Proudly 'Strayan

Brainstorming for the Australia Day party I am hosting today, I have come up with a wealth of stereotypes to play on. We can sit around and listen to 'Men at Work' drinking from stubbies, chowing down on some snags and the token vegemite sandwich, just like Nan used to make.

But what lies beyond these lame-o cliches I whip out when asked to sum up my country? What does it really mean to be an Australian?

Realising that the only cultural product I have brought with me is a badge salvaged from a university protest declaring "proudly Un-Australian", I have no trouble reflecting on all the things that make me NOT proud of being Australian :(

But of course its not all depressing, as Hugh Mckay writes "Like everyone else on the planet, Australians are a mixture of good and bad, noble and shameful, exemplary and slippery".

So why am I a proud Australian?

- Because The Redfern Speech captured the beautiful diversity and responsibility of my Australia

- Because of the dynamic and powerful Aussie's at home and abroad. My favorites; Gemma Sisia, Nada Roude, and Fr. Chris Riley

- Because Brenden Nelson professed at a speech to young leaders in 2006 "we need people who can express dissent". I firmly and deeply disagree with Brendon Nelson's politics, but I am proud of the fact that he welcomes public and private debate as a member of Cabinet.

- Because I have Aussie friends who come from China, Lebanon, Japan, India, Russia, Figi, Indonesia, Spain... and because we are essentially a 'nation' of migrants. No-one aside from Indigenous Australians can cite a history back further than a few generations on Aussie soil.

- Because of the rich indigenous cultural heritage we have to come to terms with. The Aboriginal people of Australia spoke over 500 different languages pre-settlement, had an innately sustainable approach to the land and thrived for over 40,000 years.

- Because www.getup.org.au has 150, 000 members; more than every major political party in the country combined.

- Because Australia can be encapsulated profoundly in Khoa Doa's film "The Finished People", and by The Chaser

What are you proud of?