just go out and sing Advance Australia Square, that is of course unless there is a queen nearby!