Upon My Return from Australia

[Sapphocrat]

I'm back on American soil, after a month in the Land of Wombats, Good Beer, and Mad-Cow-Free Beef. And I have two things to say:

First, THANK YOU ALL who propped me up before leaving (I have a terrible fear of flying). You all helped, believe me, and I thank you.

Second: If you don't read The Age, you should. This left-leaning Aussie newspaper is a fairly accurate reflection of the majority of Australians with whom I spoke re U.S. politics. Be of good cheer, my fellow Yanks: The concensus is still this: They love the American people, and are able to separate the people from the evil fascist regime under which we are forced to live. Ditto the one Pom (Brit) with whom I shared a two-hour chat during the seemingly-interminable flight from Sydney to San Francisco; she waited for my cue, and, when it was clear I was no fan of Chimpy McSmirk, opened the discussion on U.S. policy with the observation of what a "terrible little man" * is.

Upshot: They DO realize over there that we're not all asinine nongs. And all but one (a misguided Liberal voter) commiserated mightily, and with the same sense of confusion over the unexpected re-election of Little Johnny "No, I Don't Look Anything Like Dick Cheney" Howard; i.e., "How can XXX Million Australians Be So DUMB as 58,000,000-plus Americans?"

Oh, wait -- I suppose I have a third thing to say:

I'm sad... dejected... forelorn... empty... gutted inside... having left my life partner at the airport gate, AGAIN, nearly two days ago. Folks, if you truly believe that everyone should be allowed to live and let live -- if you believe that I am as good as you are -- then you will pester your Senators and House rep endlessly to legalize same-sex sponsorship for immigration purposes. I'm not even asking for marriage rights! -- all I want is to be able to live in my own country, with the woman I love, legally. Is that so much to ask? I promise, we'll work hard, pay our taxes, vote Democratic, and not cause any trouble, if you'll just go to bat for us. I don't think that's so much to ask, to let my other half into the U.S., do you?

If you don't go to bat for us, well, then I will be just one more dedicated lefty you'll lose, permanently, from American soil. When the time comes that we just can't be apart any longer, I won't have any other choice, will I?

That said, I just wanted to let you all know I'm home, having survived a total of 28 hours' flying (both ways, not including stopovers), and to reassure you, especially on this day after the coronation of the Bastard King, that We, The People, are NOT hated so much as we might fear (well, at least not in a country stuck in the same sinking, stinking boat).

I'd like to say it's nice to be back... I'd like to say that it was nice when the U.S. Customs agent greeted me with a hearty "Welcome home!"... but, if you want to know the truth, I'd rather be back sitting on a little blue couch in Bonbeach, sipping a happy cuppa while watching the early-morning news, and asking my lover what a "swish knees-up" is.*

S.


* It's not dirty, you pervert. "Swish" means "glamourous," and a "knees-up" is a party; thus, a "swish knees-up" is a high-falootin' to-do.

[BlondieK143]

1. Glad you're back safe and sound!

Sorry you had to leave your partner, but hang in there. :hug: We're alwayhs here for you!

[GreenPartyVoter]

2. *hugs* Welcome home!

---------------------------------------------------------
"We the people" have no voice in the USA!
http://timeforachange.bluelemur.com/electionreform.htm#why

[TyeDye75]

3. Well don't worry

It looks as though my compatriots are going to put Blair back in number 10 in a few short months.. so then all three countries will be firmly in the same sinking ship.

[SweetLeftFoot]

5. Having lived under both Blair and Howard

I can tell you that while Blair may be a warmongering little twerp, he's positively great after Little Johnny Howard.

[TyeDye75]

6. Youre probably right

its the positives on the domestic front that will ultimately save him.... after all he is still on left/centre.

[SweetLeftFoot]

7. Yeah ..

and big Gordy Broon's up fae a stoushie after the election too. Noises in the Torygraph today about top brass wanting a timetable out of Iraq too. Things looking up. Best result - Labour forced into coalition with Lib Dems.

[SweetLeftFoot]

4. The Age

I take it you liked Melbourne then? Great town. My home town. Carna Rooboys.

[AussieDave]

8. Glad to know you enjoyed this little corner of the planet

and yes, the Age is a very good paper (as is its sister broadsheet, the Sydney Morning Herald). Both papers are NOT owned by Saint Rupert of Murdoch, which is why they are quality papers. However I fear not for much longer.

I find it's true that Aussies DO distinguish between Americans and their government, although they're puzzled at how so many voted for the Chimp when it was so obvious what a total screw-up he is. It's difficult for some of us expats to explain to Aussies, and the Kool-Aid excuse goes right over their heads.

[foreigncorrespondent]

9. Ahhh bubs!!! What can I say?

I can't say welcome home, because damn it, this is as much your home as it is mine. And I am selfish damn it, and I want you home!

Well maybe I will just say, focus on March, and let us pray those plans happen for us. :)

:loveya:

On edit: Let me just add this:

While you were here we missed something big happening. Apparently several (22 all together) LGBT groups from right across the political spectrum merged together and signed a commitment of a united fight against homophobia.

Brain Expat posted about this down in the LGBT forums. He has included a copy of the words used in response #1, and I suggest you check it out for yourself. But the one thing which really opened my eyes wide was this:

Binational LGBT couples and families can be cruelly torn apart by deportation and immigration laws that treat them as legal strangers.

I hope this bit of news brings a smile to that lovely dial of yours. :)

Check it out: http://www.democraticunderground.com/discuss/duboard.php?az=view_all&address=221x4719