Backbencher

I recently read through the Sydney Morning Herald for January 30th. What I found interesting was that, just like in America, death and scandal were front and center ( maybe were not so different after all). The main story was about two bodies that were found burning in a barrel in New South Wales. I can't help but wonder if Australia's people see their image as a tolerant and peaceful nation slipping, especially after the race riots a month or so ago. Also, I ran across an article about an American F-18 that had crashed off of the coast of Queensland. This particular article seems to emphasize the tensions between U.S. military presence in the region that had been discussed in class. The article made it quite clear that the ship, the Ronald Reagan, was nuclear powered. In addition, the article goes on to point out that local fisherman have been finding bags of garbage that have somehow made their way off of the ship. Once again, the whole environmental idea is taking its place against the stark contrast of a nuclear ship and perceived American wastefulness. Finally, the article that most caught my eye was that of the Australian flag redesign contest. There were a few dozen designs submitted, some of the features are worth noting. A lot of the people wanted to abolish or make smaller the Union Jack, some people wanted to make the southern cross larger, and, interestingly enough, one submission wanted to add the stripes from the United States' flag. This flag contest seems to go hand in hand with what we were talking about in lecture about the Australians' identity, or lack there of. Many years have passed since Australia was a British penal colony, they must strike out to find their own identity in the world. To some, this identity would best be served as a close friend of the U.S. To others, an Australia with only a southern cross for a flag is just the new start Australia needs.