Thursday, September 1, 2011

Anniversary

Today (September 1), Australia and the U.S. celebrate the sixtieth anniversary of the ANZUS treaty (although the “NZ” in ANZUS is no longer operative, since the Kiwis dropped out decades ago).

But I am gratified to see that America and Australia are still mates - even in adversity, such as now, when both countries are sweating out the administrations of two feckless heads of government.

From the article linked above:
While New Zealand cast aside the treaty in the 1980s over disagreements with the U.S., Australia has become an ever more vital ally. Australia and the U.S. have fought together in every major conflict of the 20th and 21st centuries—including World War I and II, Korea, Vietnam, the Gulf War, Iraq, and Afghanistan. The friendship, common history, and values that bind our two nations have only strengthened.
It’s like I’ve said before: every red-blooded American looks on Australia as a kind of psychic or spiritual second home. Cheers, mates!

Oh, here’s a question (or two, actually):

American (and other non-Australian readers): Who are some of your favorite Australians?

Australian (and other non-U.S. readers): Who are some of your favorite Americans?

I’ll start the ball rolling: Lara Bingle and Tim Blair. Not necessarily in that order. [Ok, ok. Yes, in that order. But Tim’s a very close second; it’s practically a tie].

17 comments:

rinardman said...

Favorite Aussies?

Olivia Newton John
Elle Macpherson

That's all I need.

cac said...

Favourite seppos? Barack Obama (suddenly realises Americans don't do irony, desperately tries to retract).

Apart from our host of course, I was a big fan of the late Warren Zevon and I've always thought it would be fun to sit down for a beer (or mineral water on his part) and stogie with Bush '43.

One of the better things about Australian politics is how bipartisan the value of the alliance is. It doesn't matter how much anti american nonsense got spouted during student politics at uni, once the Treasury benches are occupied, every side of politics (except the Greens of course) is rock solid on this one. I hope we never have to draw on the credit we've hopefully built up over the years but if we do, I'm reasonably confident that our seppo mates will be there.

bingbing said...

Cheers. Didn't realise Senor Paco.

And yes, aren't we both dealing with a bunch of clowns at the top although I think we have it worse than you guys.

Paco said...

bingbing: Worse than us? I don't think so! Our president sucks way more than your Prime Minister (Come on, fellow Americans! Rally 'round the flag, here!)

bruce said...

Cheers, Buddies and Buddettes!

Favourite Americans: well George W Bush, Condoleeza Rice, Victor Davis Hanson, Donald Rumsfeld, Stanley Kurtz, Samuel Barber the composer, ...

and you guys of course!

Paco said...

Bruce: When I used to commute on Amtrak between Richmond and Washington, there was another frequent rider, a woman who worked at the Library of Congress, who was writing a doctoral dissertation on Samuel Barber (never did find out if she finished it).

bruce said...

Here, in honour of the anniversary, Barber's 'Knoxville Summer 1915' sung by Dawn Upshaw:

http://www.youtube.com
/watch?v=WbL2AL0elhA

One of my favourite pieces of music.

bruce said...

Barber is very popular because he is modern yet melodious and still has a distinctive exciting voice.

Listen to his 'Piano Excursions' Paco, - they are based on boogie-woogie and blues, but sound like Debussy.

Most of the many many student versions on youtube have too much pedal though. Glen Gould's style would be ideal for the Excursions, if you can find one by him.

Dawn Upshaw is a fantastic singer too.

Paco said...

Thanks, Bruce. I will make a point of listening to those pieces.

bruce said...

Some good versions of Barber's music for free download here:

www.classiccat.net/barber_s/index.php

Monica Alianello's version of Excursions is excellent I think.

Try the wonderful violin concerto if you like ecstatic joyful romantic virtuosity.

TimT said...

SJ Perelman, James Thurber, Dorothy Parker! Okay, that's technically three - but DAMMIT, they're all great!

Minicapt said...

Corporal William Henry Metcalf, VC, MM, 16th Bn CEF; of Eastport Maine, USA.

Cheers

Anonymous said...

That's easy - Kae the Bloodnut and Tim Blair. And my new Friend Eloise, who moved here with her family when she was a girl.

RebeccaH said...

My favorite Aussies: the ordinary bloke and sheila, hardworking family types who love their kids and their country, citizen cousins to my own "redneck" kin, who steadfastly stick by first principles, but can change their minds when reliable new information presents itself.

Australia and the U.S. forever!

Gregoryno6 said...

Favourite American? A certain pinup princess takes gold silver AND bronze.
Behind her:
Stanley Kubrick for 2001: A Space Odyssey;
Scott Walker for his first four solo albums;
and Michelle Malkin for breaking a few ethnic/gender stereotypes.

missred said...

my favourite is kae, i am indebted to her, and therefore she has my heart, second is tim, third is gavin
however i do have a tribute to .. well ok so i am shallow .. http://missredmuses.blogspot.com/2011/09/my-favourite-australians.html

Merilyn said...

Mine are authors, Tom Clancy and the late Robert Ludlum, there are a few others, and the people on here such as Paco, RebeccaH,Pcat55 and Richard, and one who resides in Australia, spot.