Australian Thanksgiving

[Skinner]

The description you've outlined sounds exactly like how Australia Day is sold to us.

It of course needs to be sold because it has no real relevance to our nationhood and appeals only to a section of our citizenry.

Yes, that was my first thought on reading this thread. It was a time of celebrating, really, the birth of a nation. In a very similar vein to Waitangi Day in New Zealand. Unfortunately though, as you allude to, both have been hijacked by groups pushing their own agendas.

A great pity really.

 

[Twizzle]

Halloween is the one that shits me. I know its nothing like Halloween over there, but it really has no place here in Aus.

Its probably not really traditions, but everything seems to be getting so Americanised. The clothes, tv shows, music, fast food, slang etc etc.

Ah, maybe I'm just turning into a narky old lady ;-)

you mean turned

 

[Skinner]

God, he's smooth isn't he......

 

[Misanthrope]

Is that really how Australia Day was pitched? I've always imagined it more in line with Indeoendence Day - a celebration if the country best done in grand scale. Fireworks, BBQs, tv tributes, parades, and all that junk.

Of course, these days it's all drunk bogans and whinging aboriginals... :-/

 

[Bazal]

Australia Day should be more like Independence Day, but Halloween is really not relevant in Australia. And I'm not one of those who believes in "Americanisation" (the world is becoming a lot smaller, simple as that, and people need to get used to that)...it's simply not something we've ever celebrated in any fashion.

 

[Misanthrope]

I'd love for Australia to have half the patriotism of America. And I don't mean Shire patriotism.

 

[Bazal]

I think America has a lot more shire patriotism than we do, personally....and a hell of a lot more racism in general

I also think that Australia as a national society is much more laid back, hence the difference in celebration of our national day. For everyone I know, a BBQ and some cricket with family and friends is a pretty good day, anything else is a bonus. Whereas America seems to have a sense of massive self importance and arrogance that we generally don't. I think saying that Australia doesn't have half the patriotism of America is disproven by history, tbh...we just save it up for the times when we have something to fight for

 

[Misanthrope]

While I feel like the southern US is quite racist, I don't labour under any illusions that Australia is not among the more racist countries in the world.

I've seen Americans cry when their anthem played, they almost universally take of their hats for the national anthem, flags fly in front yards across the country etc. I feel like that's something we never really match.

 

[Bazal]

I think it helps that, in all honesty, our anthem is hardly inspiring...and yes, there is a lot of racism in Australia for sure but I think that there is a lot more hardcore racism in America...in my experience anyway

 

[Misanthrope]

Our anthem is f**king terrible. I hate the damned thing. Our flag isn't much better tbh.

 

[Bazal]

I don't mind the flag....but I would probably be classified by most as a republican (in the Australian sense, not the American Mitt Romney sense ) so I would like to get rid of the Union Jack....

 

[Misanthrope]

Needs more green, gold, and kangaroo.

 

[Houdini]

you mean turned

It turns on you doesn't it ;-)

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

One thing I've definitely seen in the US is that every racial group has a surprising capacity for racism.
Baltimore is about 70% african american, and some of the things I read in the paper blow me away.
One letter they published in the city paper from a middle aged woman said she would never vote for a white person because they were all liars and out to cheat her. Also went on to say that the only true inter racial marriage was between a black person and someone else, as all 'light skinned' people are the same.
Not sure if serious or trolling, especially considering virtually every African American has some 'white blood' in their family tree.

Just LOL.

 

[Alba]

^^^^ It's the same in Philly. I think it's about 50% black though (could be wrong).. What I don't get is, how they can say whatever they want about white people and it's okay, but the minute a white person says anything remotely derogatory, WW3 is about to start.

As for Turkey day, I always get asked if Australia has anything like it, I sadly say no. As much as I hate turkey, I would love Australia to adopt something similar. Australia Day is not the equivalent imho, I've never thought of Aus Day as being a time to be with family. I always thought it was a bit gay, but my husband and I actually sat at the dinner table with eachother and went back and forth with 5 things each that we were thankful for in our lives. I think it's a really good thing to do. Even if it's just for one day, it keeps you from thinking about the negative in your life and focus on the positive. The only bad thing is, I don't have family here so I have to put up with HIS :/ UGHHHHHH!! We are thinking of doing Friendsgiving next year

 

[sensesmaybenumbed]

Yah. Had a workmate fly off the handle when I asked him to stop being lazy.
Replied by asking how 'lazy' was a race FFS?

They replied by telling me I was just another uptight white boy.

Oh the irony...

 

[Alba]

I know, right! That's a part of this country that I just can't accept! They are the ones that are uptight. If someone says something about me not being able to dance because I'm white, I'm not gonna file a goddamn lawsuit over it, but I guarantee if I say someone can't swim because they're black, all hell would break loose!

 

[Misanthrope]

It frustrates and amuses me when I am asked if we celebrate it, like Australia has reason to celebrate America's discovery and settlement, but we totes need a similar holiday in Oz.