Australian values and some myth-making
Lately, there has been media reporting about Australian values, in the context of 'mainstreaming' the Muslim community. The government wants Islamic schools to be teaching these Australian values.
The federal government is big on values education, and there is a poster that lists these values (for Australian schooling) which schools must display as a condition of federal funding.
The thing is, some critics have managed to pick this to pieces as the poster has in the background, a picture of Simpson and his donkey, and which is cited by the government as an embodiment of Australian values.
The Age newspaper
- editorial 'Chasing the donkey vote on values'
- 'No clear answer in debate on values'
- 'Values emblem a bit of an ass'
The Australian newspaper
- 'Pinning the tail on donkey of Good Aussie Values'
Poster
- Values for Australian schooling poster (larger PDF version, linked from within Values Education website)
Apparently, this Simpson guy wasn't Australian, and he jumped ship making him an illegal immigrant.
Myth-making is a part of nation-hood, and the development of stories for the national consciousness. Australia was not born from revolution like the United States was, so we do not have the same sorts of stories as Washington and the cherry tree, or Paul Revere's midnight ride.
*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.
........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo........
I spent most of the day napping in different spots. My human came home a little bit earlier, but he turned the vacuum machine on, to clean the dining area, especially the chairs which I deposit my fur when I nap. But he did give me raw corn fed chicken wings for dinner which are much tastier.
Later on, we had visitors, first Merlin's human Kim, then the still to be adopted by a cat one day Declan and Nell. I enjoyed hopping on a few different laps. I showed them my bear Dougal.
They had a Persian chicken pie for dinner (made with a basmati rice shell, with corn fed chicken, leeks, currants, dill, lemon juice and pine nuts) served with blanched broccolini and asparagus. They also had a wonderful trifle which Nell made.
They listened to The Cat Empire's Two Shoes album and James Blunt's back to bedlam. Not bad.
Cat Empire - Two Shoes CD album cover
James Blunt - back to bedlam CD cover
keisercat@wildmail.com
The federal government is big on values education, and there is a poster that lists these values (for Australian schooling) which schools must display as a condition of federal funding.
The thing is, some critics have managed to pick this to pieces as the poster has in the background, a picture of Simpson and his donkey, and which is cited by the government as an embodiment of Australian values.
The Age newspaper
- editorial 'Chasing the donkey vote on values'
- 'No clear answer in debate on values'
- 'Values emblem a bit of an ass'
The Australian newspaper
- 'Pinning the tail on donkey of Good Aussie Values'
Poster
- Values for Australian schooling poster (larger PDF version, linked from within Values Education website)
Apparently, this Simpson guy wasn't Australian, and he jumped ship making him an illegal immigrant.
Myth-making is a part of nation-hood, and the development of stories for the national consciousness. Australia was not born from revolution like the United States was, so we do not have the same sorts of stories as Washington and the cherry tree, or Paul Revere's midnight ride.
*As always, please check out Cooper and Camilla who always have interesting things to say.
........ooooooooOOOOOOOOoooooooo........
I spent most of the day napping in different spots. My human came home a little bit earlier, but he turned the vacuum machine on, to clean the dining area, especially the chairs which I deposit my fur when I nap. But he did give me raw corn fed chicken wings for dinner which are much tastier.
Later on, we had visitors, first Merlin's human Kim, then the still to be adopted by a cat one day Declan and Nell. I enjoyed hopping on a few different laps. I showed them my bear Dougal.
They had a Persian chicken pie for dinner (made with a basmati rice shell, with corn fed chicken, leeks, currants, dill, lemon juice and pine nuts) served with blanched broccolini and asparagus. They also had a wonderful trifle which Nell made.
They listened to The Cat Empire's Two Shoes album and James Blunt's back to bedlam. Not bad.
Cat Empire - Two Shoes CD album cover
James Blunt - back to bedlam CD cover
keisercat@wildmail.com
posted by Keiser at 23:00
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