Peter Adamis Abalinx 15 December 2016
There are times in life when one wishes that he or she had the passion of a Greek. I confess that I love this country we call home Australia with the passion of a Greek. Having said that does not mean that I would turn my back on my heritage that has its origins in ancient Greece. My Aussie mates who have an Anglo Saxon, Asian and/or European background would never forgive me. A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on: I AM AN AUSSIE MATE AND BEING GREEK IS NOT A DIRTY WORD
On the other hand I am not going to argue with the pundits or purists regarding DNA and Genealogy but rather how I feel about and what I am comfortable with. I made my decision a very long time ago and embrace Australian values without losing my identity or heritage.
For some it may be a difficult choice to make, but I felt that the transition for was easy. Yes I may have come here as a young child aged four, yes life was difficult at first, but the convicts of this nation also yearned for the old country but still made Australia home. Some returned home after serving their sentence while the majority remained and called Australia home. Teenage years was fraught with danger, challenges and a seductive opportunities that one could have easily taken the road to being a guest of her majesty at the time and then of the Australian government in some correctional facility or another.
Suffice to say, that did not occur to me and I am of the belief that, after 30 years of wearing this nation’s uniform saved me from a life of iniquity and loss of freedom. I have been blessed to have travelled throughout this country, admiring the sunsets, jungles, deserts, open plains, gorgeous shorelines, swamps, birds, and animals of every kind, the predators, carnivorous, herbivorous and yes the gentle but beautiful butterflies that are seen everywhere. To view and visit the snow-capped peaks (not many), of its many farms, rivers, wheat fields, sheep, and cattle and not to forget the little marble digger that is to be found almost in every hamlet, town and city. These little marble diggers are reminiscent of a bygone era and a permanent reminder that this nation shed its blood in a war where decisions were made by others higher up the global struggle for power.
Yes we live in a country that has everything and yet when scratch the surface we as a people find that we are no different from those living in Asia, Europe, the Pacific or the Americas. I say this because we all have families, brethren, relatives, friends, mates and host of other relationships that form our society. Now having said all of the above, one would question why Greek is not a dirty word. First of all it captured people’s imagination and secondly it was to describe how I as an Australian of Greek heritage loves this nation. It is the only way to describe it: “PASSION LIKE A GREEK”. For those who considers themselves as “WOGS”, I pity them for they are alienating themselves from mainstream Australia and deserve the ridicule one tends to attract when they refers themselves as such.
If anyone calls me or refers to me as a WOG, I tell them to piss off and go back where they came from for I am an Aussie mate. When they look at me in disbelief, I go on to tell them of my proud Greek heritage is no different to that of their own whatever that may be. That shuts them up once and for all and we sit back and have another beer. That’s is what it is like for me. I made my choice, now let us see how others view the world around them. Life is whatever we make of it and your origins are but a part of one’s background that should not be a hindrance or a barrier to becoming an Australian.
Make Australia home does not mean forgetting who you are and for some who have difficulty in understanding this, I feel sorry for them. This nation is big enough and a wonderful place to raise a family, free from the terrors that seem to ablaze in other nations at this point in time. Make Australia home and I can guarantee you will not live to regret it.
As always, apologies to purists for my poor grammar and savagery of the English language. I wish you all well and hope that this article does not cause ambiguity in the minds of those who read it.
Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Social Media Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum. He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. He holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Contact via Email: [email protected]