Comment by somesortofsystm | Hacker News Reader

Comment by somesortofsystm | Hacker News Reader

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somesortofsystm

I also moved to Europe after a life in the USA, Australia, and Japan .. and have also noticed that Europeans have a much more keen sense of wars - in general - than the Australians or Americans .. and I attribute it to victor bias, mostly.

Australians have no clue what real war is, but they celebrate it in their most sacred parks. Americans believe they will never be defeated in war, but don't consider conditions on Skid Row to be a sign of defeat.

Its a terrible thing to understand that, in general, people do believe there will be more war and social upheaval on the horizon - but its even worse to realize there are entire continents of people who will suffer mightily, when it happens.

Many Australians became such after migrating from war-torn countries or - like myself - are children of such immigrants (my mother and her grandparents are Estonian, and left Estonia during the Russian invasion of Estonia during WWII). You are correct that Australia hasn't suffered an 'invasion' (putting aside, yes, the invasion of Aboriginal Australia), but I do believe there are many current-day Australians who have a very good idea what a 'real war' can do to you, your loved ones and society in general.

On the other hand, there is definitely a situation in Australia with regard to the perceived infallibility of its Imperial forces.

Australia is participating in the criminal wars of the US with degrees of impunity (i.e. accountability to the citizens of Australia) envied by most of the other participants.

> (putting aside, yes, the invasion of Aboriginal Australia)

This is all-too easily leaned on by Australians as a means of avoiding the uncomfortable truths of Australia's real history with imperial slaughter and social engineering. Current-day Australians are in serious danger of believing their righteous forces can do no wrong "except for all that genocide we've been doing as a nation since the beginning" ..

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