this past week in Oz

[tinota at primus.com.au]

>From Carl:
Most Australians scorn what they see
>as America's fondness for hype, orchestrated sentiment, and 'I'm No. 1'
>braggadocio.  So the more Olympic officials here try to whip up passion for
>the Games, the more Sydney residents bridle.  'Australians don't like being
>told things,' says Mr. [Dennis] Watkins [of the Sydney Opera House Trust].
>'As soon as we're told we should feel this way, or behave this way, we're
>sure to do the opposite.'

The emphasis here should be on "most", I guess.  Those running the games are
doing their level best to whip us into a frenzy of patriotism and
rah-rahness, and probably with some success.  Children are being encouraged
to sing songs of welcome ("g'day, g'day"), athletes (the most highly
govt-funded in the world) are being held up as models of determination and
individual achievement, and politicians are happy with the distraction.

It's baby and bathwater stuff - lots of people actually like the sport and
want to watch it and are therefore probably willing to have their stomachs
turned and to plug into the saccharine mainline.

Tim