Thread: I'm getting sick of our country losing it's identity

The way others see the Australian identity always interests me. I’ve spent about 4 months overseas this year with work and the things that often come up in conversation when people realise I’m from Oz seem to be:

Fantastic country, love to visit but too far away

Monster sharks, crocs, deadly snakes

Really tough on refugees/illegal arrivals

Hard drinking/partying

Great beaches and scenery

Yes, I found living overseas gave a completely different perspective on Australia.

Yes we should be utterly embarrassed of the image we portray to the world.

Unfortunately it closely resembles what many cling to as our core Australian identity.

How we behave as a country is how we’re seen by others. It can’t just be pushed aside as a misinterpretation.

Working in the intercultural sector and dealing with international projects and perceptions, I’m constantly having to explain that not all Australians are xenophobic bogans.

In many ways, the faster ‘our country’ loses its international identity as a bogan backwater that disregards human rights for the sake of dominant cultural expediency, with a smattering of beautiful beaches and good athletes, the better IMO. We are a lot more than that. But we need to grow up and behave like it.