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| Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard. |
NAUTICAL LOG was so astonished to receive this from one of our international correspondents that it sat there brewing up nicely preparing to be published. One wonders just where a modern politician got the personal courage to write and give this speech. It is something that has needed to be aired in many countries for some time. So without further ado NAUTICAL LOG quotes that which is credited to Madam Prime Minister Julia Gillard:
"Immigrants, not Australians must adapt. Take it or leave it. I am tired of this nation worrying about whether we are offending some individual or their culture. Since the terrorist attacks in Bali, we have experienced a surge in patriotism by the majority of Australians.
T"his culture has been developed over two centuries of struggles, trials and victories by millions of men and women who have sought freedom.
"We speak mainly English, not Spanish, Lebanese, Arabic, Chinese, Japanese, Russian, or any other language.
"Most Australians believe in God. This is not some Christian right wing, political push, but a fact, because Christian men and women, on Christian principles, founded this nation and it is clearly documented. It is certainly appropriate to display it on the walls of our schools. If God offends you, then I suggest you consider another part of the World as your home, because God is part of our culture.
"We will accept your beliefs and will not question why. All we ask is that you accept ours and live in harmony and peaceful enjoyment with us.
"This is Our Country, Our Land, and Our Lifestyle and we will allow you every opportunity to enjoy all this. But once you are done complaining, whining and griping about Our Flag, Our Pledge, Our Christian beliefs or Our Way of Life, I highly encourage you take advantage of one other great Australian freedom, THE RIGHT TO LEAVE. If you aren't happy here then LEAVE. We didn't force you to come here. You asked to be here. So accept the country YOU accepted."
This is really an excellent and fair summary for all immigrants internationally it equally well applies and indeed does, here in The United States of America. Yesterday Wednesday March 07, 2012 was the 39th. Anniversary of my United States Citizenship, so this statement by PM Gillard came at just the right time. DO NOT moan to me about the USA get off your butt and start helping put it To Rights again.
Good Watch
Meanwhile of course 300 of our fellow seafarers are being held hostage by pirates off the coast of Puntland, Somalia.
9 comments:
This sounded familiar to me.
http://www.snopes.com/rumors/thisisamerica.asp
http://www.hoax-slayer.com/howard-muslim-speech.shtml
I think you would have been better served to express this in your own words rather than pass around a document the original author deliberately misattributed.
You've a very interesting blog, and thank you for remembering the mariners being held captive.
Totally agree. Nice to see someone speak out like this.
It's too bad however the Aussies can be such hypocrites though. I mean "we will accept your beliefs", but yet Japan does some whaling in international waters and Australia will support and not condemn piracy/terrorism against said vessels.
Timmay: Good point! Actually I was going to add in that it would be the thing to do to refuse to refuel the SSCS seagoing Cult pirate vessel. Then decided to let the reported PM speech stand by itself.
BUCK: The point being for me that it was a report by an elected head of a country. If NAUTICAL LOG had published it as its own work there would be screams from the left-wing of right-wing plagiary. Whomever the point is made to "go home" if you are not content in a country.
Good Watch.
Interesting speech.
Probably Julia Gillard should be reminded of article XI of the International Convention for the Regulation of Whaling, the IWC's founding text, since Australia doesn't seem able to accept the organization's goal of managing whale stocks and the whaling industry.
"Article XI
Any Contracting Government may withdraw from this Convention on 30th June, of any year by giving notice on or before 1st January, of the same year to the depository Government, which upon receipt of such a notice shall at once communicate it to the other Contracting Governments. (...)"
This is exactly what she calls "THE RIGHT TO LEAVE".
ISANATORI: Published your comment even though we did not follow the relevance, connection or your logic. Of course we are only simple seafarers.
Good Watch.
Sorry, I should have been clearer.
The thing is that Australia is one of, if not the strongest opponent to whaling within the IWC.
The International Whaling Commission was created to manage whale stocks and thus allow the orderly development of the whaling industry.
(The first goal hasn't always been respected through history, though.)
So my point was that since Australia doesn't seem to accept the goals of the IWC, maybe Mrs. Gillard could apply the "right to leave" in this case.
Your post wasn't about Sea Shepherd nor whaling. I'm sorry to have made this comment out of context.
Capt. Boucher, you say, "The point being for me that it was a report by an elected head of a country." But it wasnt made by an elected head of a country. To quote Buck's second source, "However, the quoted words were not made by John Howard and were circulating in various forms years before he supposedly uttered them. In fact, the words were originally intended for an American audience and were part of a longer piece penned by Barry Loudermilk, a US Air Force veteran and columnist for a local newspaper in the American state of Georgia."
While it contains some interesting sentiments, it appears the "speech" has nothing to do with any Austrailian Government, or even an American one, as Mr. Loudermilk is not an elected leader.
David Deejian: Thank you for the information. The Australian Government has not denied this speech/statement. Where is the proof found that a Mr. Loudermilk wrote it?
Good Watch
Capt. Boucher,
Buck's first link was to snopes, which is generally considered a reliable source. It specifies that the Loudermilk article was orignially publised in his local paper, the Bartow Trader. Unfortunately, the Bartow Trader does not seem to have internet accessible archives. However, the snopes article does link to a reprint of the article in VietNow, available via the Wayback Machine web archive.
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