Back in in 1956 we thought we were escaping the aftermath of wars and conflict and bade farewell to Europe still smoldering and smarting from two world wars. Soon after arriving we did sense that the main influence in Australia was that of America. It’s sprawling architecture and above all the commercialization of almost everything possible and saleable. My dad could not get over the abundance of ugly signage portrayed on almost everything capable of supporting signs. Suburban shops lining the strips often next to railway lines or main roads were groaning with signs and everything was sign-written in the most garish colors as ‘special’. At one stage a locally produced car The Holden was named Special.
After a while we got used to it together with the endless advertisements hailing the benefits of all sorts of headache powders. Indeed looking at old photographs one has no trouble seeing buses and trains advertising Bex powders and Vincent APC. which in those days had phenacetin to give it an extra bite but also damaging the kidneys of tens of thousands of people, especially women who became addicted. They were advertised as giving one a lift in wellbeing. We wondered why headaches were so common and accepted as normal. It was supposed to be all happy and sundrenched.
We got on with turning into Australians as good as any but of course also retained proudly our own heritage excluding the horrors of conflict and bombs. However through the decades it became clear that Australia seemed to be drawn to the American way of things to a point that no matter what conflict or wars the US engaged in, Australia was keen to nurture those wars by slavishly sending in their troops as well. True we are part of alliances although also often claiming sovereignty. We followed the US to war in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. All now looked back upon as totally wasteful and unnecessary.
But, still we keep on repeating he same with now ordering nuclear underwater boats. Bowing to the US again and what for? We could be the Switzerland of the Pacific , remain friendly with everyone. Be a go-between if tensions arise between different countries. The aim in ordering those boats is to threaten China. Why do that? Businesses are queueing up to enter China and do business. Hundreds of thousands of Europeans and Americans are now living in China, not wishing to miss out on the excitement that is unfolding in China. We are totally out of whack with the reality of the unfolding of history.
It is China’s turn. Nothing will stop that.
Tags: afghanistan, Australia, Iraq, US, Vietnam
Oosterman Treats Blog 
September 19, 2021 at 7:58 am |
Australian has made a lot of wrong moves.
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September 20, 2021 at 4:51 am |
A pity, as Australia could have been a progressive forward looking country. The Anglo culture keeps a firm hand though on maintaining the status quo despite this country enjoying a multicultural population.
We have the Victorian gun boat strategy back now with Scomo.
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September 19, 2021 at 12:19 pm |
Trump lite. That’s what we’ve got. A clueless idiot for a leader.
By pretending to be hairy chested with the Chinese – like Trump, Scummo trashed barley, wine and lobster exports. For what benefit to Australia?
And by trashing the Frog submarine deal (as dopey an idea that it was), he’s cost us $400M compensation for the French and toasted all the small businesses in Adelaide who were gearing up for the frog boats.
And they way the Scummo team handled that diplomatically was, let’s be honest, somewhat less than stellar.
But to then unilaterally go nuclear with the Americans and the Brits has gotten us offside with Malaysia, Indonesia and New Zealand … and if course, China and possibly also Japan..
Still, what can we expect from a goose who managed to completely stuff up Covid. vaccination and quarantine ? Not one accommodation unit built in 20 months.
Just as an aside, Gez, our son works for a company that creates whole mining towns in the middle of nowhere, where there is no water, power or infrastructure and they can create something habitable in six months and complete one in less than a year.
But this government is expert at persecuting refugees.
Bastards, idiots and so worthy of being massacred in the next election.
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September 20, 2021 at 4:36 am |
Yes, Trouserzoff,
Penny Wong was good though this morning on the telly.
Let’s hope this is Scomo last throw of the toys on the floor. It’s odd how he acts so impulsively, as if his brain goes all haywire. Is it the swaying about in his church that does that, and all that Pentecostal gibberish.
Your son has a good job, by the looks of it. Is it an Australian company?
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September 20, 2021 at 3:04 am |
We have a complete buffoon parading himself as the Prime Minister currently. Thought he’d ingratiate himself with the buffoon running the UK and the senior citizen running the US. So important to Biden was Stupid that he called him the “Fella from Down Under” while the stupid one sat there with his shit eating grin.
Trash the French, concern the Indonesians and Malaysians which might as well read the rest of ASEAN and for what. Not to mention NZ! An announcement for something that wont happen until 2040 at the earliest and more likely the 2060’s.
If only this goose was a leader rather than a ninth rate marketeering spiv in continuous election mode.
We can only hope the next election can be called soon to rid us of this utterly incompetent government and the idiot who thinks he’s a Prime Minister.
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September 20, 2021 at 4:45 am |
Yes, God knows how we are going to get French cheese from now on. Will it go back to Coon, or worse ,’tasty’ cheese? Where the Boursin or vin de blanc?
Yes, the next election will hopefully get rid of him, but I am not so sure. There is such an ingrained aversion to so much that is better, different and progressive. Look how this government is resisting EV and still clinging to coal and fossils on the mantel piece.
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September 20, 2021 at 7:33 pm |
Reblogged this on AuntyUta and commented:
Thank you, Gerard, for this well written blog. I agree: It is China’s turn. Nothing will stop that.
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September 21, 2021 at 2:23 am |
And a very happy birthday to you, dear Uta, from both Annette and me.
A bit rich for the US to name China as having imperialistic ambitions when the US is all about imposing themselves on the rest of the world.
I remember just after the war the US driving truckloads of Coca Cola into the schools in Holland. Free coke for all children!
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September 21, 2021 at 6:44 pm |
Thank you very much, Gerard and Annette!
Yes, Coca Cola became very well loved in Germany after the war. 🙂
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September 21, 2021 at 10:48 am |
“The excitement that is unfolding in China”? I think you mis-spelled “authoritarian oppression.” That’s not to imply I’m happy with what’s unfolding here, either, but two wrongs don’t make a right: Grandma said that.
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September 21, 2021 at 11:25 am |
Well, reading up about people that having moved to live permanently to China I don’t read tales of that oppression. However, that seems the main answer when lauding China what they have achieved in a short time.
I hear no protests from Apple phone maker or Elon Musk having shifted their empires to China.
We had a protest today against the Covid Lockdown and protestors were met by teargas and rubber bullets.
My Grandma told me to stop picking at the wallpaper.
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September 25, 2021 at 10:35 pm |
Just stopping by with some (((HUGS))) for you and Annette!
PAT and RUBS for Bentley! 🙂
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November 24, 2021 at 6:35 pm |
War is a part of the human condition unfortunately.
Modernity has made it into a machine and that machine only benefits the few at the top of the heap while everyone else pays the price.
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