It's like evangelical Christians, really.  The New Testament goes to great pains to really push the values of tolerance, compassion, loving thy neighbours, all that good stuff.  Now if some well meaning bible basher goes up to some hapless sod on the street and tells him he's going to hell, he's probably not going to say to his good self - "Now.  This chaps onto something!  He's trying to save my soul.  How compassionate.  Just like that Jesus fellow.  I sure would like to know more about him!"  That hapless sod is probably going to think Mr-Street-Corner-Evangelical-Bible-Basher is an arsehole, and rightfully so. 

In the same way, forcing migrants to sit tests on "Australian values" (however they might be defined) seems ludicrous.  I mean- Define "fair go".  Erm... I don't know... Letting me in on my merits rather than making me guess at the answers of questions whose answers are shrouded in grey area and personal interpretation?  No no.  That can't be it.  It must be - "making it an absolute cinch to pass this test if you're from an English speaking country with similar society structure, legal system and heritage."  Yes.  That must be it.  Because one thing is for sure, any Englishman who doesn't know their own legal system probably shouldn't be allowed here.  And we don't really want all those nasty people with different coloured skin, random religions and wacky customs here. 

I so hate the "Australian values" crap.  I really do.  I mean blah blah blah democracy, freedom, equality...  Fuck.  I heard larrakinism mentioned by someone.  Larrikinism!  What the fuck is that?!  The ability to make up words?  Or perhaps it covers the good folk who set the fires in Melbourne's North over the weekend.  They weren't arsonists!  They were "Larrikins".  Good on them, I say! Just fine Australian spirit!  *rolls eyes*

And- Digger spirit?  Mateship?  Huh?  I'm really sorry but I doubt we invented friendship and I'm fairly sure that the bonds forged in war were just as strong between those pesky soldiers fighting for the Nazis as they were amongst our fine Diggers.  FAMILY?!?  I mean.  Yes.  We sure are the ony country that cares about the family.  Yep yep yep.  Clearly I've been living under some kind of crazy delusion that humans are basically the same all over.  Scratch that one. 

And to think I thought the nifty thing about Australia was the freedom to establish and live by our own values within the bounds of the law.  How deluded was I?

----

Onto a bit of a personal note - perhaps making definite statements in a public forum isn't the best of ideas.  xade and I are working on it. 

and read this.

Funniest thing ever.

I have to thank Teigs and his search hits for impetus to read it.  Wonderful.  It really is. 

I want to be able to pull out bits and pieces that are particularly ridiculous but I just can't separate them out from the mass. 

Aside from this bit: 

** Note: This article contains explicit references to common, dangerous homosexual sexual practices and is therefore not suitable for young readers.