God, Australians are whingers. Really. I have thought this for a number of years but the last week or so has really brought it into sharp relief. No one in this country can do or say anything without a mighty roar of complaint, whether it be in the halls of power on Parliament Hill, in the feedback columns of local newspapers, on social media or just in the street, being heard from Broome to Hobsons Bay.
Everyone has the right to disagree of course and it would be a sad state of affairs indeed if we all thought the same way but why can’t we have a logical conversation about our differences or, better still, let actions or words or thoughts that we don’t like go through to the keeper. If it doesn’t take any skin off your nose why worry about it?
It started years ago with the Carbon Tax debate, fueled of course by the dogma of absolute opposition foisted on us by the man who is now Prime Minister, Tony Abbott. A tax which the average Australian was not required to pay and would be compensated for when inevitable price rises occurred, caused a hue and cry from those opposed to the government of the day and the ignorant proletariat who, when actually confronted by something which may actually help the environment, even just a wee bit, were too ignorant to even try and understand it. Talk about giving lip service to saving the world!
The debate about the mining tax wasn’t much better and we now have a government which has done away with both taxes but find themselves further in debt than ever before, the people who whinged loudly about those taxes are now whinging about cuts to services which are being implemented to try and balance the budget. Hhhmm. We reap what we sow methinks.
As I said, the last week has brought this epidemic of whinging into sharp relief. Anzac Day is of course a solemn occasion, the greatest of our national days and most show the respect such a day demands. Most. There are still those who can’t help themselves and have to decry the day and all that makes it special even if their verbose observations are so far off the mark as to make any respect one might hold for their beliefs disappear as quickly as an ice cube in the summer sun. Here is a tip if you don’t like Anzac Day. Shut up! You are entitled to your opinion of course. Just keep it to yourself. There are other days and other ways to try and make your point.
The execution of the ringleaders of the Bali 9 drug syndicate is another case in point. An illegal execution of two Australians by a tin-pot regime should, in any universe be something we, as a country which abhors the death penalty, fights to prevent with all our might. Yes the pair were drug dealers but the granting of clemency and the showing of a little mercy would merely have condemned them to life in a Balinese prison. Hardly a holiday home and a suitable punishment in my belief for the crime they committed.
But no. Outrage came in all it’s glory on social media and the feedback columns. Kill them! Show no mercy! They deserve what they get! My God, what have we become?
When showing some christian compassion at the plight of two flawed fellow human beings is regarded as weak and people who oppose clemency can’t see beyond their own bias then I weep for the world. Just let it go.
And then there was the royal baby. Now it is no skin off my nose if television stations want to show endless highlights of the Duke and Duchess of Cambridge walking out of a hospital in a non-descript street in London with their new-born child. Nor is it any worry to me if many people get excited when the new baby’s name is released. But it obviously offends many!
The roundheads of modern social media are at large in their droves claiming loudly and proudly that they don’t care and wondering why anyone else would want to know. What amazes me is that they would even take an interest in something they claim not to care about. Why wreck it for and mock those who enjoy the whole circus and for whom a little flicker of pleasure may be obtained on this otherwise drab day in the modern world. No, becoming a republic is not going to lessen the media hysterics concerning the British royal family no matter what you think. Just shut up!
So in conclusion there is no doubt in my mind that Australians are now the world champions of whinging. Maybe we have had it too good for too long. Living in a free, democratic and disgustingly rich and urbane country has made us take the little things for granted. Perhaps, instead of reading about the newly minted royal princess and choking on breakfast in a fit of rage at the non-stop coverage of the event, those people should simply flick a channel and focus on the disaster in Nepal. Maybe then they will realize that it all isn’t really as bad as they think here in this great land of ours. Maybe then they will appreciate all we have and let others have their day without raging against the machine and protesting on social media. The world and our country really aren’t too bad you know.
Have a nice day.
Strange Notations From a Laborious Life 