The Reputation Institute did a survey of countries around the world about their self image, and below are the findings. The U.S. is likely not so high due to the recession, the George W. Bush Presidency, and the current political infighting that has stopped the country from fixing its problems. From The Australian:
The magazine does not reveal the sample size, survey date or methodology but concludes that “Australians are almost as exuberant about their country as they are about sport”.
Closely following Australia in descending order are Canada, Finland, Austria, Singapore and India while the US, usually seen as a global benchmark for national pride, rates 11th with a score in the high 70s.
What is clear from the survey, as the magazine indicates, is that the results may be affected by the relative scale of economic recession. Australia is regarded by most experts as the country least affected by recession.
That said, Spain rates two places above the US, despite having an unemployment rate approaching 15 per cent.
Joan Rivers – a Musto-inspired photographic Creative Commons essay
I’m living with a ghost in New Jersey
A man has lived in a van outside my home for 8 years
Making out in public – good or bad?
Obama Condoms in Union Square
New York City water shots
RNC characterizes Republican base as ‘Reactionary’ and ‘Ego-Driven’
Celebrities and downtown denizens salute 25 years of Michael Musto
Asking each country how they rank would be fun (I expected the US to rank much higher and France much lower)
Twitter: davidshankbone
says:
Brazil was also a surprise.
As an AUSSIE, and a bloody proud one, i say this to our number 1 ranking.
Popular patriotic flag song widely used around the time of World War One.
There’s a land in the south so fair and so free,
With a kindred both loyal and true;
‘Tis the land, of Australia, crowning the sea,
A gem in its setting of blue.
She claims sturdy yeomen and sailors brave,
Who ride the lone forest, or dare the wild wave,
They proudly would die for her banner to save,
The Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
‘Tis the flag which we Australians ever boast,
‘Tis the flag we will drink in ev’ry toast;
‘Tis the flag we prize and prize and dearly love the most,
‘Tis the Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
In our hearts we are true to our dear native land.
Our own bush-land we love best on earth;
And to save her from foemen we’ll gallantly stand,
And fight for the land of our birth.
We’ll guard her green pastures and glittering gold,
We’ll shield her fair daughters, her honour uphold;
A nation united as one we’ll unfold,
The Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
‘Tis the flag which we Australians ever boast,
‘Tis the flag we will drink in ev’ry toast;
‘Tis the flag we prize and prize and dearly love the most,
‘Tis the Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
See how proudly it waves in the soft morning breeze,
And floats o’er our surf-guarded shore;
at its fame be extended o’er all the wide seas,
The flag of the land we adore.
Oh! may this dear emblem for ever endure,
The bright Southern Cross be for all time secure;
Defend it, dear lads, for its purpose is pure,
The Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
‘Tis the flag which we Australians ever boast,
‘Tis the flag we will drink in ev’ry toast;
‘Tis the flag we prize and prize and dearly love the most,
‘Tis the Star-Cross Flag of Australia.
By T. Craven Browe
Even though I am not living there at the moment, it really is one of the best places on earth!
Excerpts from
My Country by Dorothea McKellar (1885–1968)
I love a sunburnt country,
A land of sweeping plains,
Of ragged mountain ranges,
Of droughts and flooding rains.
I love her far horizons,
I love her jewel-sea,
Her beauty and her terror –
The wide brown land for me!
Core of my heart, my country!
Land of the rainbow gold,
For flood and fire and famine
She pays us back threefold.
Over the thirsty paddocks,
Watch, after many days,
The filmy veil of greenness
That thickens as we gaze.
An opal-hearted country,
A wilful, lavish land –
All you who have not loved her,
You will not understand –
Though earth holds many splendours,
Wherever I may die,
I know to what brown country
My homing thoughts will fly
Magickster, that is a very nice hymn you have there. Better than any other song we have for our country. Praising the flag to such a extent is a bit too American though. I think Australians are not really like the Americans or British for that matter, no matter of our historical origins. Britain is the furthest country away from us and America is a long way too. We are essentially in a unique and privlidged position of having a whole continent with which to build a uniquely independant-in-spirit civilization whereby we will be reliant upon our fellow Australians rather than connecting countries. I am proud of my country however for taking a sensible approach to its development, letting nature and sensibleness guide the way which is a uniquely Australian trait I think too. On the whole though we only really show our colours and pride at sporting events, other than that its really just business as usual as you’d expect in any country, the odd flag here and there etc. We have much to be proud of, but can look forward to a long journey of identity development ahead as we are only a young country. Keep the birth rate at 2.0% (preferably mostly through the birth rate over immigration) or so, keep our economy flowing well and our excellent democracy firm and we one day could no longer be basing our foreign policy on the pleasure of our “great and powerful friends”, unless thats what my fellow Australians want to be under the “protection” of another country forever.
Funny how the guys in the picture are drinking Heineken beer…even Australians will even admit, its hard to be patriotic about their beer.
also the most hated tourists in the world…wonder if we can make a link with over the top patriotic knobbers to being hated abroad.
Twitter: davidshankbone
says:
Heh – *every* country thinks they have the worst tourists. Americans, the Brits and the Germans all lay claim to the same. I prefer to think of America’s bad tourists mostly falling under the “Texan” category.