American Cultural Imperialism Killing Australians

[a_unique_person]

http://www.theage.com.au/articles/2003/05/04/1051987606983.html

Yes, we are now as fat as you.



Sixty per cent of Australian adults are overweight or obese, according to a study of 11,000 people.

Australians are now equal with Americans as the most overweight people in the world, with a new study showing that the rate of obesity in Australia has more than doubled in the past 20 years.

And, for the first time, excess weight has been conclusively linked to television watching, finding that even physically active people are at greater risk of obesity if they spend long periods of time in front of the television.

The study of more than 11,000 Australian adults aged 25 and older, published in yesterday's Medical Journal of Australia, found that almost 60 per cent are overweight or obese

[DialecticMaterialist]

This isn't the same as killing people and you know it. You lost all credibility as far as I'm concerned but lets say you're right...so what? Some people got fat... big deal. If you want to talk about bad cultural practices why don't you go off about how certain Aborigenese actually sell their daughters vcia arranged marriages which really leads to slavery and people getting killed, instead of a person's fatty diet choice.

http://www.womensenews.org/article.cfm/dyn/aid/1126

Of course that would be "cultural imperialism"(a dysphemism basically made up to equal missionary and having only a superficial similarity to what imperialism actually means).
Just like the US wants to give Iraq free speech, Aghnanis "women rights" and both democracy, that's "cultural imperialism". And of course there's nothing more evil, including cannibalism,rape,opression and murder then "cultural imperialism".

[ssibal]

Are you seriously blaming the U.S. for the choices of Australians?

[Mike B.]

All right that is it...

I demand that all OUTBACK steakhouses close. Their Australian theme is forcing Americans to eat those fatty steaks they serve...

;)

[Agammamon]

Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't imperialism imply that you are forcing yourself onto others? America doesn't practice cultural imperialism, we make product and we offer these products for sale. Are you complaining because we seem to make stuff that others want? We don't force anyone to buy our crap. If we put force local business' out it is only because the locals choose to buy our stuff instead. Starbucks doesn't go around setting busting up local coffee shops to drive competitors out of business, the just offer a product and setting that people seem to prefer.
I mean its not like we invaded Australia and forced all these people to sit and watch TV and not exercise.

And as an aside it seems that as much as people complain about cultural imperialism when Starbucks opens a store in another country, they also complain when Starbucks later pulls out (a la Israel).

[athon]

Wait up, I'm still angry at the US for 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. Now I have to blame them for our fat people as well?

Sheesh!

Athon

[Skeptic]

In the US, there is currently a commercial running for Australian beer (Fosters?)

I suggest that, if any American dies from drunken driving while drunk on Fosters, or gets cyrrhosis of the liver due to drinking it for a long time, their death is clearly the fault of evil Australian cultural imperialism forced upon the innocent Amercian public.

I suggest the US should nuke Canberra, before this awful Australian imperialism threathens the rest of the free world.

[American]

My state is very class-divided. Generally, rich people live toward the atlantic ocean, and poor people live toward the other end of the state.

I'm generalizing. Bear with me.

I've noticed, in my travels, that ass-size is directly related to the same geography as class. There are plenty of exceptions, many I am sure. However there is statistical significance to my observation. I haven't taken precise measurements, except with my butt-seeking eyes, but I'm pretty sure it's there.

[The Fool]

Originally posted by Skeptic

I suggest the US should nuke Canberra, before this awful Australian imperialism threathens the rest of the free world.
No point, If you nuked Canberra we wouldn't even notice for quite a while.....We built that city specifically to house the Government. Thats all that is there...politicians, nothing else.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Skeptic
In the US, there is currently a commercial running for Australian beer (Fosters?)



Fosters is canadian, the austrailian image they have developed is all a marketing scheme. Dont believe me? Look on a Fosters can, It says "Product of Canada".

[a_unique_person]

Originally posted by ssibal
Are you seriously blaming the U.S. for the choices of Australians?

I don't use smileys, so you will have to work it out for yourself.

However, I do agree with the article that advertising should not target children. And it is pretty hard to dodge all the fat enhanced food at the supermarket. And the TV is pernicious. Still, I was really just disappointed to see what is happening to us. We used to be pretty keen on sport. To see us turning into a land of couch potatoes is sad.

And before you tell me it is my responsibility to control my childrens eating habits, they are school age and out of my control for 6 hours a day.

[DialecticMaterialist]

Well AUP this seems to be somewhat of a value judgement for you. And that's fine in its own way. Personally I don't like sports or any strenuous physical activity myself. Bores and tires me. I'd rather sports became less popular so our rescources could be focused elsewhere, like libraries, movies and video games. Sports for me are too loud and repetitive.

[athon]

Originally posted by Tony


Fosters is canadian, the austrailian image they have developed is all a marketing scheme. Dont believe me? Look on a Fosters can, It says "Product of Canada".

