This Fall
Rehan Ansari October 2, 2002
#69 Posted by subroto on October 10, 2002 8:12:21 pm
RE DrDr
John Howard is the man who scuttled the republican referandum(b) in Oz. A staunch monarchist he obviously identifies more with his brit cousins. Had 9/11 and the Tampa (refugee) crises not happened last year there was a chance of him losing the election. The canny politico that he is, both incidents were used by him to play upon people`s fears and get their votes.
John Howard is the man who scuttled the republican referandum(b) in Oz. A staunch monarchist he obviously identifies more with his brit cousins. Had 9/11 and the Tampa (refugee) crises not happened last year there was a chance of him losing the election. The canny politico that he is, both incidents were used by him to play upon people`s fears and get their votes.
reply to this interact
write a new interact
add to favorites
flag objectionable content
#68 Posted by ZafarA on October 10, 2002 6:32:30 pm
DrDr
John Howard is not known as ``Little Johnny`` for nothing.
John Howard is not known as ``Little Johnny`` for nothing.
#67 Posted by DrDr on October 10, 2002 4:11:26 pm
Zafar Saheb:
From todays paper:
Alas, he (Howard) chose instead, in his remarks before the Australian Chamber of Commerce, to becloud, if not befoul, his position when he added that, whatever the pros and cons of an Iraqi attack, Australia needed to support the Americans and British because of their similar values and ``similar view of life.``
One wonders why the exalted man identifies not with the ppl of US & UK but with the rulers. The majority in UK opposes attack on Iraq. If Aussies identify with the mother country theyd oppose war too. The intrstng thng is what smlr valus & view of life? Whiteness? Language? Anglosaxon valus, what?
From todays paper:
Alas, he (Howard) chose instead, in his remarks before the Australian Chamber of Commerce, to becloud, if not befoul, his position when he added that, whatever the pros and cons of an Iraqi attack, Australia needed to support the Americans and British because of their similar values and ``similar view of life.``
One wonders why the exalted man identifies not with the ppl of US & UK but with the rulers. The majority in UK opposes attack on Iraq. If Aussies identify with the mother country theyd oppose war too. The intrstng thng is what smlr valus & view of life? Whiteness? Language? Anglosaxon valus, what?
#65 Posted by ZafarA on October 9, 2002 8:15:05 pm
Reply Dost-mittar #61
``When you shoot Baywatch in Australia, remember that Pamela Andersen is Canadian.``
Aane do. Yahan hi brain transplant karvaa denge...
``When you shoot Baywatch in Australia, remember that Pamela Andersen is Canadian.``
Aane do. Yahan hi brain transplant karvaa denge...
#64 Posted by Shah on October 9, 2002 3:35:07 pm
=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts
view this users filtered interacts
#63 Posted by Shah on October 9, 2002 3:35:07 pm
=== Interact Filtered ===
view this users filtered interacts
view this users filtered interacts
#62 Posted by khamkhwa on October 9, 2002 10:36:58 am
DrDr
You are too intelligent to be a part of the 12-head family.Apologies for my wrong impression about you which was created because of the use of the12-head trade mark by you ....viz:
HaramiU for harimau and there for their, amongst others.
Carry on mate ;)
You are too intelligent to be a part of the 12-head family.Apologies for my wrong impression about you which was created because of the use of the12-head trade mark by you ....viz:
HaramiU for harimau and there for their, amongst others.
Carry on mate ;)
#60 Posted by ZafarA on October 8, 2002 7:53:29 pm
Reply dost-mittar #53
“Australia is following in the Canadian footsteps. Whatever happens here - immigration selection criteria, multiculturalism, backlash followed by acceptance - seems to follow there after some time.”
It seems like a logical progression of logical ideas, no? Why doesn’t the rest of the world get it?
“Just as what`s-her-name tried to rouse anti-immigrant feelings in Australia about five years ago”
Pauline Hanson of the One Nation Party (currently embroiled in some court dispute about improper use of donations….)
