Ethnicity, not an issue for Tomorrow
Tomorrow: When The War Began director Stuart Beattie discusses the ethnicity of the invading country with Encore Magazine.
Writer/director Stuart Beattie says he does not anticipate controversy over the ethnic identity of the invaders in his adaptation of the successful novel Tomorrow When the War Began, and he’s ready and willing to create a trilogy.
“I don’t anticipate it, but if people want to talk about it, they can. That’s what it’s for,” Beattie told Encore.
In the book series – which started with the first volume in 1993 – the invading enemy, their country or ethnicity, is never identified. Author John Marsden has deliberately avoided that question, leading to years of speculation, but in a recent participation on the ABC’s Q&A, he announced that the film adaptation would give the invaders “a definite ethnic identity”. Marsden could not escape a heated debate about Australia’s historical fear of invasion and the fictional work’s potential to “create xenophobia” and the politics associated to the topic.
On Q and A, John Marsden is asked whether the invading nation was intended to represent China.
According to Beattie, who also wrote the script for the film, no countries will be specified, but the ethnicity is just “logical”.
“I don’t want to be a hater of any country – and I don’t want the movie to be about that. If I named a country, it wouldn’t be that book; it would be something else entirely. What the book and the movie are about is these eight teenagers and what happens to them when their country is invaded, not who’s doing it or why.
“The ethnicity just makes common sense. If anyone is going to invade Australia, it’s not going to be Europe, and it’s not going to be Africa. It won’t be Antarctica or New Zealand. It’s going to be someone in Asia. It’s the logical thing. It’s common sense enough for an audience to say ‘ok, that’s who it would be’,” he explained.
Beattie is currently putting the finishing touches on the film, which he’s due to deliver by the end of June for its September 2 release.
“We’re almost 90 percent done. We’re on track, on schedule, on budget, so it’s all going fine, but no matter how well you plan, you always cram it in the end, so it’s a frantic last 10 percent,” said Beattie.
Tomorrow is based on the first of seven books, and has generated a great interest from young audiences in Australia and overseas. It has the potential to become Australia’s first blockbuster – and franchise – aimed at that market.
Omnilab Media – through its production arm Ambience Entertainment – is the main investor in the $25m film, and although the future of the brand depends on the box office success of the first film, Beattie says he’d be willing to commit to a potential series.
“Absolutely. It’s been so much fun, and such a great experience… If they let us do 2 and 3, we’d probably do them together because it would be cheaper and the cast wouldn’t be two years older.
“If they did let us do sequels, I’d absolutely jump in,” said Beattie.
Tomorrow is Beattie’s directorial debut, after a successful writing career in Hollywood, including titles such as Pirates of the Caribbean: The Curse of the Black Pearl, Collateral and G.I.Joe: the Rise of Cobra.
“I started to feel in the last couple of years that I could direct. I’d been looking for an Australian project to make, because I wanted it to be Australian, but the kind of movies that I want to make are very hard to find.
“In Hollywood they buy titles like Pirates or G.I.Joe, but in Australia it’s very hard to find that, and Tomorrow was a rare combination of great story, great characters and a title that is very well-known. The action/adventure genre is very hard do to here because we don’t have a Hollywood studio machine set up here to finance them, so it’s hard to get them made. I don’t think it’s a matter of the attitude of Australian filmmakers, but a matter of opportunity. We were fortunate to get this one made right,” he said.
First comment!!
WOOOO!!! A trilogy?!
That would be super duperly epicc!!
OH MY GOD, every time you guys post a new article, the suspense build up even more
I can’t WAIT for the movie to come out – and something thats closer than the release is the full trailer – at least I hope they have one 
And a trilogy would be AWESOME! But I would rather have all the movies made, and if they really want a spin-off television series, then what are the Ellie Chronicles for? It all depends on the success of the movie, so we ALL have to see it!
You can do better than that. Drag your friends and family in the cinema to see it. Tell your classmates, tell your teachers, your co-workers, colleagues, neighbours, random people off the street. Tell people on Facebook, Twitter, MySpace, Bebo, whatever the hell it is you’re using. Spread word to everybody you know.
Yeah, 4 sure! The great thing is at least half my class is going to see it, and also my teacher, cause we read t last year
I’m definitely taking my family and I’m probably gonna see it more than once – take lotsa people every tym
The “Tomorrow” series is very rascist; and I would not see it (regardless how great the characters; and story are). Matter of fact, I remember some chapters dealing with alcoholism…; and violence which the children in the novels are under trained to administer (emphasis on story. I doubt any idiot Australian juvenile delinquent could do anthing more the pop a tinny; and get drunk until it was either shot dead or caught). Why not just leave blockbusters to countries that know how to do it better (Hence have the “Studio Machines” to pull it off). I will troll as much as I can to make this film fail overseas (With Aussie reputation atm, wouldn’t be hard to do scum).
