Fortunately they reformed their cannibal ways many years ago, and it’s no longer a death-causing tabu to touch his hair.

I didn’t mean all Australians. I meant grantdale.

Your op-ed was the “Pledge of Allegiance case”, and frankly who cares whatever other bees are under Newdow’s bonnet. The question before the Court is whether the adding of the words in 1954 was unconstitutional — and that question should be answered on it’s own merit rather than because it’s viewed as some part of a vast Newdow Agenda(c).

I’m sure the Courts will deal with any other matters if and when he (or anyone else) raises them in the future.

And I might leave your perception of Australia’s “all British” heritage for someone Irish to comment on…

Thanks for the insider view of down under. For some reason, I thought you all were from Britain. Forgive me 🙂

Very few Australians know the words to our national anthem. Rather than something to be embarrassed by, I happen to be PROUD of that fact.

I believe it shows, in a round-about way, the real expectations we have of our citizens. If you suggested to an Australian that not knowing the words to a song in someway proved them to be “unpatriotic” (a word we cringe over as well) they would tell you to go take a flying leap off a cliff.

New Zealand is and is not a more homogenous society vs the United States. About 15% are Maori for example. NZ (and Australia) also saw enormous post-WWII immigration that have vastly altered the social makeup of our people.

Despite all the history (and continued problems with) racism and ethnocentric politics — what we have been spared is the institutional, legal racism that has stained the U.S. (such as slavery). We also do not have anywhere near the segregated communities or the slums/ghettos that bedevil so many U.S. cities. We do have a continued embarrassment with remote aboriginal communities in Oz, and I think everyone is (at present) bewildered about “what to do”. But very few have abandoned the problems, even as we struggle with the solutions.

Versus the U.S. I think Aus/NZ have been overwhelmingly successful examples of integrated multicultural socities. I’d say Canada (despite it’s own special quirks) also manages things better.

As one example, Australia altered it’s “pledge” and national anthem because the previously very-British inheritance simply wasn’t appropriate.

We also expect loyalty — but to Australia, the rule of law, and to the odd way we have of tolerating each other rather than to a particular cultural artifact.

I do find it odd though that you seem to more keen on the 1954 addition to the pledge than did the founding fathers. Surely, if it was good enough for them…? 🙂