Fosters used to Australian, but like everything else (paracetmol, Arnotts, half of our technology) we sold it overseas.

Then again, Canada can keep it. I still think it was as much of an Aussie joke as drop-bears and monster-roos.

Athon

[Number Six]

Originally posted by Agammamon
Forgive my ignorance, but doesn't imperialism imply that you are forcing yourself onto others? America doesn't practice cultural imperialism, we make product and we offer these products for sale. Are you complaining because we seem to make stuff that others want? We don't force anyone to buy our crap. If we put force local business' out it is only because the locals choose to buy our stuff instead. Starbucks doesn't go around setting busting up local coffee shops to drive competitors out of business, the just offer a product and setting that people seem to prefer.
I mean its not like we invaded Australia and forced all these people to sit and watch TV and not exercise.

And as an aside it seems that as much as people complain about cultural imperialism when Starbucks opens a store in another country, they also complain when Starbucks later pulls out (a la Israel).

This person sort of beat me to it. When I first started reading this thread it made me wonder where was the line between cultural imperialism and having people freely choose on the other? I can't count the number of times that I've seen the claim of US cultural imperialism regarding Product X becoming available in some country even though I have access to Product X in the US every day and never, ever use it.

A recent general example was from Iraq. (The whole issue of whether or not that war in Iraq should have happened is a complicated and separate issue and I don't mean to comment on that one way or another right now.) The comments were from religious Shi'ite Muslims (and they were either from Iran or Iraq and I can't remember which but I think they were from Iran) saying that they did not want to allow satellite dishes in the newly forming version of Iraq because it would bring access to pornogray and evil ideas, etc, etc. It seemed fairly obvious to me that they were essentially saying "We know that if given the choice, the people won't make the choice we want them to make, therefore we do not want to give them the choice."

And I think that the claims of "cultural imperialism" are often analogous. Granted there are times when some group simply wants to deny other groups the right to choose, which is a form of oppression whether it's called imperialism or something else. But in many other situations claims of cultural imperialism are simply code for "People should be forced to use A instead of having the choice between A and B."

[DialecticMaterialist]

I like the idea of Penn and Teller's ********!(especially the program concerning creationism) being viewed in Iraq. :)

[Number Six]

Originally posted by DialecticMaterialist
I like the idea of Penn and Teller's ********!(especially the program concerning creationism) being viewed in Iraq. :)

I wonder how that would be taken in Iraq. I've spoken with Muslims on this issue and the responses are similar to what I've found with Christians...some say "We have no problem with the theory of evolution" while other say "No, no, no, no, no, Allah did not do it that way and anyone that thinks otherwise is evil." The more I learn about Islam the more I realize how similar it is to Christianity.

[Tony]

I think we need more "cultural imperialism" in Iraq and the middle east. More porn, more movies, more music, more art and most important MORE FUN. Thats the key to peace.

[shuize]

And they accuse JK of spamming.

Coca Cola, McDonalds and Starbucks ... Yes, indeed, the world is really harmed by having those extra consumer choices. I've got a bit of advice for all those that hate America and its products: don't buy any.

As for the fat ass Australians ... welcome to the club. Get off you butts and go for a walk. Or don't. It's your choice.

[Mr Manifesto]

There are some very very slow people on this board.

Does aup have to put 'I am joking' in big letters when he posts?

I think in America humour died the day the planes hit their buildings.

[Mr Manifesto]

Originally posted by Tony
I think we need more "cultural imperialism" in Iraq and the middle east. More porn, more movies, more music, more art and most important MORE FUN. Thats the key to peace.

There are plenty of Arabs who could teach you more in one minute about having fun than you've known in a lifetime. Don't make judgements about a culture you know nothing about.

[Tony]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto


There are plenty of Arabs who could teach you more in one minute about having fun than you've known in a lifetime. Don't make judgements about a culture you know nothing about.

Shut up dumb-ass, you know not what you talk about.

[Supercharts]

Originally posted by Mr Manifesto


There are plenty of Arabs who could teach you more in one minute about having fun than you've known in a lifetime. Don't make judgements about a culture you know nothing about.

Somehow stoning people to death, cutting off their hands, cutting off their ears isn't my idea of fun. [Or was there a missing :) in your post?]

[Mr Manifesto]

All Americans eat hamburgers, beat their wives and do nothing but watch TV all day.

[Supercharts]

Originally posted by athon
Wait up, I'm still angry at the US for 'Everybody Loves Raymond'. Now I have to blame them for our fat people as well?

Sheesh!

Athon

Fair cop. ELR is a really bad sit-com. I hang my head in shame that our society created it. :(

[Kodiak]

Originally posted by Number Six
The more I learn about Islam the more I realize how similar it is to Christianity.

It shouldn't surprise you...they are both offshoots of Judaism.