Brenton
Anti-Americanism in Australia
November 12th 2007 00:58
Anti-Americanism is probably the most legitimised form of Racism in Australia. I would say that the most common is probably against Aboriginals, with anti-Asian or Arab sentiment coming pretty close to the top too.
However, these other forms of discrimination or racism are generally kept more under wraps, more secret. Unless you were an attention seeking politician, or right wing shock jock, you would not bring up these criticisms in a public forum.
There are three ethnic groups Australian’s will generally rip into loudly, proudly and publicly. Kiwis, Poms and Seppos. (New Zealanders, English and Americans). However, while the first two seem to be usually in good humor, the Yank bashing seems to have a real undercurrent of bitterness and sincere anger.
A shirt recent(ish)ly gave this phenomenon solid grounding. It was blue with white writing; “I’m afraid of Americans”. This T-Shirt was worn, out and about, in public. Had it been any other nationality – Asians, Aboriginals, Africans – it would have been deemed racist. But for Americans, it was accepted.
So what do Aussies have against Seppos? I would say two things.
Firstly, the Aussies have the same issue with America that most other nations have. Politically America appears indulgent and arrogant, oblivious to the often destructive impact of it’s foreign policy. This provokes anger internationally, and Australia is no different.
The other issues is that all races and ethnicities have their good points and bad points. Aussies for example, I love for our easygoing attitude, and I become frustrated with, for our aversion to the foreign and unknown (a trait in itself partially responsible for Anti-Americanism). Americans, as they have been portrayed in Australia by the media, personal anecdotes, and unfortunately on occasion, by themselves seem to have two predominant negative traits – arrogance and seriousness. These two negative traits are, though, two of the negative traits most passionately loathed in anyone, by Australians.
The first of these, Arrogance is so abhorred in Australia that it is widely referred to as ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome.’ This is why programs such as the Chaser, which routinely mock public figures, are so popular.
A tall poppy, it is said, must me cut down to size. When you have a view of Americans widely based on Arrogant archetypes such as these folk–
It’s not too much of a stretch to see why the cutting of tall poppies may become a bit frenzied at times.
For the second point of seriousness, Aussies are prone to discourage those who take life or themselves too seriously. This is often another source of great amusement to Aussies as can be seen in this Brittish documentary, in which a family is so worried about eating English food, they bring their own American food with them. Kind of the natural antithesis to 'she'll be right mate'.
In conclusion, Aussies, as a general rule are more prone to taking the piss, than actual hatred of another race, and usually a well placed Bush joke or ‘Yay Mum!’ will identify you as one of the good guys. However as always, there will be racist dickheads who will judge you for being a yank. Just cop it sweet and give as good as you get, and make sure you represent the very best of your nation, not the worst.
However, these other forms of discrimination or racism are generally kept more under wraps, more secret. Unless you were an attention seeking politician, or right wing shock jock, you would not bring up these criticisms in a public forum.
There are three ethnic groups Australian’s will generally rip into loudly, proudly and publicly. Kiwis, Poms and Seppos. (New Zealanders, English and Americans). However, while the first two seem to be usually in good humor, the Yank bashing seems to have a real undercurrent of bitterness and sincere anger.
A shirt recent(ish)ly gave this phenomenon solid grounding. It was blue with white writing; “I’m afraid of Americans”. This T-Shirt was worn, out and about, in public. Had it been any other nationality – Asians, Aboriginals, Africans – it would have been deemed racist. But for Americans, it was accepted.
So what do Aussies have against Seppos? I would say two things.
Firstly, the Aussies have the same issue with America that most other nations have. Politically America appears indulgent and arrogant, oblivious to the often destructive impact of it’s foreign policy. This provokes anger internationally, and Australia is no different.
The other issues is that all races and ethnicities have their good points and bad points. Aussies for example, I love for our easygoing attitude, and I become frustrated with, for our aversion to the foreign and unknown (a trait in itself partially responsible for Anti-Americanism). Americans, as they have been portrayed in Australia by the media, personal anecdotes, and unfortunately on occasion, by themselves seem to have two predominant negative traits – arrogance and seriousness. These two negative traits are, though, two of the negative traits most passionately loathed in anyone, by Australians.
The first of these, Arrogance is so abhorred in Australia that it is widely referred to as ‘Tall Poppy Syndrome.’ This is why programs such as the Chaser, which routinely mock public figures, are so popular.
A tall poppy, it is said, must me cut down to size. When you have a view of Americans widely based on Arrogant archetypes such as these folk–
It’s not too much of a stretch to see why the cutting of tall poppies may become a bit frenzied at times.
For the second point of seriousness, Aussies are prone to discourage those who take life or themselves too seriously. This is often another source of great amusement to Aussies as can be seen in this Brittish documentary, in which a family is so worried about eating English food, they bring their own American food with them. Kind of the natural antithesis to 'she'll be right mate'.
In conclusion, Aussies, as a general rule are more prone to taking the piss, than actual hatred of another race, and usually a well placed Bush joke or ‘Yay Mum!’ will identify you as one of the good guys. However as always, there will be racist dickheads who will judge you for being a yank. Just cop it sweet and give as good as you get, and make sure you represent the very best of your nation, not the worst.
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