Hi there funkstars,
It was a big day yesterday wasn't it? Kevin Rudd led the nation in apologising to our land's original custodians. It was a cultural move forward and a significant shift in the nation's entry into the 21st century. I believe it was the right thing to do and it signified a break with close-minded policies of old, perhaps especially the refusal to previously acknowledge the wrong-doings of days gone by.
As a non-voting (not yet Aussie citizen) I observe that the elections were largely won because the Australian people now value soft aspects of life more than cold hard economics, and yesterday symbolised this shift even more. While the apology was of course cleverly drafted, it was offered in the spirit of reconciliation and in the opening up of a healing conversation - one that Australians need to engage in and one that opens up a new chapter in our history.
In my belief system the process of apologising consists of three elements - apology, forgiveness and conversation/healing. I believe that the first step has been taken and I hope that we can now move forward together as a nation and embrace the future together.
On a more pop-cultural basis it struck me last night that Australia is experiencing a cultural drought. Because of the American script writer's strike the TV stations here cannot fill prime-time television with gun-toting anti-terrorism shows any longer, so Aussie TV stations have reverted to b-class English shows like 'Lewis' (inspector Morse's sidekick) to make up for the lack of American IP and entertainment. My questions is where did great Aussie shows like 'Last Man Standing' and 'Secret Lives of Us' go? or did they all perish under the yoke of reality tv? it's a bit embarrassing when there is not enough domestic tv to go around so that the default fall-back is second rate pommie television rather than home-grown, forward looking drama or comedy...
what are your thoughts on culture in australia?
cheers
anders (currently loving so you think you can dance and looking forward to holding my dancer's pose for a few seconds longer at yoga this weekend...)
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