Australian Patriotism

It’s been over a month since I arrived in Brazil and nearly 2 months since I left home. I’m not homesick yet, but lately I’ve been feeling a greater sense of patriotism for my country. Brazil is a particularly loud country in its patriotism. There are flags everywhere and a strong national identity connected to soccer, beaches, beans and rice, well... a lot of things actually. People always ask me, why Australians always want to leave Australia and travel, and is Australia less patriotic because it has so many religious and cultures, and other like questions. Given the current Federal Election in Australia I have been googling everything Australian-related like crazy recently. I youtubed two songs which always touch my heart when I hear them in an attempt to connect to home, ‘ I Still Call Australia Home’ and ‘(I am, You are) We are Australia’. I never realised before how strong the lyrics are and how they really summarise the good ‘ole Aussie spirit. I’ve attached the lyrics below, because I’m inspired by them and truly appreciate what they mean about Australian history and the Australian spirit.

I STILL CALL AUSTRALIA HOME

I've been to cities that never close down

From New York to Rio and old London town

But no matter how far

Or how wide I roam

I still call Australia home

I'm always travelin'

And I love bein' free

So I keep leavin' the sun and the sea

But my heart lies waiting over the foam

I still call Australia home

All the sons and daughters spinning 'round the world

Away from their families and friends

Ah, but as the world gets older and colder

It's good to know where your journey ends

And someday we'll all be together once more

When all the ships come back to the shore

Then I realize something I've always known

I still call Australia home

No matter how far

Or how wide I roam

I still call Australia home

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hbGuqmaDgLA&feature=related

(I AM, YOU ARE) WE ARE AUSTRALIAN

I came from the dream-time, from the dusty red soil plains

I am the ancient heart, the keeper of the flame.

I stood upon the rocky shore, I watched the tall ships come.

For forty thousand years I've been the first Australian.

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

I came upon the prison ship, bowed down by iron chains.

I cleared the land, endured the lash and waited for the rains.

I'm a settler, I'm a farmer's wife on a dry and barren run

A convict then a free man, I became Australian.

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

I'm the daughter of a digger who sought the mother lode

The girl became a woman on the long and dusty road

I'm a child of the depression, I saw the good times come

I'm a bushy, I'm a battler, I am Australian

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

I'm a teller of stories, I'm a singer of songs

I am Albert Namatjira, I paint the ghostly gums

I am Clancy on his horse, I'm Ned Kelly on the run

I'm the one who waltzed Matilda, I am Australian

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

There are no words of comfort that can hope to ease the pain

Of losing homes and loved ones the memories will remain

Within the silent tears you’ll find the strength to carry on

You’re not alone, we are with you. We are Australian!

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

There are so many heroes whose stories must be told

They fought the raging fires of hell and saved so many souls

From the ashes of despair our towns will rise again!

We mourn your loss, we will rebuild. We are Australian!

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

I'm the hot wind from the desert, I'm the black soil of the plains

I'm the mountains and the valleys, I'm the drought and flooding rains

I am the rock, I am the sky, the rivers when they run

The spirit of this great land, I am Australian

We are one, but we are many

And from all the lands on earth we come

We share a dream and sing with one voice:

I am, you are, we are Australian

I am, you are, we are Australian.

We are one ….. We are many ….. We are Australian!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aSoGJQkKDYk&feature=search