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How Tony Abbott can improve his relationship with the rest of the world How Tony Abbott can improve his relationship with the rest of the world
(5 months later)
I lived in London for 10 years, until only three years ago. For that decade, conversations about Australian politics shared or overheard in my adopted city were limited to some vague memories of prime minister Paul Keating as "that guy" touching the Queen, considerations of cricket as a forum for class war, and some quite pointy arguments regarding whether "ya flamin' galah" was authentic Australian vernacular.I lived in London for 10 years, until only three years ago. For that decade, conversations about Australian politics shared or overheard in my adopted city were limited to some vague memories of prime minister Paul Keating as "that guy" touching the Queen, considerations of cricket as a forum for class war, and some quite pointy arguments regarding whether "ya flamin' galah" was authentic Australian vernacular.
Imagine my surprise when I finally returned to my former British homeland this week to find that interest in Australian politics is at something of a peak. Here, Tony Abbott is known as "that misogynist guy". The outside world heeded Julia Gillard's denunciation of the man when her misogyny speech went viral and were somewhat confused by his election; that he has since appointed himself minister for women has a lot of YouTube viewers more than somewhat perplexed.Imagine my surprise when I finally returned to my former British homeland this week to find that interest in Australian politics is at something of a peak. Here, Tony Abbott is known as "that misogynist guy". The outside world heeded Julia Gillard's denunciation of the man when her misogyny speech went viral and were somewhat confused by his election; that he has since appointed himself minister for women has a lot of YouTube viewers more than somewhat perplexed.
Any Australian who travels learns pretty quickly how far our country is from the centre of the world but, alas, that we remain invisible in it is no longer. The venerable BBC, for example, reported with horror Abbott's attack on the political autonomy of the ABC and his "(show) some basic affection for the home team" remarks. The respected French news website Rue89 believes him to be sexiste and vulgar, UK Labour MP Paul Flynn called him a "bigoted airhead", the LA Times once called him a "gaffe-prone conservative", and Indonesian paper Rakyat Merdeka ran a front page story with the headline "Tony Abbott is arrogant".Any Australian who travels learns pretty quickly how far our country is from the centre of the world but, alas, that we remain invisible in it is no longer. The venerable BBC, for example, reported with horror Abbott's attack on the political autonomy of the ABC and his "(show) some basic affection for the home team" remarks. The respected French news website Rue89 believes him to be sexiste and vulgar, UK Labour MP Paul Flynn called him a "bigoted airhead", the LA Times once called him a "gaffe-prone conservative", and Indonesian paper Rakyat Merdeka ran a front page story with the headline "Tony Abbott is arrogant".
Amongst my own circle of friends in London, the question "so how's that new government that's sliding your country into authoritarianism working out for you?" was asked by a Tory-voting corporate lawyer. Alternatively, my friends on the left openly begged that Abbott be silenced because he makes British prime minister David Cameron, who laughs at poor people, look reasonable in comparison. Amongst my own circle of friends in London, the question "so how's that new government that's sliding your country into authoritarianism working out for you?" was asked by a Tory-voting corporate lawyer. Alternatively, my friends on the left openly begged that Abbott be silenced because he makes British prime minister David Cameron, who laughs at poor people, look reasonable in comparison.
Obviously demonstrated here is that something is faltering in Abbott's attempt to woo the rest of the world's affection towards him, and I would like to humbly offer him some pointers.Obviously demonstrated here is that something is faltering in Abbott's attempt to woo the rest of the world's affection towards him, and I would like to humbly offer him some pointers.
Five ways to work on your relationship: Abbott and the rest of the world editionFive ways to work on your relationship: Abbott and the rest of the world edition
1. Don't infantilise a prospective partner1. Don't infantilise a prospective partner
2. Be aware that your partner may have experiences that you don't2. Be aware that your partner may have experiences that you don't
3. Demonstrate a capacity for being kind, empathetic and generous3. Demonstrate a capacity for being kind, empathetic and generous
4. Honesty is always the best policy: don't play a blame game4. Honesty is always the best policy: don't play a blame game
5. Be the best version of yourself, not the least version of someone else5. Be the best version of yourself, not the least version of someone else
When attracted to someone, or the traditions of another nation, be aware that there is a difference between respectful admiration in private and making a buffoon of yourself on the world stage with inept copycat attempts at cultural flattery. You may delight in fantasies about King Arthur, swords on shoulders and Knights and Dames, but mindlessly aping the British honours system by introducing it to Australia without so much as a cabinet meeting is not likely to get you that yearned-for invitation to a tea-party with the Camerons at Chequers and a special set of stickers from HRH the Queen. Instead, you're going to get ruthlessly mocked as a colonial wannabe, even in the Tory Evening Standard – which is one thing. Worse for any suitor, with aspirations abroad or at home, is that Kochie, Lawrie Lawrence, the team of Sunrise and the entire Australian internet community joined in to make you the butt of the joke.When attracted to someone, or the traditions of another nation, be aware that there is a difference between respectful admiration in private and making a buffoon of yourself on the world stage with inept copycat attempts at cultural flattery. You may delight in fantasies about King Arthur, swords on shoulders and Knights and Dames, but mindlessly aping the British honours system by introducing it to Australia without so much as a cabinet meeting is not likely to get you that yearned-for invitation to a tea-party with the Camerons at Chequers and a special set of stickers from HRH the Queen. Instead, you're going to get ruthlessly mocked as a colonial wannabe, even in the Tory Evening Standard – which is one thing. Worse for any suitor, with aspirations abroad or at home, is that Kochie, Lawrie Lawrence, the team of Sunrise and the entire Australian internet community joined in to make you the butt of the joke.
And no-one, least of all the rest of the world or the voting population of Western Australia, wants to be seen with a loser. Keep it in mind.And no-one, least of all the rest of the world or the voting population of Western Australia, wants to be seen with a loser. Keep it in mind.