Actually, the funniest response to Pauline Hanson was a drag queen who dressed to look like her and called herself Pauline Pantsdown – followed her around when Hanson went canvassing for votes, released a couple of singles using Hanson’s public statements in playback, etc. V amusing, and perhaps says more about Australian public life and culture, and how things are dealt with here, than is immediately apparent. (Can you imagine an equivalent phenomenon in Canada? Dame Edna Everidge is also one of Australia’s gifts to the world…)
“…we had our own Reform party which grew out of an extreme rightwing agenda tinged with racism. But Canada being Canada, the party soon moderated itself and now, both in absolute and percentage terms, the same party has more Indo-Canadian members of Parliament than either of the mainsteam parties.”
Now that’s something that is unlikely to happen in Australia. The Greens, however, are going great guns, praise God and pass the ammunition.
“But there is one area where you are always leading us - sports (except hockey - thank God you don`t have much snow down under!).”
What about Prisoner and Neighbours, hey? And have I mentioned that Baywatch might be shot in Australia? Beat that Spiderman! When it comes to crass tele-vulgarity WE RULE! (Next stop Bollywood…)
Regards
“Australia is following in the Canadian footsteps. Whatever happens here - immigration selection criteria, multiculturalism, backlash followed by acceptance - seems to follow there after some time.”
It seems like a logical progression of logical ideas, no? Why doesn’t the rest of the world get it?
“Just as what`s-her-name tried to rouse anti-immigrant feelings in Australia about five years ago”
Pauline Hanson of the One Nation Party (currently embroiled in some court dispute about improper use of donations….)
Actually, the funniest response to Pauline Hanson was a drag queen who dressed to look like her and called herself Pauline Pantsdown – followed her around when Hanson went canvassing for votes, released a couple of singles using Hanson’s public statements in playback, etc. V amusing, and perhaps says more about Australian public life and culture, and how things are dealt with here, than is immediately apparent. (Can you imagine an equivalent phenomenon in Canada? Dame Edna Everidge is also one of Australia’s gifts to the world…)
“…we had our own Reform party which grew out of an extreme rightwing agenda tinged with racism. But Canada being Canada, the party soon moderated itself and now, both in absolute and percentage terms, the same party has more Indo-Canadian members of Parliament than either of the mainsteam parties.”
Now that’s something that is unlikely to happen in Australia. The Greens, however, are going great guns, praise God and pass the ammunition.
“But there is one area where you are always leading us - sports (except hockey - thank God you don`t have much snow down under!).”
What about Prisoner and Neighbours, hey? And have I mentioned that Baywatch might be shot in Australia? Beat that Spiderman! When it comes to crass tele-vulgarity WE RULE! (Next stop Bollywood…)
Regards
#59 Posted by ZafarA on October 8, 2002 7:41:33 pm
Reply DrDr #58
“Thnx for the tutorial.”
Well, since you enjoyed it…
“My uncle was there in the early 90s. His views were colored also by what he saw were injustices against the aborigines.”
Which continue, I’m afraid, though things are getting better.
“The Aussies Ive known complain bitterly about how the Yanks dont respect them despite the cultural closeness, military alliances, etc. The NZ`ers stand up to Uncle Sam and both R viewed the same here.”
Our Govt’s poodle like attitude to the US is, frankly, embarrassing. Australia IS a client state of the US (sort of like Canada), but the Govt’s complete lack of dignity is just too crass to be palatable.
(Also – keep in mind that if anybody wants to get to NZ they have to go through Australia first – NZ’s “buzz off Uncle Sam” attitude comes without a price, due to their location.)
“My uncle also sez that the Aussies cudnt make up their minds about whether they R closer to the greater white world or East Asia. Is he right?”
