Do you think Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day message is offensive?

stunmer · 17-03-2015 9:24am #1

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=T2vFa9mN3WQ

In the Sydney Morning Herald it has a poll to ask whether the message is offensive. 54% say yes so far. The youtube title describes it as 'patronising'.

I don't know much about Tony Abbott but I have seen the odd video clip and seen him appear in various headlines for allegedly being misogynistic and racist but I don't have any issue with him in this video.

When have we become so sensitive that we get offended when someone connects St Patrick's Day to alcohol? Obviously it's not the image we would like to convey but we can't blame other countries for making that connection.

We need to clean up our image and not be offended when other people 'say it like it (often) is'.

Annasopra · 17-03-2015 9:28am

Thats it!!!!

Red Kev · 17-03-2015 9:32am

I find Abbott offensive, he's a total dickhead who will do nothing for Australia in the long term.

The message itself isn't offensive to me.

Lapin · 17-03-2015 9:33am

Only a gobshíte would be 'offended' by that rubbish. That's not to say he isn't a feckin eejit, but in fairness to him, his knowledge of Ireland is more than likely limited to the impression we give people like him.

It may shock the egos of some people here, but he probably couldn't give a fiddlers toss about Ireland and in the great scheme of things, we are just an insignificant little blotch on the far side of the planet near Europe and the U.K.

He was badly advised in the making of that video clip, but then, the real people he was addressing in it are just as ignorant on Ireland themselves, i.e. The average Australian voter.

ted1 · 17-03-2015 9:35am

No not at all, being Irish and celebrating St. Patrick's day is all about the craic . That's what he is saying, I think it was a nice message.

Lapin · 17-03-2015 9:38am

stunmer wrote: »

When have we become so sensitive that we get offended when someone connects St Patrick's Day to alcohol? Obviously it's not the image we would like to convey but we can't blame other countries for making that connection.

Well we're doing a damn good job at it.

Every visiting senior politician visiting our shore gets a pint shoved in their hand for a photo op down the pub.

FTA69 · 17-03-2015 9:39am

Christ I was expecting something far worse. It's silly twee sh*te that makes him look like a gobsh*te more than anything. There's plenty worse examples of Australian prejudice than this to be honest, sometimes I think people go looking for stuff to be offended by.

Atlantic Dawn · 17-03-2015 9:39am

Yes Guinness is not Irish.

FTA69 · 17-03-2015 9:42am

Also lols at Enda Kenny making a furore over Abbott's comments about "a Guinness or two". He was whinging that Irish people will celebrate in a responsible fashion.

This would be less laughable if drink didn't cause absolute carnage across Ireland and abroad on this day every year.

FTA69 · 17-03-2015 9:42am

Also lols at Enda Kenny making a furore over Abbott's comments about "a Guinness or two". He was whinging that Irish people will celebrate in a responsible fashion.

This would be less laughable if drink didn't cause absolute carnage across Ireland and abroad on this day every year.

Zebra3 · 17-03-2015 9:43am

Why is the PM of Australia doing a message related to a foreign country's national holiday?

Pinch Flat · 17-03-2015 9:45am

We get photo opportunities with every leader and royalty holding a pint of the black stuff. So don't understand what the issue is.

The message is in good nature, however delivered by a buffoon

Right Turn Clyde · 17-03-2015 9:45am

I was more offended by Sky News' report on the Irish economic recovery on Saturday morning. It started with a barman teaching tourists how to pull a pint of Guinness, and ended with the words "The Irish will drink to that." I'm not making excuses for Abbot's behaviour, but at least his comments were in relation to a festival, and festivals, almost by definition, turn people into idiots. However, Sky's report was a 10 minute, rather serious, economic report, and they couldn't help but bookend it with lazy, stage-Irish 'bantz'.

fryup · 17-03-2015 9:50am

sure they love us.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2bypw43Vqk

The Backwards Man · 17-03-2015 9:53am

I'm more offended by the inevitable sights that will be seen up and down the country come the evening.

Right Turn Clyde · 17-03-2015 9:53am

fryup wrote: »

sure they love us.....

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F2bypw43Vqk

The Irish are treating Australian neighbourhoods like slums?

I was on holiday in NSW in November and the only slums I seen were the ones where, as expected, the people with brown skin had been shovelled into.

Australian's problems are bigger than rampaging bog-men.

fran17 · 17-03-2015 9:58am

Zebra3 wrote: »

Why is the PM of Australia doing a message related to a foreign country's national holiday?

