Cultural Differences

Cookie said:
I do too. I think it's a big PR mistake for the OZ minister to treat him that way, a turn off, no matter what the rationale. The Australian government is pretty right wing, so naturally they're going to stick to their guns when it comes to enforcing their laws, no matter what. Whoever supports the minister, obviously voted for that government.

Plus they don't have animal rights down under, from what I understand. I doubt if they will hurt the dogs, but they do look very bad.

Depp doesn't have to do his movie there, he certainly doesn't need the money, he could just leave with his dogs and never come back. There are many other places with water. So the Ozzis lose, IMO.
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You're on the wrong tack here, Cookie. Yes, our government is right wing and I support the minister on this one but I did not, would not vote for this government. I can't wait to see the back of them.

Yes, we do have animals rights down here and strong laws to protect them and punish people who are cruel to them but animals lives are not sacrosanct in the same way that humans are.

Finally, we are aware that Johnny Depp may never want to make another Pirates movie down here but what we would lose from that is nothing compared to losing our reputation as a source of disease free and clean food for the rest of the world to import. It took a very long time for our beef industry to recover to recover from a scandal caused by an unscrupulous exporter who adulterated the beef with horse meat that was exported to America. We couldn't sell beef to China or Japan for a long time after that.

It would appear that Pistol and Boo Boo are due to fly back to California later today but there is a shadow over their reception there. If they left the country without the correct paperwork, they may not be allowed back in. Pistol and Boo Boo could become the first stateless dogs in history, doomed to endlessly sail around the world in a pirate boat without ever being allowed to set paws on land.

I'm joking of course because I'm sure the Americans will receive the dogs back again.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/2015-05-...epps-dogs-could-be-rendered-stateless/6471382
http://www.9news.com.au/entertainme...to-leave-australia-to-save-pets-pistol-and-bo
 
Thanks, DW, for giving us your take on this and I do understand your concerns, and I for one have learned about the extremely strict rules Australia has for traveling with pets; apparently it takes about 7 months of preparation. I'm pretty sure the dogs will be allowed back into the US and I'm sure the Depp's will breathe a big sigh of relief on returning home. Sorry, but I can't have a huge amount of sympathy for your beef industry either, not being a meat eater, but I understand your concerns.

I think this whole drama has stirred up people's emotions, and I see there's been a lot of media coverage too, especially in light of the manner and choice of words of the minister. It might even have a negative effect on the film industry, who knows. But we survived and the dogs survived thank goodness, and it seems to have a good Hollywood ending. :)

http://www.theguardian.com/film/video/2015/may/15/johnny-depp-dogs-kyle-sandilands-barnaby-joyce-audio
 
Brings to mind the story of the American soldier during WWII who was traveling across England by train. Exhausted, he went from car to car, looking for an empty seat until he found a compartment that had a seat with only a small dog sitting in it. He asked the Grande Dame sitting next to the dog if she could hold her dog on her lap or place it on the floor so that he could sit.

"Certainly not!" huffed the lady. "My precious Fifi must have her own seat! The nerve of you!"

Again, he pleaded with her to allow him to sit in the seat.

"You uncouth barbarian!" she cried. "Do you actually expect me to put my precious little Fifi on the filthy floor? You should have not even been allowed on the train!"

Without another word, the soldier picked up the dog and tossed it out the window.

The gentleman sitting across the compartment lowered his newspaper, looked at the soldier and said, "You Yanks! You do everything wrong. You drive on the wrong side of the road, you hold your utensils with the wrong hand, you don't speak the Queen's English and now you've thrown the wrong bitch out the window!"

Badda boom.....
 
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