Under Keating (our former Labour PM) there was this tremendous push for “engagement” (whatever that means) with Asia – because Australia is (surprise! Surprise!) located where it is. This was supported by growing economic ties with SE Asia, with Japan (for quite some time), and (growing importance) China and South Korea. We got a LOT of tourists from these areas (even had a few street signs in Japanese in tourist areas) – and tourism is one of Australia’s biggest industries. These are also regions which import a lot of commodities (minerals and food – another big chunk of our economy). Basically there was a lot of movement of people and money back and forth between Australia and SE and E Asia (and there still is), and it seemed that our political paradigm had not properly adjusted to this, being still overwhelming focused on Britain (and marginally the EC) and to an even greater extent the US.
(To some extent this was a reaction to Australia’s British Empire past, the White Australia Policy, and depending on the US during WWII against Japan.)
It was at this time that Keating tried to get Australia into ASEAN – only to find that ASEAN really didn’t want us! (what a come down for the poor man – Mr Mahathir of Malaysia, and Mr Lee of Singapore, were particularly scathing.) Wow! That was sobering – and the backlash to it fed on the realisation (with greater familiarity with the region, due to greater press coverage) that Australia actually DID belong squarely with the Western democracies when it came to things like Governmental institutions and a free press – things which do shape popular expectations and culture. (For eg Mahathir complained about Australian papers writing unpleasant things about him – the Australian Govt could do diddly about that, while papers in Malaysia would have run a good chance of being shut down. That sort of thing made an impression in Australia.)
Then came economic and political troubles in SE Asia – especially Indonesia which is perhaps THE most important foreign country for Australia when it comes to peace and security - and Australia realised that perhaps this was not the promised land, after all. The fact that Australia is an island cannot be overemphasised in terms of how people perceive their physical isolation from the rest of the world’s troubles – the feeling was “it’s a good thing it’s over there, and let’s not let it get here”. The benefits of being far away were realised again, plus the feeling that in focusing entirely on Asia Australia had almost put all its eggs in one basket – hence the current push for an FTA with the US.
Our current PM, John Howard (Liberal) pretty much rode this emotion to office (exemplified most appallingly in the perception/treatment of asylum seekers) and it’s still around. My feeling is that in the end the country will get some sort of a balance about the whole thing – we are in many ways a lot like the US and UK, but we remain deeply linked to the SE and E Asian economies, and these links are reflected in the movement of people, and hence the evolution of Australian culture and identity. There will never be a White Australia policy (stated or unstated) again, not just because of the demographic changes immigration has brought, but because the way people think has changed. I don’t think that Australia will ever be part of Asia – but then it won’t pretend to be part of Europe or N America either. Does that answer your question? Oh dear, perhaps not…perhaps Subroto can correct my mistakes?
Regards
“Thnx for the tutorial.”
Well, since you enjoyed it…
“My uncle was there in the early 90s. His views were colored also by what he saw were injustices against the aborigines.”
Which continue, I’m afraid, though things are getting better.
“The Aussies Ive known complain bitterly about how the Yanks dont respect them despite the cultural closeness, military alliances, etc. The NZ`ers stand up to Uncle Sam and both R viewed the same here.”
Our Govt’s poodle like attitude to the US is, frankly, embarrassing. Australia IS a client state of the US (sort of like Canada), but the Govt’s complete lack of dignity is just too crass to be palatable.
(Also – keep in mind that if anybody wants to get to NZ they have to go through Australia first – NZ’s “buzz off Uncle Sam” attitude comes without a price, due to their location.)
“My uncle also sez that the Aussies cudnt make up their minds about whether they R closer to the greater white world or East Asia. Is he right?”
Under Keating (our former Labour PM) there was this tremendous push for “engagement” (whatever that means) with Asia – because Australia is (surprise! Surprise!) located where it is. This was supported by growing economic ties with SE Asia, with Japan (for quite some time), and (growing importance) China and South Korea. We got a LOT of tourists from these areas (even had a few street signs in Japanese in tourist areas) – and tourism is one of Australia’s biggest industries. These are also regions which import a lot of commodities (minerals and food – another big chunk of our economy). Basically there was a lot of movement of people and money back and forth between Australia and SE and E Asia (and there still is), and it seemed that our political paradigm had not properly adjusted to this, being still overwhelming focused on Britain (and marginally the EC) and to an even greater extent the US.
