The 53rd State Down Under!

The State with the good looking people!

Published on June 7, 2004 By Muggaz In Current Events

When I was 10 I was very socially conscious of my environment – Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, 21 Jump Street, and the Chicago Bulls. It was certainly apparent that Australia was immersed in American culture, now I am certain.

I love my country so much, it’s almost a problem. You can only imagine the shame I feel when I read about the stolen generation of Aboriginals, or the complete extinction of the race in Tasmania. The shady business dealings of big Australian oil/gas companies, with the young and naïve government of East Timor – disgusting. The frequent incarceration of children coming to Australia to seek a better life is nothing short of disturbing. I am proud to say that my shame at these events isn’t necessarily because of what we are doing or have done that is wrong, it’s because I know we can do it better.

Australia is losing its identity. This troubles me so much more than any of the injustices above. Perhaps my assumption is based that before extreme globalisation, Australia didn’t really have much of an identity other than Crocodile Dundee, a little gold, and loads of sharks, but as an Australian, I can tell you we are so much more.

Australia is becoming the 53rd state of America. There has been a lot of literature around JU regarding the subject – some satirical, some not. Cann1bals AUS vs USA Marco’s ‘Who would have guessed we are Allies? and Kupes ‘The League of English Speaking Nations’ Each article presents a valid point, some in an aggressive fashion, and some in an observant fashion, either way, It cannot be denied that there is a point.

Australian’s are smart people, but when American presidents are included more in our curriculum than our own government, doesn’t someone have to start asking questions? I assure people reading this that most Australian student would know about George Washington, yet the name Edmund Barton would draw blanks. What is happening to our identity?

No disrespect to Ronald Reagan, but I don’t really have the inclination to watch a 15 minute special programmed into our local news on him when it has nothing to do with my day to day life as an Australian. Not only did they include particular facets of his speeches that proved he wasn’t the smartest president, they included a lot of his really crappy acting as well – how can I win?

It’s kind of funny… you always hear about irrational conspiracy theories about the media subliminally controlling the masses, but this is not irrational at all – due to American programming, both television and radio, we are slowly becoming ‘The State Down Under’ I cant blame the American’s for this though – can I?

Where did it all start? What became so interesting about American culture, which drew Australia to immerse itself in it? I haven’t been around along enough, but my understanding of the situation is World War II was the catalyst. The English resources were stretched, and we were under attack in the Pacific… the Japanese were days away from landing in northern Australia, then they did something stupid and attacked Pearl Harbour – the Americans were our guardians now, not the British, they failed us tremendously. Was it in America’s interest’s to protect and befriend us? You can bet your bald headed eagle it was.

The ANZUS (Australia, New Zealand, and United States) defence treaty was signed, and it was the start of a fruitful relationship – quid pro quo… The Americans helped us more than we could ever help them… joint bases established, McDonald’s erected, trade deals signed… however, unbeknownst to the Australian government at the time, we sold out. We were slowly becoming America, Globalisation sped it up somewhat.

The value of an ally (no matter how small) has proved in recent world events to be priceless. For a minnow like Australia to be aligned with the world’s super power can only be beneficial… right? Wrong. I am not happy with the image Australia conveys to the world right now… are we an ally? Or just a lap dog barking contentment at every request or order billowed at us?

This has nothing to do with an inferiority complex when it comes to America… No American is better than me, and America is not a better place, by the same token, I don’t claim to be better than an American, or that Australia is better place, I just know we are different, and we really must emphasise those differences to claim our identity back!

As I read this, I find myself shaking my head… There is no turning back now, but we can stop where we are. I don’t want an isolationist policy, but I don’t want to have my vision clouded with star spangled sunglasses. Americans are the kings and queens of entertainment, and that is how they have crept into our life… This is the key – yeah, Australians will be forced to deal with crap TV, but we have a lot of sun here, the kids can go outside and play footy, this will stop them from getting fat like American’s as well…

Any kid that knows more American president’s than Australian Prime Ministers will be tied to a chair, and forced to listen to American country music 24/7 – this would instil fear into the hearts of most Australian’s – if it doesn’t, play Barny the dinosaur instead.

America is a great and powerful country, I am glad they like us, but this doesn’t mean we have to be their lap dog! There is talk of bringing our troops home from Iraq before Christmas – even as someone opposed to the war, this is the most ridiculous notion I have ever heard – backing out now is not feasible, we got ourselves into this mess, and we will see it though to the end– that is the Australian thing to do, hopefully whoever makes the decision realises this, and doesn’t retreat just because of bad PR involving the Americans…

Australia being so different from everywhere else is what gives us our international appeal, however, I fear Sydney can be compared to San Francisco as a culturally similar holiday Destination… Sydney-siders, and myself, would vehemently beg to differ!

BAM!!!

