The principles of a fair go for all people, the concept of helping a mate in trouble and the acceptance of the differences between the races of man are among the foundation stones of the Australian Society. Here perhaps more than practically anywhere else in the world those concepts have been instrumental in the wide perception of Australia being one of the most egalitarian societies of the 20th. Century. Indeed, Australia and Australians up till comparitively recent times were seen as the most benevolent, tolerant and widely admired country of people in the world.
What has changed? Why has it changed? What can be done to regain that respect and prestige we have lost?
These are important questions that require urgent attention by each and every one of us who call ourselves Australians.
Firstly, what has changed?
In the latter half of the 20th. Century nation building projects like the Snowy River Scheme brought together people from all walks of life and from all corners of the world to Australia. This melting pot of cultures and ideas was greatly responsible for the adoption of what is now termed multiculturalism. We as a nation embraced the newcomers with open arms and hearts with the result that our international stocks and fiscal success rose at the greatest rate in our short history as a nation. Well what has changed?
We now actively discourage diversity of ethnicity in our population and indeed treat newcomers with suspicion and disrespect. Both attitudes nurtured and encouraged by Howard Government policy over the last 10 years.
What can we do to turn this deplorable situation around?
Again open our hearts to genuine outsiders, let the moths out of the purse and again instigate nation building projects like the Snowy Scheme. What is the good of having massive surpluses stagnating in government bank accounts while the country is in desperate need of infrastructure?
History will say that the most notable and deplorable aspects of the Howard Government years were their total lack of nation building initiatives and their negative engineering of Australia and Australian’s attitudes to outsiders and the less fortunate in our society.
It’s definitely time for a change.
2 Comments
January 11, 2007 at 8:51 pm
Hey WB,
Managed to click on your link from the Oz Policitcs blog. We need more websites like your’s to wake Australia up to see what Coward is doing to our great country.
Keep up the good work!
Frankly it’s quite shocking to think back over the coalition election wins of 2001 and 2004 knowing that the coalition won them based on lies and deceit, not policy nor truth.
The next election will be a ripper, hopefully Labor can get up this time ’round.
January 11, 2007 at 9:03 pm
Michael,
Thank you for your support.
I am only trying to highlight my personal frustration with the state of play in Australia today, however if it strikes an accord with others all the better.
I agree the next election will no doubt be a watershed for this decade and will make or break the Australian ethos in the process.
Thanks again for your kind words and hope I can continue to offer some commentary of value.
WB