Creativity Architects
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What does being Australian mean to you? What does the Australian environment mean to you? What does Australian history mean to you? How would your fellow Australians answer these questions? A Digger? A small business owner in Footscray?A backpacker in Nepal? A newspaper editor in London? An Olympic gold medallist? A conservationist? An artist? What symbols do all Australians identify with? If there are no symbols, is that a bad thing? Is there uniting moral code in Australia? Has there ever been one? Will there ever be one? Is the tall poppy syndrome a symptom of Australians feeling jealous of achievement or simply a character trait where some Australians criticise those icons that they don't identify with? If Australia remains a country with a diversity of values and beliefs, will there always be a tall poppy syndrome? Why are Australia's academics always so negative? Is negativity an effective way to change the world?
Some ideas about Australia Not lip service, nor obsequious homage to superiors, nor servile observance of forms and customs...the Australian army is proof that individualism is the best and not the worst foundation upon which to build up collective discipline - General Monash (Gallipoli War Hero) Australia's destiny to lead and enlighten the rest of the world, to cast off the shackles and burdens which had bound and oppressed Billy Hughes We have a great objective - the light on the hill - which we aim to reach by working for the betterment of mankind Joseph Benedict Chifley You feel free in Australia. There is great relief in the atmosphere - a relief from tension, from pressure, an absence of control of will or form. The skies open above you and the areas open around you D.H Lawrence What sort or peculiar capitalist country is this in which the workers' representatives predominate in the upper house....and yet the capitalist system is in no danger? Vladimir Lenin We must be the only country
in the world that marks its national day not by celebrating its identity, but
by questioning it There is no better way of life in the world than that of the Australian. I firmly believe this. The grumbling, growling, cursing, profane, laughing, beer drinking, abusive, loyal-to-his-mates Australian is one of the few free men left on this earth. He fears no one, crawls to no one, bludgers on no one, and acknowledges no master Nino Culotta Australian liberalism has always been an optimistic creed. It values freedom and initiative over compulsion and conformity. It is a philosophy with a timeless quality in a world of constant change John Howard  Thinking Australia Australians will never acquire a national identity until individual Australians acquire identities of their own Patrick White |
Customs and Values The Great Divide Aborigines |
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