Conversations on a Train - July 11, 2006
Published by on July 12th, 2006
I am listening to a nearby conversation between a couple well over retirement. Mrs. Brit is a well spoken English woman with hair either uncontrolled or slightly more eccentric than the rest of her appearance. Mr. Aussie clearly a visiting Australian, is somewhat more audible than Mrs. Aussie, who sits mouse-like beside him not involving herself in the conversation.
They talk about old stuff in the UK, constructions for the most part. Mr. Aussie expresses his enjoyment of the many old buildings here in the UK, and Mrs. Brit plays it cool stating that her daughter lives in a very old house and they therefore “think nothing of it”. Mrs. Aussie sits in silence with a hint of “Oh, lord, he’s off chatting to strangers again” behind her eyes.
Mr. Aussie explains that there’s really nothing old in Australia, building wise I suppose he means, “we have the Aboriginies, but they didn’t do much.”
“Well of course,” says she in her precise East Berkshire accent, “those Aboriginies didn’t really have a culture, did they. They did not build anything. All they did was wander around a lot and did not develop.”
Mr. Aussie: “Well you see, to them the land was sacred, they wouldn’t do anything to put their impact on it.” Cue slight expression of distaste from Mrs. Brit, perhaps at the thought of countless unwashed, painted heathens roaming Australia without the benefit of floral scented bog-roll covers.
“They had all the land,” he continues, “then we came along and took it all.” A snigger pops out, partly uncomfortable at feeling exploitive on behalf of his ancesters, partly in the assertion that the “Abbos” had it coming anyway. Mrs. Brit, on the other hand, is clearly now more comfortable at the thought the Aboriginies are receiving the benefits of the great white man’s superior culture - you know, the one with proper buildings, Marks & Spencer, and other people to clean up around the place.