Comments (Page 1)

trina_p

on Jun 08, 2004

Mugz -- on topic but an aside -- Saturday night we had some people over one was Canadian - anyway he was talking about some questionaire some newspaper did in the UK (I think please don't quote me) about what happened on June 6 1944. Questions included what happened? Why was it called D-Day and who was involved. So Peter pretended to be asking Ben the questions and we came up with most answers easily like Teddy Roosevelt was the President USA. (But don't get me started on how I knew that there were 2 Roosevelts and the Canadian thought that Teddy was a nickname for FDR)
So out of interests sake Peter asked Ben (and us) if he knew the Australian PM at the time -- None of us knew. (I thought it was Menzies but everyone thought he was during Vietnam)
There were six people in that room 3 who did History at school but none of us knew who the Australian (president as ben called it) Prime Minister was on D-Day.

Incidentally the Australian PM in June 1944 was John Curtin our 18th PM
Menzies was the 16th and the 21st
and John Howard is our 30th (should I be presumptious and say Mark Latham is our 31st?) (

J/K)

Link

Muggaz

on Jun 08, 2004

At that time, our prime minister might as well have been Eisenhower - everything was dedicated to the war effort anyway!

Thanks for popping in Trina... you prove my point quite well... I would go so far as to say that 5% of Australians leaving school would know that... granted, it's not important internationally, but it should be important to Australians...

BAM!!!

kingbee

on Jun 08, 2004

its my guess (and i truly hope im wrong) that most americans dont have any idea of the relative size of australia vs the us. australia is an island...how big can an island be?

i can only speak for myself. ive always found australians to be fun, funny, smart and i'd much prefer yall as equal partners. as long as i dont have to ingest any veggie. as much as i wish australia was closer, its probably just as well its not. im pretty sure id be dead within a couple weeks cuz yall party wayyyy too hard.

glad you said what was on your mind and as always its an insight. (nobody deserves being made to listen to barney songs)

MasonM

on Jun 08, 2004

Hmm it is an interesting article. I really had no idea that Australia was so "tied in" with what is happening here in the US. It's kinda strange actually. I've always found Aussies to be a lot of fun to be around and a quite independent bunch; much like Americans in that respect.

Being as we only have 50 states, I'm kinda curious who you think 51 and 52 are? I'm sure this was mentioned in another article someplace, but I may have missed it as I've been pretty busy lately.

Madine

on Jun 08, 2004

I just know we are different, and we really must emphasise those differences to claim our identity back!

What are the key differences between Australia and the U.S.?

Muggaz

on Jun 08, 2004

What are the key differences between Australia and the U.S.?

Interesting point/question!

Since WWII, we have been slowly integrated into the same culture... Australian 'culture' is now American culture... that was basically the crux of the article... I want Australia to have her own cultural identity, but at the current rate, it will be non-existant in a number of years! Our Kids watch Amercian TV shows, learn about American Presidents, and Idolise Amercan popular culture - this isn't necessarily because American popular culture is good, but it's kind of forced down their throats, so it's all they know.

Australia doesn't really have a 'culture' in the true sense of the world, but we have a lot of defining qualities that make us Australian, I guess I cant really say what they are, because they are the norm to me - you have to ask someone from the outside looking in... I suppose the same goes for America - the simple fact is that we are not developing our own culture, we are simply going along with American culture....

BAM!!!

crimson

on Jun 08, 2004

This is all funny to hear from a Canadian viewpoint. I believe that I know quite a lot about Australian culture and history, or at least, as much as Canadian (dominant society) history. Although, I think that I was taught more about American history and culture, both at school, and most definitely on television. How can we not be affected by a society that dominates airwaves by offering over 90% of the programmed material out there? When it starts becoming more affordable and even lucrative to produce even more material than we already do. Is that going to happen? Doubtful, but there are a lot of people out there who are making concentrated efforts in doing so. If it's such a great concern... get involved. Start making the stuff that you want to see, you want to learn about, and actively enquiring about others in your country who are doing their part. You'll find that it's actually not that difficult to make movies, television shows, or writing books... it just takes a lot of time and effort to see a final outcome.

trina_p

on Jun 08, 2004

There are plenty of good Australian television programs - I dedicated an entire blog to list ALOT of them but by no means all.

