The country that I love.
"I love a sun burnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!"
~ Dorothea Mackellar
Now, don't get me wrong: I certainly don't have the patriotic attitude typically stereotyped to Americans but I do love my country. Australia is an infinity beautiful place, we have the best of everything in our own backyards. I love our "fair go" mentality, the idea that all people deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. I hate that we don't always follow through with this Australian value we are all so proud of. I hate that our indigenous population are so and have been so poorly treated and we, as a country have still failed to not only fix the problems in their community but to say sorry for our part in it, weather direct or not.
I love Milo & Vegemite on toast. Tim-tams, Kangaroo's, Koalas & the rest of our beautiful and very different native animals. Stubbies, tank tops & thongs. VB - the best beer there is, BBQ's and ridiculously hot & dry summers. AFL Football. I love the vast differences in the environment & our incredible multicultural society. Our health care & education systems, both of which will not deny anyone medical care or a decent education just because they can not afford it. Most of all, I love that John Howard is no longer our Prime Minister and although Kevin Rudd will probably end up being as much of a Dick as Howard was, at least we wont have George W's ass kisser dragging us into things we'd rather stay out of! I am lucky to have been born in such an incredibly beautiful country and I plan to do everything I can to keep it this way for my children and their children.
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror -
The wide brown land for me!"
~ Dorothea Mackellar
Now, don't get me wrong: I certainly don't have the patriotic attitude typically stereotyped to Americans but I do love my country. Australia is an infinity beautiful place, we have the best of everything in our own backyards. I love our "fair go" mentality, the idea that all people deserve the same opportunities as everyone else. I hate that we don't always follow through with this Australian value we are all so proud of. I hate that our indigenous population are so and have been so poorly treated and we, as a country have still failed to not only fix the problems in their community but to say sorry for our part in it, weather direct or not.I love Milo & Vegemite on toast. Tim-tams, Kangaroo's, Koalas & the rest of our beautiful and very different native animals. Stubbies, tank tops & thongs. VB - the best beer there is, BBQ's and ridiculously hot & dry summers. AFL Football. I love the vast differences in the environment & our incredible multicultural society. Our health care & education systems, both of which will not deny anyone medical care or a decent education just because they can not afford it. Most of all, I love that John Howard is no longer our Prime Minister and although Kevin Rudd will probably end up being as much of a Dick as Howard was, at least we wont have George W's ass kisser dragging us into things we'd rather stay out of! I am lucky to have been born in such an incredibly beautiful country and I plan to do everything I can to keep it this way for my children and their children.
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