(To some extent this was a reaction to Australia’s British Empire past, the White Australia Policy, and depending on the US during WWII against Japan.)
It was at this time that Keating tried to get Australia into ASEAN – only to find that ASEAN really didn’t want us! (what a come down for the poor man – Mr Mahathir of Malaysia, and Mr Lee of Singapore, were particularly scathing.) Wow! That was sobering – and the backlash to it fed on the realisation (with greater familiarity with the region, due to greater press coverage) that Australia actually DID belong squarely with the Western democracies when it came to things like Governmental institutions and a free press – things which do shape popular expectations and culture. (For eg Mahathir complained about Australian papers writing unpleasant things about him – the Australian Govt could do diddly about that, while papers in Malaysia would have run a good chance of being shut down. That sort of thing made an impression in Australia.)
Then came economic and political troubles in SE Asia – especially Indonesia which is perhaps THE most important foreign country for Australia when it comes to peace and security - and Australia realised that perhaps this was not the promised land, after all. The fact that Australia is an island cannot be overemphasised in terms of how people perceive their physical isolation from the rest of the world’s troubles – the feeling was “it’s a good thing it’s over there, and let’s not let it get here”. The benefits of being far away were realised again, plus the feeling that in focusing entirely on Asia Australia had almost put all its eggs in one basket – hence the current push for an FTA with the US.
Our current PM, John Howard (Liberal) pretty much rode this emotion to office (exemplified most appallingly in the perception/treatment of asylum seekers) and it’s still around. My feeling is that in the end the country will get some sort of a balance about the whole thing – we are in many ways a lot like the US and UK, but we remain deeply linked to the SE and E Asian economies, and these links are reflected in the movement of people, and hence the evolution of Australian culture and identity. There will never be a White Australia policy (stated or unstated) again, not just because of the demographic changes immigration has brought, but because the way people think has changed. I don’t think that Australia will ever be part of Asia – but then it won’t pretend to be part of Europe or N America either. Does that answer your question? Oh dear, perhaps not…perhaps Subroto can correct my mistakes?
Regards
#58 Posted by DrDr on October 8, 2002 1:36:39 pm
Zafar saheb, Subroto saheb,
Thnx for the tutorial. My uncle was there in the early 90s. His views were colored also by what he saw were injustices against the aborigines.
The Aussies Ive known complain bitterly about how the Yanks dont respect them despite the cultural closeness, military alliances, etc. The NZ`ers stand up to Uncle Sam and both R viewed the same here. Kinda like Pak & Ind receiving the same treatment even though Pak sucks up more.
My uncle also sez that the Aussies cudnt make up their minds about whether they R closer to the greater white world or East Asia. Is he right?
Thnx for the tutorial. My uncle was there in the early 90s. His views were colored also by what he saw were injustices against the aborigines.
The Aussies Ive known complain bitterly about how the Yanks dont respect them despite the cultural closeness, military alliances, etc. The NZ`ers stand up to Uncle Sam and both R viewed the same here. Kinda like Pak & Ind receiving the same treatment even though Pak sucks up more.
My uncle also sez that the Aussies cudnt make up their minds about whether they R closer to the greater white world or East Asia. Is he right?
#56 Posted by Saminasha on October 8, 2002 8:41:40 am
Rehan,
You should teach an Indian film course at CUNY/or The Grad Center....so many lovely South Asians....there`d be absolutely no problem there...
You should teach an Indian film course at CUNY/or The Grad Center....so many lovely South Asians....there`d be absolutely no problem there...
