After reading an article in the SMH in regards to crackdowns in inappropriate behaviour in Dubai, it made me think about the conservation of particular cultural behaviours and attitudes. As a country, what is the set rules that are acceptable in terms of absorbing and accepting external cultural influences and behaviours, as well as maintaining your own cultural sense and ideology? As this particular article describes, Dubai is the only location in this particular region with lax laws where alcohol is served in bars, and women can walk in bikini's and guys in shorts, while this may be arrestable offences in other places outside of Dubai. To what extent should this behaviour be allowed if they wish for the expansion of the 'westernisation' and 'commercialisation' of their country and business outside Dubai?
Taking this back to a more local sense, in Australia we are one of the most diverse cultural hot-pots in the world, no doubt with the USA being another. Did Australia used to have its own cultural identity? Yes, quite strongly infact, so much so to the point of being racist, being the period of time when we had the White Australia Policy. But now, with the tides of time and immigration from everywhere around the world, what has happened? Instead of a blended culture, we have segregation of culture. We have the distinct 'Chinatown' in the city and also 'Korea' area in another part of the city, but there are regions where people of particular backgrounds and origins stereotypically live, and the region then picks up its own culture and feel. Chatswood/Lindfield/Gordon is quite heavily Taiwanese Asian, Cabramatta/Fairfield is Vietnamese, Lakemba/Belmore is Lebanese/Middle Eastern, Campbelltown/Macarthur is 'Redneck', Bankstown is Asian, and so-on these stereotypes continue.
Will Australia ever have a blended identity, or will it continue to bulge at the seams with these different cultures, ideals, religious mixes, tolerances and conflicts? Does this strengthen or weaken the patriotism and identity of what it means to be "Australian"? It could be said no, since the concept of being "Australian" is heavily ingrained to many of those who call this country home, and these ideals cross all ethnic backgrounds. Perhaps this is the identity of Australia, a loose set of concepts of what is, and what isn't "Australian".
I pity any country that decides they will invade Australia to quash the Australian race and culture, because they will find it to be a impossible battle to the extent that all of the Australian expatriots will no doubt pick up from where they are overseas and Australianise the population near them LOL....
Taking this back to a more local sense, in Australia we are one of the most diverse cultural hot-pots in the world, no doubt with the USA being another. Did Australia used to have its own cultural identity? Yes, quite strongly infact, so much so to the point of being racist, being the period of time when we had the White Australia Policy. But now, with the tides of time and immigration from everywhere around the world, what has happened? Instead of a blended culture, we have segregation of culture. We have the distinct 'Chinatown' in the city and also 'Korea' area in another part of the city, but there are regions where people of particular backgrounds and origins stereotypically live, and the region then picks up its own culture and feel. Chatswood/Lindfield/Gordon is quite heavily Taiwanese Asian, Cabramatta/Fairfield is Vietnamese, Lakemba/Belmore is Lebanese/Middle Eastern, Campbelltown/Macarthur is 'Redneck', Bankstown is Asian, and so-on these stereotypes continue.
Will Australia ever have a blended identity, or will it continue to bulge at the seams with these different cultures, ideals, religious mixes, tolerances and conflicts? Does this strengthen or weaken the patriotism and identity of what it means to be "Australian"? It could be said no, since the concept of being "Australian" is heavily ingrained to many of those who call this country home, and these ideals cross all ethnic backgrounds. Perhaps this is the identity of Australia, a loose set of concepts of what is, and what isn't "Australian".
I pity any country that decides they will invade Australia to quash the Australian race and culture, because they will find it to be a impossible battle to the extent that all of the Australian expatriots will no doubt pick up from where they are overseas and Australianise the population near them LOL....
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