Ahh, there's so much Gold to reply to in this thread.
Firslty, I agree with a lot of what Leksola said about Australia and Australian politics. Like I said in a previous post. I haven't been to Europe, so really can't comment on their degree of "liberal-ness". I do have a lot of European friends, mostly through university...and I kind of agree that they're less inhibited, in some ways.
I think Australia is conservative in some ways, just generally about a lot of things, but we have very few hang ups. No-one would really judge anyone for anything, but the majority are still fairly conservative. Probably not quite as much as the USA, but maybe a little more than the general feeling in Europe. Now - if you think I'm wrong, please let me know...because that observation is purely based on my experience with European students...a distinct demographic on their own.
The previous Prime Minister in Australia was conservative, I guess...but like I said in the previous paragraph, Australia generally is. I think Kevin Rudd will, ultimately, be conservative too...But, the thing is, it doesn't matter who you are in Australia or what party, the majority of people are always skeptical of politicians...and people are always involved due to compulsory voting..so, ask anyone in Australia and they will have an opinion and it will generally be a negative one. It would be un-Australian not to be like that. haha.
But, I think KRudd will provide enough of a change and a fresh breath of air to Aus politics and I, for one, am happy about that, and interested to see what the future holds. I just hope this economic stuff, which is really totally out of his and our hands, doesn't sway people away from him, because that would be stupid. It's not his fault.
I am of the impression that if anyone is "too much" into anything in Australia, it's considered a bad thing...Except maybe for sport and alcohol...If you're too much into religion, people avoid you. But that's really it - no-one really cares, they just leave you to do your thing and probably joke about you a bit with their mates. Australia, to me, is a very easy-going place where anything goes, as long as you don't wave a flag and force it down people's throats.
Tinkerbell...I didn't get the impression that anyone was saying that "liberal" was better than not being "liberal". I agree that they're often used to describe politics and also lifestyle.
Swazi - yeah, I'm travelling part of the world...Hopefully the whole world one day. I am a qualified professional and, although I know things will be $$, I won't be living on a pub wage or anything like that. (FWIW - I have been planning this since I was in high school and chose my degree, because I knew I could travel with it)...
I am already dreaming of my trips around London, perving on all the hot BM. Haha. I seriously can't wait to be in a more diversified community. There are a severe lack of BM to check out at home. I'm really enjoying the USA so far.
I agree wit Leksola...Those loud Australians are embarassing. There are, unfortunately, a lot of Aussies which travel to London and make IDIOTS of themselves and the country...They're young, and looking for a good time. I am not in that category and hope that if I get any Aussies in my network, they're not like those people you see on the Tube.
I just spent about 3 weeks in Texas. There are some similarities - yes...The weather and a little bit of the scenery...But the cities - no. Maybe Austin, but definitely not Dallas/FW. I like Texas much more than I thought I would. I expected it to be full of people talking about rediculous things like guns and hunting...very un-Australian topics of conversation...and driving trucks and just loud, etc...It was a little bit like that, but much less than I expected, and i found out a lot of the history, too, which was really interesting. Cool place. Glad to be on my way now, though.
I watched the Biden/Palin debate last week and was horrified and shocked and laughing at that woman and her dropping in of "god"...To me, she is a dangerous, stupid woman. Religion and politics = oil and water. They don't mix. And by using that all the time - which seems very common in the USA, especially for the republicans, is poor form, IMO. If someone was like that at home, it would be political suicide...They might as well just quit right then and there. I couldn't believe it. She is purely a nut job. I can't believe that people like that stuff she says.
And, for the record, I am a practicing Christian...And I do not like that much religious talk in politics - it makes me very nervous.
This will probably be an unpopular statement..but just because it's Christianity and not another religion, does not make it any less scary than some of the religious, dictatorship countries around the world...Just because it's the USA and not the Middle East does not make it OK...Just putting that thought out there. It's called the separation of religion and state, and the idea exists for a reason - due to 2000 years of learning that the two shouldn't be mixed. Phew.
The thing is, and I know this post is getting very long and very off-topic now, yes - This is the USA and, no...it's not my country and I'm not voting..But because of the way the USA is and how they position themselves in the world-stage...whatever happens at this election will end up affecting Australia and a huge number of other countries around the world, and I for one do not ever want that woman, or anyone like her, having any possible impact on my future lifestyle, my country and my people.