Irish Australians eligible to vote

kylith · 17-03-2015 9:58am

I would be more offended by it were it not for the fact that thousands of people will spend the day drinking until they pass out and vomit on themselves.

Maybe if we don't want people to see us as drunken louts we should stop glorifying in drinking culture.

keeponhurling · 17-03-2015 11:19am

After I got up this morning, I naturally browsed the internet looking for things to be offended by. As I do every day.

Although this is somebody at the other side of the world, it's still enough to work with. So thanks.
This can provide my outrage fix until at least lunchtime.

I heard something about a rude x-factor judge in New Zealand, a story which I shall look into later today.

lazybones32 · 17-03-2015 12:17pm

i fail to see what is offensive about it. a lot of people will go for a few sociables on this sunny, warm holiday and that is fact.

Eugene Norman · 17-03-2015 12:24pm

keeponhurling wrote: »

After I got up this morning, I naturally browsed the internet looking for things to be offended by. As I do every day.

Although this is somebody at the other side of the world, it's still enough to work with. So thanks.
This can provide my outrage fix until at least lunchtime.

I heard something about a rude x-factor judge in New Zealand, a story which I shall look into later today.

Here's one. There is twibbon on Twitter with the slogan "straight up for equality". It's pro marriage equality.

Outrage because why mention being straight at all? You could say "yes for equality". it's a slur on gays. The term gay is also a slur. I'm sorry. I'll leave the thread.

Larbre34 · 17-03-2015 12:30pm

On Australia Day, Enda Kenny should offer a greeting to our antipodean cousins with a BBQ fork sticking out of his arse, drinking two cans of VB with straws strapped to a cork hat, humming Waltzing Matilda while manually stimulating a kangaroo.

Thats not to insult Australia, I just like seeing Kenny humiliated.

Huppy Oztrailia Day ya flamin' galahs.

muddypaws · 17-03-2015 12:36pm

I'm more offended by the fact that he seems not to have the capacity to perfect the Tony Blair hand movements that all politicians around the world have adopted, he is failing miserably.

Lapin · 17-03-2015 12:40pm

I did laugh at the bit where he said "sorry I can't there be there to celebrate it with you".

No worries Tony me old mate.

None of our politicians are here either !

Cienciano · 17-03-2015 12:53pm

Nothing offensive at all about it imho.

kylith wrote: »

I would be more offended by it were it not for the fact that thousands of people will spend the day drinking until they pass out and vomit on themselves.

Maybe if we don't want people to see us as drunken louts we should stop glorifying in drinking culture.

The Backwards Man wrote: »

I'm more offended by the inevitable sights that will be seen up and down the country come the evening.

FFS, The scrooge of paddys day. People like to have a drink on paddys day, deal with it.

kylith · 17-03-2015 1:03pm

Cienciano wrote: »

Nothing offensive at all about it imho.

FFS, The scrooge of paddys day. People like to have a drink on paddys day, deal with it.

Well, that was exactly my point; you can't really get offended by someone talking about drinking on Paddy's day since so many people will be drinking on Paddy's day. If a foreigner talking about drinking on Paddy's day offends someone then they would want to examine how and why Paddy's day got a reputation for drinking.

fran17 · 17-03-2015 1:10pm

kylith wrote: »

Well, that was exactly my point; you can't really get offended by someone talking about drinking on Paddy's day since so many people will be drinking on Paddy's day. If a foreigner talking about drinking on Paddy's day offends someone then they would want to examine how and why Paddy's day got a reputation for drinking.

Hint: it's because we have a reputation for being drunks, which we don't exactly do anything to combat.

Ah hang on now we have a responsible drinking campaign that will sort it all out.There taking it very serious this time and.....
Wait a minute,who did you say was sponsoring it! :pac:

Zascar · 17-03-2015 1:17pm

Get over yourself if you are offended by that ffs. If you really want to see something that makes you feel uncomfortable I think you should turn on the TV and watch the Parade right now..

tara73 · 17-03-2015 1:18pm

just listened to it, I can't hear anything offensive in it...???? what should it be? he regrets he can't be in Ireland to take part in the celebrations and drink some pints.

The Backwards Man · 17-03-2015 1:22pm

Cienciano wrote: »

Nothing offensive at all about it imho.

FFS, The scrooge of paddys day. People like to have a drink on paddys day, deal with it.