#55 Posted by nasah on October 8, 2002 8:41:40 am
``The American democracy will automatically self-correct Bush and his administrations` excess.````(ferozk)
I know, I know feroz miaN -- it always has -- and it WILL in 2004 -- but at what cost --
500,000 Iraqis killed and buried alive by his hyperthyroid dad --
2 million Iraqi infants, children already dead and dying -- of malnutrition and lack of medicines -- before dad was thrown out
now how many hundred thousands -- this hypothyroid cretin will kill.. before he IS thrown out of office --
ah my dear -- my beloved democracy -- kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sur hone tuk -- khaak ho jai geN hum tujh ko khabar hone tuk....
I know, I know feroz miaN -- it always has -- and it WILL in 2004 -- but at what cost --
500,000 Iraqis killed and buried alive by his hyperthyroid dad --
2 million Iraqi infants, children already dead and dying -- of malnutrition and lack of medicines -- before dad was thrown out
now how many hundred thousands -- this hypothyroid cretin will kill.. before he IS thrown out of office --
ah my dear -- my beloved democracy -- kaun jeeta hai teri zulf ke sur hone tuk -- khaak ho jai geN hum tujh ko khabar hone tuk....
#52 Posted by ferozk on October 7, 2002 10:32:25 pm
re: nasah # 48
Nasah, please consider this point of view. Bush was elected by the Electoral College, and not the popular vote, to be the President of the United States. Right?
Next, being elected, he should be given free rein to do what he wants and if his policies are disagreed with, he can always be voted out of office, when November 2004 arrives. Correct?
If Bush wants a war with Iraq, let him have the war with Iraq. If he wants to kill; let him kill. If he wants a ``clash of civilizations``, let there be a clash of civilizations.
What is happening in the United States is a democracy at work and which is, the right to make the wrong choice and live with it - something the generals in Pakistan will do well to heed!
The American democracy will automatically self-correct Bush and his administrations` excess.
Ciao
Nasah, please consider this point of view. Bush was elected by the Electoral College, and not the popular vote, to be the President of the United States. Right?
Next, being elected, he should be given free rein to do what he wants and if his policies are disagreed with, he can always be voted out of office, when November 2004 arrives. Correct?
If Bush wants a war with Iraq, let him have the war with Iraq. If he wants to kill; let him kill. If he wants a ``clash of civilizations``, let there be a clash of civilizations.
What is happening in the United States is a democracy at work and which is, the right to make the wrong choice and live with it - something the generals in Pakistan will do well to heed!
The American democracy will automatically self-correct Bush and his administrations` excess.
Ciao
#51 Posted by DrDr on October 7, 2002 10:27:32 pm
#45
So which 1 R U now - khamk or banjaraa?
Pickin` on typos is lame, even for a mean-spirited moron such as U.
So which 1 R U now - khamk or banjaraa?
Pickin` on typos is lame, even for a mean-spirited moron such as U.
#50 Posted by ZafarA on October 7, 2002 10:27:32 pm
Reply Rehan #42
“zafar tumhari kiya baat hai, i mean you are encouraging me y`know..”
Rehan, I am second to none in my appreciation of segues. Did you know that Patsy says that you can never have too many shoes, hats and gloves? I think she’s right, and I’m glad that I’m encouraging you, mashallah…
“zafar tumhari kiya baat hai, i mean you are encouraging me y`know..”
Rehan, I am second to none in my appreciation of segues. Did you know that Patsy says that you can never have too many shoes, hats and gloves? I think she’s right, and I’m glad that I’m encouraging you, mashallah…
Interact Index
Latest Interacts
- tahmed32: #199 om prakash: GT... Pleas For Sanity as
- jang: the way rico works... Pleas For Sanity as
- akcheema: Re: # 6; Tolkinin No... Nothing Queer About It
- om_prakash: Jang Rico would work... Pleas For Sanity as
- jang: OM P, are you... Pleas For Sanity as
- Aha_Snark: HP: let me clarify. 1.... Pleas For Sanity as
- om_prakash: Jang, in that case. Yes... Pleas For Sanity as
- Aha_Snark: The criminal justice system... Pleas For Sanity as
