Dear oh dear oh dear......First of all......if this thread is going to continue along these lines, then maybe it's name should be changed....what started out here, was a comment about the cast of a stage show musical, has now turned into a thread about racism, and how heartless, arrogant and racist Australians are.
Firstly, regarding the stage show, Priscilla.....it is no more, no less than entertainment...I would assume it was not produced to make a political statement, from the comments of Tick, I believe that the casting was done, like any other show, based on talent, and from all reviews I have read, it is a very good show.....
Have we forgotten, that the two actors who played Ennis and Jack, were
not gay, but they still certainly got the message accross, that the storyline intended.
Now as much as I really dont want to get into a debate on racism, because that in itself is a "no win" situation, I cannot sit by, and leave some of the comments unanswered.
Firstly, let me just start by saying, that I do not have my head buried in the sand, and know that their are racial problems, not only here in Australia, but all over the world, and if I could flick a switch, and make them all go away, I would not only be revered as the greatest miracel worker of our time, I would also be living in a perfect world......In this real world of ours, there is always going to be arguments for and against people of different nationalities, colour, religion, sexual orientation, gender, and even political persuations....that is what makes up this world....
Chris, all I can say if the comments you made are what happens in your part of the Australia, or among the people you associate with, then it may be time to get away and live somewhere else, and meet more people.
You see Australian's lead the world in making "passion" and "success" qualities to be ashamed of. To Australians, to stand out from the crowd is to invite criticism. To put yourself out there as a leader, or to be wealthy, or to take credit for personal achievements, these are all synonymous with being arrogant, or a phoney, or someone willing to step on others to get what they want. It's is called the tall poppy syndrome, and is what Shuggy was referring to in his "cutting the heart out of things" statement.
The general opinion of life in Australia is that it is very NON CLASS orientated.......I have many friends who have started off with nothing, and made a success of their lives thru hard work and a few good decisions, and I applaud them for that...if you ever read stories about Kerry Packer, our richest man, he was very humble, and was loved by all Australians...we do not knock the success of our fine actors like Russell Crowe, Heath Ledger and Nicole Kidman (to name a few)...we stand up and are proud, that they come from here, and have made it....
I agree, that the "tall poppy syndrome" was something that maybe existed a long time ago, (thanks, probably to the media, more than the average Australian)...but the more Aussies that seem to "make it" now, the more we are proud of them.
In Shuggy's subsequent reply he added that he was also saying that leaving out Aboriginals is also Australian. Well regrettably, this is also very true. Sure there are some excellent examples of Australian films that celebrate Aboriginal culture, the recent 10 Canoes is a good example (http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0466399/), but sadly these might as well have been about the people of some other country because it hasn't brought black and white together in Australia.
Of course it is going to take more than films to bring "black and white together in australia".....but they will give us stories of the plights of the aborigines, and we will get some understanding of their lives, just as we have done with Brokeback.....it wont change the world, but it gives us a lot more understanding.
Almost no Aboriginals whatsoever live comfortable (albeit western) lives in Australian capital cities. They are relegated to exist in outback towns, or more likely, the fringes of outback towns. We convince ourselves that this is the way they want it, or they're ungrateful for the meagre dwellings we give them to live in. In this way they are treated in the same way as the Native Americans. Both cultures are dying out, and in both cases the white culture that dominates them is prepared to let them die. So again, regrettably, leaving out Aboriginals must also be accepted as an Australian thing to do.
Come on Chris, if that is what you really observe, then you are not mingling with many people.. "Capital cities"....well, they are so integrated in the cities, that you probably dont even notice them, they are going about their lives and their work, without any prejudices or discrimination.....and yes, a lot do prefer to live in country towns, like a lot of us "whiteys" do now too, and we live and mix in these towns quite matter of factly....some have their own businesses, some have good jobs, their own homes, they go to the same schools as everyone else, use the same hospital, play the same sports....yes, they mix in their own social communities at times, as we all do with our particular friends, but we do all lead normal lives here.
Yes, there are housing settlements, where the populations are mostly aborigines, but they are not bounded by barbed wire fences or patrolled by gun wielding patrolmen, just as there are housing settlements for many lower income people.
Finally Sue, you know I see how you tried to smooth out some of the barbs in Shuggy's inferences. My initial motivations were along these lines also. It also crossed my mind to make the point to Shuggy: so by your own admission you are not objective - so this means we can dismiss your comments as being biased? I wish it was that easy but I couldn't do it because it would be cheating to win the argument. I'm sure Shuggy will be more than happy to give us the benefit of the doubt, that we're trying to build bridges and be better people for it, but we cannot begin to do this if we meet criticism with a defensive posture. Personally, I thank him for giving me an oportunity to see the truth that I was avoiding.
This is the fundamental problem I have with the responses to Shuggy's criticisms. To be critical in response is to miss the opportunity to change oneself. You don't have to like what he has to say, but to smack him around for saying them is to buy into the delusion that it is everyone else that is at fault.
Now, your response to me......."bias"
?..not sure which way you think I am bias......
Let me tell you something....last Saturday my son married a beautiful girl, called Karen....he loves her and she loves him with a passion, he loves her two sons, she loves his two children, we love her too, and have a lovely relationship with her parents.....the fact that Karen and her parents are part aborigine is so irrelevant, that I have only included it here in this story, to try to prove a point....
I also have eight cousins, that are part aborigine, who have very successful lives, the eldest, is a very talented artist, who has sold many of his works overseas, some sit in parliament house, and some adorn the homes of fellow Aussies like Greg Norman and Nicole Kidman.
I dont live in an imaginery world of generalizations, this is my real world, I am proud beyond words to be an Aussie, I applaud any Aussie that gives this country some recognition and pride, and I dont care what damn colour they are....the people I mix with, share the same feelings.
As far as being critical to Shuggy's responses, well I would prefer to say I was being a bit more informative to him about how it is here in australia....He has generalized on Australians by what he has heard from "a few hitch-hikers" he has met in New Zealand.......
Maybe he should come live in a big country town like I do, maybe go live in Darwin for a while, (as I did for two years) and see the aborigines, who fly over to Groote Island and earn good money, and lhave very comfortable lives in Darwin, or see Karen's parents in their own food takewaway shop in Kingaroy, or meet my aboriginal friend in Sydney running his own fencing business....or just stand at a sports ground here in town, or any other town or city, and watch the children, (black and white) play and compete in their chosen sports.
No, its not all perfect, but we are moving in the right direction.......