I was watching the American news yesterday through our handy dandy streaming tv box (we also get Croatian, Greek, French, British, Iranian, and other news stations), and I was shown a clip about the Republican debate against birth control being paid for by insurance companies. This one republican senator was saying that it doesn't matter that we have separation of Church and state, birth control was just against G-d and therefore un-American. To each his own, but that statement there pretty much sets America and Australia apart as much as possible.
Australian religion is an understated presence that is engrained in the society but never something that one would discuss. The whole, never discuss sex, religion or politics, definitely is followed here (with the religion and politics anyways). Religion is just not something that people toss around or where on their sleeve. Of course, there are exceptions and there is anti-semitism and religious persecution but it isn't shoved in your face in an offhanded comment on the news.
As far as politics goes, most Australians know more about American politics than Australian. If you asked an Australian to name the past three Prime Ministers you would be lucky if you would get two. It isn't necessarily a bad thing because the government is fairly stable and uncorrupt and the Aussie people are trusting and laid back, and they frankly don't care. Again, with every stereotype there are exceptions, but for the most part the Aussie people focus on the things that matter, their family and friends, and leave the governing up to the people they elect. I believe I have mentioned this before, but Australians have to vote in every primary election. As in, they are fined if they don't. So the people are given the power, they use their right to vote, and then they go back to their daily lives and ignore politics, at least until the next election.
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