Thread: Bad news for your Australians!

Originally Posted by Tango51

Fair go!
I returned the ball in play at a humourous level, to introduce a gambit of tragic occurences as if a slight has been done to them is odious!
While I applaud your empathy for my and my countries ancestory, I don't think it honourable to ignore the intention of having a little quip in order to assume some moral high ground.
My thoughts.

Tango

I understand your perspectives, however while the Brittish were different and some would say better than other European colonialists powers there is very little that is funny about the legacies they left as they drew lines on maps and painted their possessions pink. The British have no high moral ground to stand on, they merely had more guns down the sides of their ships and were happy to play gun boat diplomacy to protect the interests of British traders.

European interests and colonialism is the reason we had two world wars, and the United Kingdom no longer the "Great" Brittan it once was.

The world we have today, is a direct result of European colonial interests followed closely by the Americans.

Think about that next time any of us walk through the security scanner at the airport or have the security officer vacuum you with the nitrate detector.

In spite of that The British Westminster system of democracy is still one of the best legacies that has been given the the world and the main reason that Australia is such a great place to live today.

Just my own personal beliefs.

Diana

Originally Posted by HangOver

We where both made citizens as soon as we where eligable.
You have to wait a year, (two now I think?) before you can apply.

It was two when we came over (We have just under a year to go until we can apply) but is now four for new migrants - came into effect last July, I think.

Joking comments apart, I personally dont think WHITE British citizens understand the effect of British colonial past.

People/races have always migrated due to weather/economic considerations. Migration due to weather considerations has gone on since the Ice Ages, so there is nothing new there.

Migration due to economic considerations has been going on from at least the Roman times. The Roman Empire relied on slave trade as a means of economic survival. Slavery has existed in the world for at least 2,000 years with forced movement of labour.

Yes all the major European colonial powers Britain/France/Spain/Portugal/Belgium/Germany etc did carve up various continents along their own political/economic/military needs. Quite often these carving up took little notice of geographical/racial/tribal boundaries. To fuel their colonial expansions yes their was slave trade (i.e. Africans to the Caribean for sugar trade) Some of the slaves were captured by the colonial powers, some were sold to the colonial powers by their own tribal leaders!

All the colonial powers imported free labour into their colonies, quite often from other colonies. i.e. Indians to Uganda etc to provide civil service support for the British Empire.

Black slaves/servants were 'fashionable' in London circles in the Victorian era.

Today in the UK we have economic migrants into the UK from Eastern Europe which some traditional white British are complaining about (They are taking our jobs) Today we still have slavery in the UK apart from the sex trade, there are forced/bonded labour (e.g. Chinese)

America still has colonies where it does not allow basic human rights. (e.g. Guatalama Bay in Cuba)

We can not alter the history of our colonial era. What we must do is celebrate the diverse nature of the human race.

Personally I believe a nice person is a nice person, a barsteward is a barsteward,, irrespectively of race, gender, age, sex, sexual orientation etc.

I am looking forward to meeting a lot of nice people in Australia and I do not care if they are descendent from British criminals, British free traders, Afghan camel drivers, Aboringines, Chinese coolies, or Vietnamese boat people.

Regards

Brendan

PS Will I be considered just another whinging Pom when I am in Australia?

PS Will I be considered just another whinging Pom when I am in Australia?

Only if you whinge & tell all the people you meet how things are better in the UK.


But seriously, in the early days that is what p***ed off most Aussies & the response probably made them feel unwelcome.

Originally Posted by leeds

I am looking forward to meeting a lot of nice people in Australia and I do not care if they are descendant from British criminals, British free traders, Afghan camel drivers, Indigenous Australians, Chinese coolies, or Vietnamese boat people.

Regards

Brendan

PS Will I be considered just another whinging Pom when I am in Australia?

And we'll be glad to have a barbi and a few coldies with you!

Diana

P.S As others have said, You will only be considered a whinging pom if you start whinging. Or if you dare suggest the Wobbilies are crap at Rugby or those wearing the baggie greens can't play cricket etc.

Originally Posted by 5teve

Its 4 years now! we got in just before the 2 years thing ran out... and we will be getting ours as soon as the 2 years is over! we'll be proud to call ourselves aussies..

i do know a few people that are here just to get their citizenship and then go back to the UK? cant understand why and they just winge about australia... too hot, too many flies, too expensive (god knows where they shop) my reply? i think you should go now..

congrats on the Visa leeds.. im sure you will love it... and the people, be they aussie or pom... everyone we have met has been great (and there are quite a few too!) (excepting the wingers )

Thanks

Steve

4 years, Holy S41t !
They must be trying to keep the rif-raf out, I'm glad I got in before then

Originally Posted by HangOver

4 years, Holy S41t !
They must be trying to keep the rif-raf out, I'm glad I got in before then

I think it's to stop people with no intention of settling coming in just long enough to get the passport - 4 years out of your regular life/career is much harder to manage than 2 years if you don't intend to stay. Personally, I think it's a good thing, as it doesn't really impact permanent residents who want to become citizens (Unless you're mad keen to vote!) but should deter those mentioned above. That said, I'm glad we got in before it changed too!

Originally Posted by Lotz-A-Landies

Tango

I understand your perspectives, however while the Brittish were different and some would say better than other European colonialists powers there is very little that is funny about the legacies they left as they drew lines on maps and painted their possessions pink. The British have no high moral ground to stand on, they merely had more guns down the sides of their ships and were happy to play gun boat diplomacy to protect the interests of British traders.

European interests and colonialism is the reason we had two world wars, and the United Kingdom no longer the "Great" Brittan it once was.

The world we have today, is a direct result of European colonial interests followed closely by the Americans.

Think about that next time any of us walk through the security scanner at the airport or have the security officer vacuum you with the nitrate detector.

In spite of that The British Westminster system of democracy is still one of the best legacies that has been given the the world and the main reason that Australia is such a great place to live today.

Just my own personal beliefs.

Diana

Diana,
You understand my perspectives?
I agree with almost all of this post and none of it addresses my issue.
Well, The British Westminster systems aren't British, they were introduced by the Saxons.
They are also the very systems that allowed the atrocities of which you speak.
Leeds was in no way serious but joking when he said 'All Australians are the descendants of vagabonds and thieves' and I defy any respondants to suggest that they didn't know that.
My return quip was to suggest that the hand that weilded the power ,law or club that put a poverty stricken citizen onto a ship to provide indentured servitude to build the New World was indeed lower than the citizen victimised, hence my disgust at the sudden misdirection of Political Correctness over historical facts in tones of serious and sanctimonious reprimand.