17th February 2009

Dear Britain,

I've been thinking about how each country (maybe not the country, that's unfair, I mean the people that live there) think of themselves as special. With the bushfires here we have heard a lot about the 'Aussie spirit', the 'mateship' thing that is supposed to be about sticking together through good times and bad. That led me to remembering July 7th and us Brits supposedly sticking together and helping each other in a spirit of togetherness. Which then led me to September 11th and everyone seeming a bit surprised in a city such as New York that is not supposed to be friendly that everybody started helping one another and showing support. I could list a myriad of other examples here.

Does this not show us something?

I have the privilege of working with people from all over the world. A quick count in my head, and I can say I've spoken to people from at least fifteen countries just today, maybe more. Often it is the differences between us that are surprising, but maybe hard to find. The similarities are much easier to see.

What I am trying to say here is that I don't think it matters where you are from, we are all human. If people are in need, we help them. If people are upset, we feel sympathy. If someone hurts someone else, we feel anger and disgust. Especially here, in a country of migrants, this should be obvious. I understand the need for people to think they are special in the face of disaster, but I would prefer to but my faith in the human race, rather than one nationality.

Actually, on this subject, I think both in Britain and in Australia could learn something from some other cultures about togetherness without disaster. I'll give you two examples. Today, when talking about culture shock with a Vietnamese student he said he was surprised that people here didn't talk to, or even seem to know their neighbours (incidentally, he said an old lady lived alone next to him here and he had made friends with her). Also, the students from the Gulf have such a strong generosity of spirit when it comes to looking after their fellow students. When a new student arrives he'll be taken in hand and looked after like one of their family. This extends out to anyone who makes friends with them, they will do whatever is in their ability to look after you.

To go back to my starting point, every country is special and unique and amazing, we should celebrate this. But lets not think we are better than any other one, the wonder of the human spirit should cross borders. If this happened more than a lot of the worlds problems would be solved.

Anyway, this is no time for politics!

Hope all is well, I will write again soon.

JC