Firslty, I agree with a lot of what Leksola said about Australia and Australian politics. Like I said in a previous post. I haven't been to Europe, so really can't comment on their degree of "liberal-ness". I do have a lot of European friends, mostly through university...and I kind of agree that they're less inhibited, in some ways.
I think Australia is conservative in some ways, just generally about a lot of things, but we have very few hang ups. No-one would really judge anyone for anything, but the majority are still fairly conservative. Probably not quite as much as the USA, but maybe a little more than the general feeling in Europe. Now - if you think I'm wrong, please let me know...because that observation is purely based on my experience with European students...a distinct demographic on their own.
The previous Prime Minister in Australia was conservative, I guess...but like I said in the previous paragraph, Australia generally is. I think Kevin Rudd will, ultimately, be conservative too...But, the thing is, it doesn't matter who you are in Australia or what party, the majority of people are always skeptical of politicians...and people are always involved due to compulsory voting..so, ask anyone in Australia and they will have an opinion and it will generally be a negative one. It would be un-Australian not to be like that. haha.
But, I think KRudd will provide enough of a change and a fresh breath of air to Aus politics and I, for one, am happy about that, and interested to see what the future holds. I just hope this economic stuff, which is really totally out of his and our hands, doesn't sway people away from him, because that would be stupid. It's not his fault.
I am of the impression that if anyone is "too much" into anything in Australia, it's considered a bad thing...Except maybe for sport and alcohol...If you're too much into religion, people avoid you. But that's really it - no-one really cares, they just leave you to do your thing and probably joke about you a bit with their mates. Australia, to me, is a very easy-going place where anything goes, as long as you don't wave a flag and force it down people's throats.
Tinkerbell...I didn't get the impression that anyone was saying that "liberal" was better than not being "liberal". I agree that they're often used to describe politics and also lifestyle.
Swazi - yeah, I'm travelling part of the world...Hopefully the whole world one day. I am a qualified professional and, although I know things will be $$, I won't be living on a pub wage or anything like that. (FWIW - I have been planning this since I was in high school and chose my degree, because I knew I could travel with it)...
I am already dreaming of my trips around London, perving on all the hot BM. Haha. I seriously can't wait to be in a more diversified community. There are a severe lack of BM to check out at home. I'm really enjoying the USA so far.
I agree wit Leksola...Those loud Australians are embarassing. There are, unfortunately, a lot of Aussies which travel to London and make IDIOTS of themselves and the country...They're young, and looking for a good time. I am not in that category and hope that if I get any Aussies in my network, they're not like those people you see on the Tube.
I just spent about 3 weeks in Texas. There are some similarities - yes...The weather and a little bit of the scenery...But the cities - no. Maybe Austin, but definitely not Dallas/FW. I like Texas much more than I thought I would. I expected it to be full of people talking about rediculous things like guns and hunting...very un-Australian topics of conversation...and driving trucks and just loud, etc...It was a little bit like that, but much less than I expected, and i found out a lot of the history, too, which was really interesting. Cool place. Glad to be on my way now, though.
I watched the Biden/Palin debate last week and was horrified and shocked and laughing at that woman and her dropping in of "god"...To me, she is a dangerous, stupid woman. Religion and politics = oil and water. They don't mix. And by using that all the time - which seems very common in the USA, especially for the republicans, is poor form, IMO. If someone was like that at home, it would be political suicide...They might as well just quit right then and there. I couldn't believe it. She is purely a nut job. I can't believe that people like that stuff she says.
And, for the record, I am a practicing Christian...And I do not like that much religious talk in politics - it makes me very nervous.
This will probably be an unpopular statement..but just because it's Christianity and not another religion, does not make it any less scary than some of the religious, dictatorship countries around the world...Just because it's the USA and not the Middle East does not make it OK...Just putting that thought out there. It's called the separation of religion and state, and the idea exists for a reason - due to 2000 years of learning that the two shouldn't be mixed. Phew.
The thing is, and I know this post is getting very long and very off-topic now, yes - This is the USA and, no...it's not my country and I'm not voting..But because of the way the USA is and how they position themselves in the world-stage...whatever happens at this election will end up affecting Australia and a huge number of other countries around the world, and I for one do not ever want that woman, or anyone like her, having any possible impact on my future lifestyle, my country and my people.
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Gotta stick together - no-one else knows anything about us, so I say spread the word at every given opportunity.
