Why I Love Australia (Krauthammer)

Washington Post ^ | June 23, 2006 | Charles Krauthammer

[West Coast Conservative]

In the Australian House of Representatives last month, opposition member Julia Gillard interrupted a speech by the minister of health thusly: "I move that that sniveling grub over there be not further heard."

For that, the good woman was ordered removed from the House, if only for a day. She might have escaped that little time-out if she had responded to the speaker's demand for an apology with something other than "If I have offended grubs, I withdraw unconditionally."

God, I love Australia. Where else do you have a shadow health minister with such, er, starch? Of course I'm prejudiced, having married an Australian, but how not to like a country, in this age of sniveling grubs worldwide, whose treasurer suggests to any person who "wants to live under sharia law" to try Saudi Arabia and Iran, "but not Australia." He was elaborating on an earlier suggestion that "people who . . . don't want to live by Australian values and understand them, well then they can basically clear off." Contrast this with Canada, historically and culturally Australia's commonwealth twin, where last year Ontario actually gave serious consideration to allowing its Muslims to live under sharia.

Such things don't happen in Australia. This is a place where, when the remains of a fallen soldier are accidentally switched with those of a Bosnian, the enraged widow picks up the phone late at night, calls the prime minister at home in bed and delivers a furious, unedited rant -- which he publicly and graciously accepts as fully deserved. Where Americans today sue, Australians slash and skewer.

For Americans, Australia engenders nostalgia for our own past, which we gauzily remember as infused with John Wayne plain-spokenness and vigor.

[Brian Allen]

<< ... just smiling & head nodding ... >>

... and drooling. Eh!

And lying.

[One "fruitcake" does not a brigade make. Nor yet a company. Or even, except when Canada's "contibuting to its own defense," a platoon]

Aboot time to up your meds again, eh, mountie-baby? Been in line yet for the required fifteen or eighteen months for your appointment with the communistic "health-care system's" Paki "doctor?" Eh?]

[GMMAC]

Yawn ... still more indication you surely must have graduated magna cum laude from the "Pee Wee Herman 'I know you are, but what am I?' Academy of Dazzling Repartee" & most certainly not from the Limbaugh Institute.

Fair indication?
Nothing even close too a conservative position advanced & merely post after post of liberal-like pointless insults, moronic alliteration & narcissistic prattling.
Plus, lying coupled with liberal-like blame reversal in implying Windsong was somehow alone among your fellow Americans disgusted & embarrassed by your childish, self-indugent antics.

Anyway, post whatever you want - I believe I'll now go see what the adults are up to.

So, have the last word - you know you want it, need it, ya big baby!

[Fair Go]

I assume you haven't had any sort of secondary education, let alone a tertiary education. Even a primary school kid would know better than to make such a sweeping generalisation. Try backing up your generalisation with some empirical observation. The fact is you can't. Your assumptions have no higher authority than prejudice.

[Fair Go]

You should be very grateful that you have Canada as a neighbour. As for the carry on about the gay Mounties, it was my understanding that "Brokeback Mountain" was based on real events. Just stop and think about it - big tough American cowboys who are gay - this hardly matches the traditional image of the wild west.

[jerryem]

On consulting a New Zealand dictionary the word in question (Australia ) is pronounced Orrstrillia by natives of that country, and WERE? by New Zealanders

[Brian Allen]

<< I assume you haven't had any sort of secondary education, let alone a tertiary education. Even a primary school kid would know better than to make such a sweeping generalisation. Try backing up your generalisation with some empirical observation. The fact is you can't. Your assumptions have no higher authority than prejudice. >>

What on Earth are you trying to rabbit on about -- projecting, that is -- little matey? Been giving the turps a bit of a nudge? Or the whakky bakky? Or both? You just used more than fifty words and the required band width to say absolutely nothing. Go and get a mirror and read it all to yourself.

Assumption, by the way, is the mother of all f***-ups.

But you already knew that.

[jerryem]

I say Captain,I hope it is not you that is in charge of the good ship Canada, but if so, I think then like most disillusioned Captain's of the political class, your mouth is facing towards the ground, if Australia had the money that Canada has GIVEN Cuba, then the country from down under would truly be paradise on earth, Canada or is it Cuba, "friend", Captain Castro seems to think that they are both his playgrounds.

[Fair Go]

Now who is getting touchy? If only you knew how ridiculous your comments are!

