Personally i think Australia's sporting success, such as it is, is unfortunate, and has had the effect of making people here more than a little 'sports mad'; much of the nation's collective ego is invested in its sporting performance and i, for one, would be happier if we were to de-emphasise the importance of sport in the national psyche. i'd be happy to lose 10 consecutive Ashes series if an Australian could be world #1 at chess, or win another Nobel for literature or something of that sort (we've only got one so far). while Australian writers, academics and scientists do enjoy their share of success, their efforts are not applauded here with anything like the same enthusiasm as those of sports people. France can point to Descartes, Moliere, Sartre, Camus (even if he was born in Algeria), Pascal, Voltaire, Gide etc etc, Germany to Kant, Hegel, Goethe, Hesse, Mann, UK to Locke, Shakespeare, Greene, Hume, Berekeley, Chaucer, etc etc. We haven't produced stuff of that calibre yet, and seem unlikely to while we are more interested in swimming, tennis, cricket , rugby and so on. And it is not even as if the average Australian is very fit - the obesity problem here is almost as bad as in the US and UK.
Originally posted by dfm65But in the scientific fields it is harder to achieve the recognition that earlier scientists have. Work tends to be more specific and done in groups.
Personally i think Australia's sporting success, such as it is, is unfortunate, and has had the effect of making people here more than a little 'sports mad'; much of the nation's collective ego is invested in its sporting performance and i, for one, would be happier if we were to de-emphasise the importance of sport in the national psyche. i'd be happy to lose ...[text shortened]... e Australian is very fit - the obesity problem here is almost as bad as in the US and UK.
On the topic of John Howard, I would just like to make a statement here: John Howard is the biggest loser this great nation has ever seen in a Prime Minister. He sent out troops to Iraq, just so he can lick the butt of the even dumber guy up top, George Bush. On the topic of Bush, you Americans need to get off your buts and start voting, because that lowlife you call your president is slowly taking ovcer the world. He spends 320 million dollars a day on keeping his troops in Iraq. When the USA already oews Japan billions of dollars, this is not a good idea. Here in Australia we all have to vote, or else we get fined. Over in the great US, only a minority actually vote. Get off your bums and get that creep out of office. Not to mention that cold woman who is the brains behind to operation, Condeleza (excuse the spelling) Rice.
Originally posted by pythagorasI have no idea what this has to do with sport, but stick it to 'em!
On the topic of John Howard, I would just like to make a statement here: John Howard is the biggest loser this great nation has ever seen in a Prime Minister. He sent out troops to Iraq, just so he can lick the butt of the even dumber guy up top, George Bush. On the topic of Bush, you Americans need to get off your buts and start voting, because that lowl ...[text shortened]... ion that cold woman who is the brains behind to operation, Condeleza (excuse the spelling) Rice.