What is Australia?  

It never ceases to amaze me how much has been accomplished by a nation that was originally a destination for British criminals! That kind of makes a case for deportation/rehabilitation instead of prison time, don't you think? Something so positive can come out of negative things.

I'm in the United States, the tax and spend bankrupt nation that doesn't understand basic economic principles. We have a wonderful Constitution, a country that has all kinds of landscapes and weather. We have lots and lots of different kinds of people--all religions, all races, all cultures that for the most part meld together nicely.

I'm 3rd generation American. My great grandparents sailed here from Ireland, Germany and England. They were fleeing poverty and lack of opportunity. One of my grandmother's family had to drop the "O" from their name, though, in order to get any work because at that time everyone hated the Irish. They learned to change their accents quickly!

I think we were the first to fight for fredom from another country (England) lol
Not sure what else we have done .
I know my brother works for the place that builds the rockets for the space shuttle.
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Way down the family line I am related to Geronimo an Apache Indian. War Cheif.
My hubby was 1/2 Cherokee.
And I am very proud to be an american!

I live in an Island in the Caribbean that is 120 miles long and forty five miles wide. But guess what? We produce the greatest of all sprinters - USAIN BOLT ET ALL WHO WON THE GOLD MEDALS IN THE OLYMPICS. We always get golds in the Olymoic Games and we are also the home of Reggae music and Jerked chicken and pork.

We drive on both sides of the roads ands will vote how many it is necessary toget our candidate into office!

We are a brilliantly talented people in all walks of life - not just the arts and music. We never get Island Fever and have to leave the Island because it takes so long to get anywhere! We are the champions![em]thumbup[/em]

Hi hiccup, I notice that you say that every person in Australia 18 and over MUST vote. I had no idea that everyone were required to vote, but it's something that other countries may have to consider doing soon. I believe we had about a 60% turnout in Canada in the last election. I may not be correct here because I didn't check it out but am relying on my memory. One other thing, I have heard the secret ballot that is used for voting in most countries today, called the "Australian ballot". Does this mean that this is where it was first used? Canada has a lot of firsts but I won't mention any now probably someone else will, if not I may post here again. I was very interested in getting answers to the questions I asked and look forward to your reply. I think that everyone should be very proud of their country. Blessings.

Hello from the Philippines
My country is an archipelago in the Southeast Asia consisting of 7,107 beautiful islands that is rich in natural resources, marine diversity, bodies of water and multi-racial cultures. Its located at the center of the equator so we have a tropical climate, either sunny or rainy days only. Rainy days are between June to September while the extreme hot sunny days are during March to May of every year. Our country's current population is 92 million and its still booming. Lots of people for such a small country of ours.
Early inhabitants of our countries were from Indonesia and Malaysia. Philippines is one of the countries being colonised by Spanish, British, Japanese and Americans. We had our independence from the Americans on July 4, 1946 which is the tagged as the Filipino-American Friendship Day while 4th of July is being celebrated as America's Independence Day.
We also have some rules in our country that regards with age 18.
Age 18 to make a vote
Age 18 to marry (with parents' consent, age 23 without parents' consent)
Age 18 to apply for work
Age 18 to drive a light vehicle
Age 18 to get a passport (without parents' consent)
Age 18 to buy wine or cigarette in a store
Age 18 to walk at the streets between 10pm-4am
Filipino Scientists have invented the incubating machine (for babies), LPG (Liquefied Petroleum Gas), Erythromycin (a generic name of medicine for cough), Karaoke, feminine wash, jeepney, skin cancer treatment cream made of cashew nut and many others to mention.
My family doesn't like politics so we never get involved into politics. I am also one of the proud Filipinos as we are known for our hospitality, talents and innovation with inventions.

Wow HICCUP that is something you really can be proud of.Australia is one of the countries I am DYING to visit and if possible live to work.I am a nobody in my own land.I belong to a 3rd world country and life here is way too different from other prosperous countries.

dear hiccup my friend,

you have given us a lot about Australia in the past, and now you added more important facts. nice to hear all of them, about one of the most want-to-be-with countries. you also have great people so i guess i have at least reasons why some of my relatives chose to work there.
with regards to our country Philippines, i applaude sophie up there who posted lots of information too about pinoy facts and i can't add more. i can only say that I AM PROUD TO BE PINOY, too.

neil

OK I'll buy this all except the wine cask, I think you'd have to argue with the Romans about that, maybe you meant a particular type of wine cask, you don't have Oak trees there do you? Both Hubby and Me are great admirers of Australia. I love all you poison insects and snakes and am so gled they live in Australia.

You certainly have been busy over there .

The United States is too diverse to try and explain in a short discussion. Even the great nation of Texas is too much for one, so I'll just stick to my city and surrounding area, how about that?

We have everything from the French Legation,http://www.frenchlegationmuseum.org/ to the LBJ Library http://www.lbjlib.utexas.edu/ . The short story writer O Henry http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/O._Henry lived here for many years and the first mass shooting, Charles Whitman from the University tower also happened here... http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charles_Whitman

You can visit the State Capital building, or cruise 6th street, where there is an active live music scene. Come in mid-March and catch South by Southwest (SXSW) http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/South_by_Southwest and discover what Austin is known for these days!

Willie Nelson http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Willie_Nelson and Stevie Ray Vaughan http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Stevie_Ray_Vaughan are 2 famous musicians.

And that's not even getting out side of the Austin City Limits http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Austin_City_Limits to see the beauty of Texas, tho the best time to come in in the spring when the wild flowers are in bloom!

As for how I'm related in Texas, well, I'm not, my family is from New Jersey.

But, saying that while I am 3rd generation on both sides of the family (great grands came from Europe) one of my ancestors came over on the Mayflower, one came to try and settle in New Amsterdam (the name of New York, before the English took it from the Dutch) and one came to settle with William Penn.