[spatso]

I am trying very hard to keep things very simple this morning. I'm not really very happy with all these personal insults. I always thought I was making a valid point as it might apply to international image and border security. About every second weekend my wife and I go for breakfast with the young gay couple that are renovating the big stone house down the street. Long ago I told our friends of my position on gay marriage.
Recently, I told them of these ongoing threads on FR regarding my thoughts on the negative implications for Canada of allowing gay Mounties to be married in uniform. Both our friends, as well as Mrs. Spatso, disagree with me. But, none of them insulted me personally. They vigorously attacked my ideas, they did not disrespect my person.
My purpose, at least I thought so, was to convince Canadians on FR that their government was playing with fire in letting this soft international image get any further out of control. The gay Mountie story, the gay tourist story, the gay camp counselor story and, finally, the Krauthaller story were all disparaging of Canada. It appears that Canadian FReepers want to blame me for the emergence of these stories. It is my belief that they act as if they can bury their heads in the sand and everything will be fine.
Clearly, as I have said before, I have failed in making any headway in moving my point forward. More important, I realize I do not want to be a part of this bitter acrimony to which this matter has now degenerated. So, I have decided to apologize to any and all Canadian FReepers who may have been upset by my remarks. It was not my intention to offend Canada or insult any Canadians personally.

[ConservativeMan55]

bttt

[Fair Go]

What about J. Edgar Hoover and the FBI? Why the big deal about two Canadian Mounties? There have been gay rugby players! Does that mean rugby is a "soft" sport?

[CaptainCanada]

You should be very grateful that you have Canada as a neighbour. As for the carry on about the gay Mounties, it was my understanding that "Brokeback Mountain" was based on real events. Just stop and think about it - big tough American cowboys who are gay - this hardly matches the traditional image of the wild west

I'm beginning to like you Fair Go... ;)

[spatso]

No, I merely mean soft in the sense of permissive or tolerant, the Mrs. Thatcher caution to "Ronnie." I do not think these are the times to advance or be tolerant of anything that reflects a permissive liberal agenda. It has nothing to do with sexuality and everything to do with the notion of creeping tolerance. This is not a time for vague policies or passive endorsements. Krauthammer's point of creeping Sharia law in Ontario is an example of the concern. I might argue that the problems of illegal aliens is the direct result of a creeping tolerance of violations in border security for the past twenty years. Now the very people who violated the law are seeking rights under the law. That is what happens when you appear to go soft, wobbly, permissive or whatever you want to call it.
At some point in time you have to draw a line in the sand, it is my simple point the government of Canada made an error when they decided not to draw a line in the sand in permitting two gay Mounties to marry in uniform.

[spatso]

"There have been gay rugby players! Does that mean rugby is a "soft" sport?"

My son played rugby till he tore his ACL at age 25. Best player on his team was gay. Nice guy but mean and real ugly once the play started. In terms of rugby being "soft," I have often wondered how football players would fair if they were required to take off their helmets and pads. No, rugby is a really tough sport, for tough men. And, now women playing, now that really is tough.

[gogeo]

That might require stitches! WAP!!!

[gogeo]

It's simple really - your view is a result of being an American and thus being from a culture where the ability to own a handgun is important to you. No such gun ownership culture exists in the UK or Oz, so the decision to control them was much easier.

Of course, you are still subject to the consequences of your decisions, which makes your choice seem unwise to me.

[gogeo]

Aside from you having totally ignored the UK's friendship and as but one refuting example, Canada's 'Princess Pat's" were awarded their U.S. Presidential Citation for their exceptional heroism within the time-frame you've cited.

They served honorably and well...though I understand they had to hitchhike to get there?

[Fair Go]

Thanks mate. The Canadians I have met here in Aussie have all been great folks.

[NorthOf45]

Now who is getting touchy?

Interesting enough, that's my take as well ... see post 168.

[NorthOf45]

I believe the reason why you are getting flak from the Canadian FReepers is that your posts have shed a poor light on ALL Canadians. Yes, Canada has issues to address, just like any other nation. For every negative issue that you can find with Canada, there is a negative issue with any other country.

Has our international image deteriorated over the past little while? Yes, thanks to the liberal governments we have had. We Canadian Conservatives know there is much work to be done. This work has already started with the new Conservative government.

We (American and Canadian Conservatives) want to see the same end point north of the border. Coming on to FR and presenting yourself in such a tone as you have is counterproductive.

In your situation, with what you've experienced here on the board, it's all in the presentation.