Here’s a great post from Australian blogger Paul Edwards, the Anti-Subjugator: Thanks, America.

Where do I start? I’ve wanted to say this for a long time. It is unbelievable that America gets badmouthed all the time. America has helped the cause of freedom more than anyone else. First of all I’d like to thank America for saving Australia’s butt at the Battle of the Coral Sea in WWII. This prevented the Japanese from landing here, and bringing with them the concept of “comfort women”. I think Australia’s nature is such that we would have sacrificed 90% of our population rather than hand over any woman. America’s intervention meant that we were never required to make that terrible choice. Thanks America!

Then of course there’s the fact that you saved Europe’s butt, not once but 3 times - WWI, WWII and the Cold War. I don’t know why we don’t hear more thanks from Europe for this. But in the absence of thanks from ungrateful recipients of American largesse, let me say it instead - thanks America!

And then there’s all the foreign aid you give. And all the technology you provide. And all the knowledge that is provided for free. And the Mars rover images, also provided for free. And the GPS system also provided for free. Why don’t the third world countries thank you for all the stuff they receive from America? I don’t know. But let me thank you instead. Thanks America!

And something that is far more important than foreign aid is the security umbrella you provide, that the entire free world lives under. If there was any justice in the world, the rest of the free world would provide money to fund the American military, and hand over a cheque with a BIG SMILE. Instead, what do we see? Protests in places like South Korea. Unbelievable. How you can put up with the South Koreans is beyond me. The fact that you do put up with them, with a smile, exemplifies the inner beauty of the American soul. Thanks America!

And then there’s the fact that after defeating an enemy, instead of rubbing his nose in the dirt, you instead show great magnimity and help him to his feet, immediately, ala Germany and Japan. You show that the best way to defeat an enemy is to turn him into a friend. You teach that we should judge people by their current behaviour, not past bad behaviour. If only the rest of the world could learn from America. But instead most of the rest of the world maintains grudges for centuries, transferring guilt to perfectly innocent people, and pretending to inherit suffering and permanent victimhood. If only people would adopt the American way, the world would be so much better. What can I say? Nothing. I am humbled in the face of American largesse. Thanks America!

And then there’s the glorious imperial measurement system that you still cling to, in honour of the glorious King George, long after the rest of the world, including Australia, has metricized, which even caused one of the Mars probes to be smashed to smithereens. Hmmmmm. Hmmmmm. Ok. Hmmmmm. Let’s move on folks, nothing to see here.

And we owe Paul Edwards and Australia a world of thanks, as well.