An outsiders view of The Lucky Country

[Twisted Tenon]

TT, I am not attacking his right to make comments, I am questioning his right to call himself an Australian citizen., ie someone entitled to hold an Australian passport. Nor did I raise the question of his citizenship, Ray did.

I have already challenged his thoughts and we appear to be "agreeing to disagree", which is fine by me.

Fair enough Fred, but why are we even going there then? Who cares what Ray calls himself anyway. "Agreeing to disagree" is good. What about Ray's comments, the thrust of which is "We have a lot to lose"? That was his take on that piece by Mason. Mine too when I first read it. There are people who do want to take this from us.

I went back through the blue comments on Ray's first post and did not pick up anything that amounted to Ray despising Yanks. It seemed that he just followed on with Masons comments. Mason had more to say about his own country that Ray did.

TT

[DaveTTC]

John ... loved your original post, sorry to see your thread has gone a place you did not intend

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

[wheelinround]

Sorry Ray, shouldn't that read "YOU Australians have a lot to protect"?

If you have lived here in this country for 50 years and have not become an Australian citizen you have no right to talk about "We Australians" because you aren't one.

It does however explain some of the statements you made in your comments in the earlier post.

I see this as TT has pointed out become an attack on me personally even down to TT's comment and my quote. Thanks Fred

[rustynail]

Sorry Ray, shouldn't that read "YOU Australians have a lot to protect"?

If you have lived here in this country for 50 years and have not become an Australian citizen you have no right to talk about "We Australians" because you aren't one.

It does however explain some of the statements you made in your comments in the earlier post.

How does this bloke keep the job of moderator? This would have to be one of the most bigoted statements I have seen here. If anyone else was to sprook such crap they would be censured

[Grumpy John]

John ... loved your original post, sorry to see your thread has gone a place you did not intend

Dave TTC
Turning Wood Into Art

Thanks Dave, I really liked the piece also, Obviously, that's why I posted it. What I did not expect was for someone to (in my opinion) tear apart everything positive that was written. A very negative spin on a very positive piece.
Having visited the "States" several times over 13 odd years I can see where he's coming from.

1. For some reason Americans have real problem with social health care, maybe it's a hangover from the "Commie fearing days". Our system is not perfect, but I don't think too many Aussies have had to declare bankruptcy over their medical bills.

2. I'm not a fussy eater and I definitely am not a gourmet, but while the servings are huge a lot of their food is very bland. Except for a wonderful serve of Alaska Snow Crabs I had somewhere in Texas, and the biggest and tastiest T-bone steak I've ever had. Also in Texas, some small roadhouse in the middle of nowhere.

3. I lost count of the number of beers I was shouted in a bar in Memphis just for saying G'day mate. And whenever the chant Aussie, Aussie, Aussie went out and I responded with Oi, Oi, Oi there would be at least 3 more drinks on the bar in front of me. Off the top of your head can you think of any American sayings.

4. I don't watch much T.V. at all, but I think he's being very generous. But why bag a person just he's got bad taste in television .

5. Yes, we do have our large shopping complexes, Soutland, Chadstone, Knox City, Fountain Gate, in Melbourne (other states have theirs) and they all look the same. But we also have wonderful "main street" shopping centres like Carnegie, Bentleigh, Oakleigh, where locals meet and shoot the breeze. You can have a real conversation with the butcher and he knows you name. I saw nothing like that in my travels to America.

6. Haven't camped in America so I can't comment. I have however recently bought a caravan and fourby and been free camping on the 'Bidgie at Balranald and also at Mungo NP.

7. Don't really have anything to say on the subject of religion.

8. Back in '99 mate and I drove from Dallas - Memphis - New Orleans - Austin - Dallas and L.A. - Williams - Grand Canyon - Vegas - Death Valley - Yosemite - San Francisco - L.A. and loved the roads, absolutely brilliant. Even driving the freeways in L.A. was okay. But that was fifteen years ago now and America has had to fund a few "skirmishes" since then so maybe their roads aren't what they once were.

9. I think both countries have treated their indigenous people pretty poorly in the past, hopefully things are on the improve in both countries. As far as the Greeks go Melbourne, at one time had the largest greek population outside Greece. Not sure if that still stands.

10. Guns, well need I say anything. The Americans just don't get it, never will. When I was driving through Dallas there was a Ford F100 in front of us with gun rack in the rear window and three rifles in it. There was a bumper sticker on the back which read "Keep Honking I'm Reloading".


Just for the record I've been to America 3 times and have visited, California, Arizona, Tennessee, Washington, Alaska, Texas, Arkansas, Mississippi, Louisiana and Nevada. I've also traveled to England, France, Greece, Turkey, Bali, New Zealand, Singapore, Canada and Spain. This is not meant as boasting, I know I live in the best country on the planet. Ray was right about one thing though, holidaying somewhere is totally different to living there.

[Sawdust Maker]

I think it's time someone closed this thread

the comments are now targeted at the player and not the ball ...

[Grumpy John]

Okay guys, I don't want this thread closed. I've already had one of my posts deleted and I notice another one has been heavily modified. I think there may be some underlying issues between a couple of the members that the rest of us are not aware of. Please don't let this develop into a brawl.

Ray put up a very negative post and he has been called on it, I think enough has been said.

[DaveTTC]

6. Been camping in the Rockies and around Lake Louise, very beautiful and amazing to see flowing clear water where you really can see the bottom. Oh whoops my bad .... That is Canada not the states. Thought of camping in New Yorke but only saw concrete .... Fair crack of the whip .... Where's a bloke gonna drive a tent peg. (Did not get to city park or what ever it is called, might have found somewhere there). Must say the people I met were very pleasant and even caught the sub way after midnight.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[BobL]

6. Been camping in the Rockies and around Lake Louise, very beautiful and amazing to see flowing clear water where you really can see the bottom. Oh whoops my bad .... That is Canada not the states. Thought of camping in New Yorke but only saw concrete ....

Depends if you are talking State as opposed to City. Upstate New York has some great camping spots.

[Grumpy John]

6. Been camping in the Rockies and around Lake Louise, very beautiful and amazing to see flowing clear water where you really can see the bottom. Oh whoops my bad .... That is Canada not the states. Thought of camping in New Yorke but only saw concrete .... Fair crack of the whip .... Where's a bloke gonna drive a tent peg. (Did not get to city park or what ever it is called, might have found somewhere there). Must say the people I met were very pleasant and even caught the sub way after midnight.


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

Depends if you are talking State as opposed to City. Upstate New York has some great camping spots.

Back on track.

[DaveTTC]

Mostly around ground zero and Brooklyn bridge though I did venture up to pookipski and beyond. Was amazed how rural and nice it was out that way


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Grumpy John]

Just remembered a very tasty gumbo I enjoyed in Vicksburg.

[wheelinround]

TT, I am not attacking his right to make comments, I am questioning his right to call himself an Australian citizen., ie someone entitled to hold an Australian passport. Nor did I raise the question of his citizenship, Ray did.

I have already challenged his thoughts and we appear to be "agreeing to disagree", which is fine by me.

At no time have I or did I state I was an Australian Citizen or could hold an Australia Passport. Nor did I question my citizenship I have always state everywhere this forum others and in general conversation "I am still a pom never became naturalised"

[DaveTTC]

Thought some may like this

http://youtu.be/rMdbVHPmCW0

Hope the link works


Dave the turning cowboy

turning wood into art

[Grumpy John]

Here's one I did for Australia Day a few years ago. Might redo it for this year.