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.

[Fair Go]

Add another to the list of arrogant Yanks who go around bad mouthing other nations. This time it is Australia's turn. Then they wonder why anti-Americanism takes root in countries that have traditionally had friendly relations with the US. When it comes to nations that have sacrificed blood in the name of freedom, Canada and Australia are right at the top of the list.

[Piefloater]

I am in close contact for many years with numbers of people who are native Australians. Those Austrailians have many examples of government manipulations and meddling in their religious freedom.

Really! I would be interested to hear just a few examples of those many examples you have of goverment manipulation and meddling in the religious freedom of Australians.

[Fair Go]

He is Roman Catholic and perhaps is referring to the fact that the Australian government hasn't outlawed condoms!

[Piefloater]

That could be it. After all that would be a case of the goverment meddling in the religious freedom to not have other people wear condoms.

I was thinking that maybe his Australian friends are followers of William Kamm (The Little Pebble).

[Fair Go]

I remember the Little Pebble. There was also a group at Helidon in Queensland. They fell foul not only of the state, but also of the Catholic Church. I think they called themselves something like the "Magnificat Meal"?.

[Piefloater]

They called themselves the Order of St Charbel. The Little Pebble is currently doing prison time for sexual assaults on under-age girls.

Yet more religious persecution by the Australian Government /sarc

[Fair Go]

Just so anyone interested can check up on the Little Pebble.

http://users.bigpond.net.au/wanglese/Sentence.htm

[gunsofaugust]

I think you may be over reacting a tad, or a whole lot. I love Australia and so do my friends who live there. I was absolutely not trying to offend any conservative Australian, I promise you.

I didn't realize I had such awesome power to create hatred for America by sharing my opinion vaguely on some issues which is mainly formed from the words I have heard from real Australians. But I do not consider myself more competant than them or you for a discussion about Australian politics.

I have emailed them to sign up on this forum and they can argue with you about it.

The problem is that when they tell you the same thing and argue with you about it, by your own logic you will then have anti-Australianism take root in you. When you do, they can accuse you of hating Australia even after Australians have sacrificed their blood.

When Americans criticize American policies, does this mean they dislike America or are arrogant, even if they actually love America? Of course not, even though some do hate America if we are not willing to become more like a European socialist state.

I hope they post to you so I can weigh the information and adjust my opinion if need be. :)