The problem is noone is interested in watching an Australian sitcom, drama or quiz show because we're so caught up in American sitcoms - Friends, Raymond, Becker, drama's CSI, Law & Order and REALITY --- the Apprentice, Miriam, Survivor --- Pull up any of the ratings statistics and Australian produced shows rate quite low in comparison. I Love Friends but personally I'd rather watch Mother & Son or Over the Hill or Kingswood Country.
Our day time television is inundated with American programs too -- example 12pm-5pm

Channel 7 --
Midday movie -- usually a REALLY bad b-grade thriller
2pm -- classic repeats of Blue Heelers (this is recent previously it was Felicity then Popular and the Yes Dear followed by Reba) (all American)
oh and 3pm-4pm Passions (yuck)
4pm - Girl TV
4:30pm - news

Channel 9 --
12-1pm - Dr Phil
1pm -2 -- Days of Our lives
2-3pm -- Young & the Restless
3pm-3:30pm -- Beyond (some john edward ripoff guy talking to dead people) (again this is new -- they USED to show Water Rats repeats, then it was ER, then Murder Call, then ER repeats again and then Stingers
3:30 - New McDonald's Farm
4pm - Hot Source
4:30pm - Entertainment Tonight (yesterdays ie today is wednesday but at 4:30 we'll be seeing Tuesday night's show)

Channel 10 --
Noon -- News
12:30 -- Jerry Springer
1:30 -- Oprah (don't get me wrong i like oprah)
2:30pm -- Just shoot me
3pm -- The Nanny
3:30 -- Judge Judy
4:30 -- Bold & the Beautiful

Every night at 6pm we have the Simpsons -- when Big Brother's not on Channel 10 will play Seinfeld repeats over and over - if Channel 7 needs a filler program they'll screen Get SMart or MASH and Channel 9's filler is I dream of Jeannie.

Channel 7's Big Gun shows are Las Vegas, Threat Matrix and 24 on a Monday and Alias on Tuesday (at one stage they were screen Alias Mondays and Thursdays)
Channel 9 has 3 BIG nights Mondays (friends, malcolm in the middle/2 1/2 men Who wants to be a millionaire and the Apprentice)Tuesdays - the block, CSI (new) CSI (repeat) Third Watch
Wednesdays - McLeod's daughters, CSI Miami, Without a Trace and Merrick & Rosso.
Thursdays is ER

and 10's big shows are all the Law and Order's -- particularly Criminal intent which they screen now in favour of Sunday night movie followed by NCIS

All the major cities have Television Studio's - Brisbane's at Mt Cootha used to produce lots of stuff -- Wayne Manifesto, a whole heaps of kids game shows - Challenger, Download, AMazing, Wipeout, Not to mention - Saturday Disney. Wombat, Totally Wild and Agro's Cartoon Connection were all made in QLD --- Now they only do the News and Extra, Great South East etc up here and Saturday Disney/Totally Wild are produced in Sydney and the rest have gone!

Muggaz

on Jun 08, 2004

3:30 -- Judge Judy

*shudder*

I say take all American progrmaing of our TVs... except Simpsons, Futurama, and Soprano's... maybe Law and Order as well...

BAM!!!

kingbee

on Jun 08, 2004

except Simpsons

after their trip to australia, i figured they might get the 'boot' for real from yall.

i havent seen more than a handful of australian tv productions, but australian films are generally exceptional--as are most of the performers who bring them to life. and yall make some very decent music (including a halfway decent blues band who call themselves the kingbees yay4kingbees!

)

Muggaz

on Jun 08, 2004

after their trip to australia, i figured they might get the 'boot' for real from yall.

Hahahaha.... nah, thats one of my favorite episodes... Australians take things like that with a grain of salt... I remember hearing an Interview with Hank Azaria before the episode went to air, and he thought the same thing... The ending of that episode was great though... hehe... the Koala on the Helicopter

BAM!!!

trina_p

on Jun 08, 2004

I was especially impressed by the "I'm going to talk to my local member of parliment about this-- Hey Andy!" and "I'll just have a cup of coffee" "Beer it is" "coffee" "beer" "C-O" "B E" oh and what's with the fosters -- do you (mugz) know anyone who drinks fosters? Most people I know if they're not drinking (imported or boutique) will drink Carlton or Cascade or VB or XXXX (gold etc) (I'm kinda unAustralian saying this but yuck - I'd rather have the coffee

)

Muggaz

on Jun 08, 2004

"that's not a knife, thats a spoon!"

"oh, I see you've played Knifey-Spooney before"

kekeke

Fosters is a poor excuse for an Australian beer... It is known as the primary Australian beer over seas, because thats all we see fit to export to other nations

I personally like Carlton Draught as well... but yeah - my drink of choice is actually Gin and Tonic

hey Trina - go to ninemsn.com.au and the poll question today is "Poll: Do you think the US is getting too involved in Australian domestic politics?" looks as though I have my finger on the pulse! hehe...

BAM!!!

trina_p

on Jun 09, 2004

Wasn't that because of something President Bush said about Mark Latham's proposal to have the troops home for Christmas?

Muggaz

on Jun 09, 2004

Yeah - he is an idiot... He is a nice enough guy, but the proposition is ridiculous... did you see him on Rove last night? i thought he was quite funny!!!

BAM!!!

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