Last week we posted an article where Maree and Tamsin discussed whether Halloween should be celebrated by Australians. One of the common arguments against the celebration of Halloween in Australia is that it is yet another American custom that has been imposed on us as a by-product of being exposed to the cultural behemoth that is the US of A. Or to put it another way, Australia is becoming too American. But are we?
I know I voiced an opinion that we shouldn’t celebrate Halloween, but that was more because I don’t like the commercialism that has accompanied Halloween into Australian society. That doesn’t mean I’m against American culture. I mean, I wear denim jeans and t-shirts. I listen to rock music and jazz. I watch American movies and TV shows. I use words like “OK” and “cool”. I’m just as Americanized as any other Australian.
The funny thing is, I remember this discussion happening all the way back in the 1970s, and I’m sure we’ve been having the same discussion since WWII when we were invaded by GIs, chewing gum, and nylon stockings. And yet, I feel no less Australian at 46 than I did at 6. You’d think after 40 years of Americanization that I’d feel more American and less Australian – but I don’t.
I know people don’t say “G’day” as much as they used to, and we don’t look and behave like the people we recently watched on Puberty Blues anymore, but we still eat Vegemite and take “sickies” and watch Aussie Rules and play backyard cricket. We still support OUR athletes at the Olympics, and feel proud when they play OUR national anthem. Most of us don’t follow NFL or watch World Series baseball, and we probably know more words to Advance Australia Fair (what is girt anyway?) than we do to The Star-Spangled Banner (I think there’s something about “bombs” in there somewhere…)
And that’s the thing… no matter how many American customs we may adopt, deep down inside we all identify as Australians. Or at least Greek-Australian, or Italian-Australian, or Chinese-Australian… it’s all the same. You see, no matter our heritage, no matter what customs we have brought to this land, or our ancestors brought with them, we are still Australian. The fact that we have adopted European café culture, or eat Asian food, or dress up as zombies one night a year – none of this has made us less Australian.
Of course it isn’t a one-way street. One of the strangest things I’ve noticed in recent years is the adoption of the phrase “no worries” by Americans. This used to be an exclusively Australian expression – certainly during the previous century – but this century, our little expression of friendliness, good humour and optimism has entered the American vernacular. Does that mean that Americans are now more Australian? I don’t think so. They just like saying it…probably because of all the Australians who use it on social media, or because of all the Australian tourists Americans encounter all around the world. If Americans like using the term “no worries”, well…good on them!
Are you worried that Australia is becoming too American? Do you feel less Australian than you used to?