I like an odd drink meself once in a blue moon, but I've never been too fond of puking on, pissing on or lamping somebody, then waking up having crapped myself not knowing or caring where I am or who I insulted the night before.

Just doesn't appeal to me at all.

NotASheeple · 17-03-2015 1:30pm

stunmer wrote: »

Do you think Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day message is offensive?

Dafuq? Even the most overly sensitive PC loon, couldn't find anything wrong with that message.

Karl Stein · 17-03-2015 2:10pm

LOLstralia

Kermit.de.frog · 17-03-2015 2:20pm

If we associate our national day with drinking what do we expect?

Herb Powell · 17-03-2015 2:51pm

Not really offensive at all is it?

As far as I know the man is a total gimp, but that's about as far as I'd be "offended" by this.

Wompa1 · 17-03-2015 3:24pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

If we associate our national day with drinking what do we expect?

HOW.DARE.YOU!

Sure, I'm 'entitled' to a drink on our national holiday.

Anyways, my dole pays your wages

Kermit.de.frog · 17-03-2015 3:29pm

Wompa1 wrote: »

Sure, I'm 'entitled' to a drink on our national holiday.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgTIhT5aLCg

Wompa1 · 17-03-2015 3:40pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QgTIhT5aLCg

Haha, When I saw that epsidoe, I was thinking of Ireland and how an angry mob would be waiting outside for him

darkpagandeath · 17-03-2015 4:04pm

Hmm think you have to take with a pinch of salt what someone says from a country that's trying to embarrass people into not drink driving. Also is he forgetting the castlemaine 4x adds. :pac::pac::pac:

crockholm · 17-03-2015 4:19pm

Conservative politician says something,cue outrage from the perenially outraged,people who don't like the man or his policies will use anything as a stick to beat him with,even something as weak as his message.

A bit similar to when Lord Emperor of Irish people in America got a bit miffed at a John McCain joke and ran with it (nothing at all to do with being a dyed in the wool democrat of the Clinton persuasion)

golfball37 · 17-03-2015 4:25pm

How is this even news? I see Enda leapt to our defence over it, strange I was more offended by him telling the world we all partied than someone assuming we have a drink culture.

Ruu · 17-03-2015 4:26pm

Offensive no, but he seems like a smug git. This is from the country who brought us 'Round the Twist', nutters!

Kermit.de.frog · 17-03-2015 4:27pm

Temple bar today

http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/heres-what-temple-bar-looks-like-today-667934.html

Call Me Jimmy · 17-03-2015 4:31pm

I think we live in a dystopia where the machines are farming us for offended feelings

darkpagandeath · 17-03-2015 4:34pm

Kermit.de.frog wrote: »

Temple bar today

http://www.breakingnews.ie/discover/heres-what-temple-bar-looks-like-today-667934.html

Got a picture of New york or any other popular St. Patrick's day area ?

Dyr · 17-03-2015 5:04pm

He's an Australian so its odds on that whatever he's saying is crass and offensive.

Mushy · 17-03-2015 7:38pm

If they find that offensive, they'll go to town on the LA Galaxy team message for St. Patricks Day.

http://www.lagalaxy.com/video/2015/03/13/happy-st-patricks-day-robbie-keane-la-galaxy

<script height="540px" width="960px" src="http://player.ooyala.com/iframe.js#ec=x5NzR5czpShX13ByRZ9bY2EZ9EqL6hTg&pbid=593075e6e23740a1b70140d7cc53cf13"></script>

EDIT: Bottom thing is the embed code, dunno how to put it into message properly

TheLastMohican · 17-03-2015 8:22pm

Anyone that finds Tony Abbott's few words offensive needs to recalibrate their sensitivity beacons. If Enda Kenny passed a remark about Aussies love of vegemite, only sick Australians would object.

mikemac1 · 17-03-2015 8:43pm

Thread disappoints

I watched the video expecting a rant about immigrants and I was going to dive in with some comments about sheep stealing ancestors

But it was a nice message, boring and nice

17-03-2015 8:49pm

What exactly was meant to be offensive about it?

Kermit.de.frog · 17-03-2015 8:55pm

If you want to see some *really* cringe speeches the shamrock ceremony at the white house will be live here shortly

https://www.whitehouse.gov/live

bb1234567 · 17-03-2015 8:56pm

It felt a bit contrived but hardly offensive?? He meant well, obviously, it was a nice message.

Do you think Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day message is offensive?

Do you think Tony Abbott's St Patrick's Day message is offensive? 20 votes

Comments