Seeing as torsion so eloquently asked the purpose of this thread, I'll provide some background.
As a WASP with the slightest of accents, I have whilst camping on several Australia Day weekends, been admonished by a group of drunken gents or teenagers for not being Australian enough to partake in "their" day. We now only camp in isolated locations or in well managed parks on this weekend, because while it may sound like I'm just being soft, it's not nice being made to feel like an outsider, and when the drinks keep flowing and the bravado gets louder, it gets very uncomfortable when all that separates me and my family from the "true Aussies" is a piece of canvas.
Now I know most are not like this, and have never had problems on any other weekend, but for some reason, Australia Day make a small element go stupid.
Now the reason for the thread... If me with the slight accent attracts this behaviour, I can only imagine what those who look different, or have a strong accent have to deal with.
So on Australia Day, I make an extra effort, and was simply suggesting that others may like to too, say hi and strike up a "camping friendship" with the obvious foreigner, as this would go a long way to neutralize the negative feelings should they too find themselves at the receiving end of a bigoted tyrade.
While some no doubt consider this political correctness gone mad, I see this rather as neighborly, considerate and courteous, but each to their own.