That might be how you feel, but it’s just one authors veiw.. If he wants to write like that then maybe you should let him, freedom of speach darling… I don’t think he would care or mind if you didn’t watch it, everyone has a right to an opinion, maybe it might be rascist, but really are you going to dis-agree with the fact that there is rascism in this world and these contries some times do things like invade contries, the are there own worst enemy to be honest.. There is nothing we can do. But trying to bring down the movie or books is kind of pathetic!!. did the author and director not state they don’t want to be rascist? therefor you need to make sure your opinion fits with everything because like i said the author did not mention any contries.. kay. It is a good novel written very well.. Like i said your intitled to your own opinion just be careful what you base your opinion on.
Funny that in accusing the series in being racist, you are actually making discriminatory remarks yourself… “I doubt any idiot Australian juvenile delinquent could do anything more the pop a tinny” “With Aussie reputation atm, wouldn’t be hard to do scum”…
And yes, there are a number of social issues – including alcoholism, sex and relationships, dealing with grief and bereavement – in the series; why should any book written from the perspective of a teenager be any different? This is the time in most people’s lives that they begin to experience and be exposed to the adult world, and learn to respond appropriately to these issues.
Let’s not forget, after all, that fiction and film are media of art, and the entire purpose of art is to comment on culture and society from the artist’s perspective. If you don’t like it, nobody’s forcing you to view it; but nothing gives you the right to say that that perspective is invalid.
One would ask, why are you on a fan site if you are not a fan.
There are millions of stories out there that involve racism, sex, drugs and alcoholism. What is presented in the books is the decisions and consequences these young adults have had to make and deal with from a situaiton forced upon them.
Why sell out our own country when we can use the oportunites that present themselves to create something that could be mindblowing. This country has produced some amazing talent so what gives you the right to degrade it.
If the novels are that racist to you then why are they a part of the school curriculum to study?
Hey Jonathan, I think it’s an issue in the books but that doesn’t make them racist. Racism is saying that one race is inherently better than another. How does Marsden do this?!
Jonathan, think you are missing the point and should probable read the books. Never in the books does it ever elude to the origins of the invaders. Using your logic anyone chosen as the invaders would have been racist, just sounds like you’re an over educated individual that can’t see past his own skewed view of the world. This book is fiction after all and it deeper meaning is about how these young people band together to try and forge some sort of existence out of a situation in which they are not ready for. Yes its probable not possible for them to have had as much success as they did in the books but remember it is a story not a documentary. Just keep your hate filled comments to yourself and close the door to your little bubble you seem to live in.
John Marsden legendary story mate one of the best ones I read in my earlier years always hoped this would end up on the screen and played by Aussies. I liked how you kept details of the invaders from use and let our minds fill so many of the gaps. I hope the movies does your book justice and to hell with the small minded people out there, your fans will never label you anything other than the bloke that gave us an awesome series of books.
I dont understand how you can say it is racist,
the books never identify a race..
and the director doesnt want to be racist either.
However the comment you made was very racist and discriminative.
you are valid to have your opinion, but
i agree very muchly with Naomi,
thsi is a fan site,
where people come becasue they love the series…
and to talk to other fans.
its kind of a downer having someone rat it out on the website.
especially when nick does such a great job.
Dude, chill pill. Your logic doesn’t even make sense.
For one thing, nobody is even mentioned as the enemy. The books don’t even reveal an ethnic identity and if they did so what. Why can’t writers use racism and alcoholism and all other social issues in their works? What is left to use if people get all supersensitive about issues? The problems won’t go away if we chew people’s heads off for talking about it.
Second, you underestimate youth. What makes you so sure you know how they’ll react in a situation. Sure, some we be wreaks because they couldn’t cope, but I know a lot of strong, young people and so does the author. That is why he focused on teenagers in his works. He’s a school teacher/principal, he has experience with them like most people wouldn’t know of.
Finally, so you think nobody has but your so-called professionals. If one guy can do it, everybody has the potential to do. We don’t have the same ammount of resources or experience and yet many films easily rival some overfunded garbage from these other countries. We still get awards and recognition, but not enough. The Australian Film Industry is underappreciated, really.
Oops, that first sentence in the last paragraph wasn’t finished. What I mean is: You seem to think nobody but your so-called professionals can make a decent movie.
Wow, you obviously didn’t read all the books, and if you did, not very carefully. I read them years ago but I specifically remember one of the characters (maybe Robyn, please correct me if I’m wrong) considering the situation from the point of view of the ‘enemy’, and how she could understand their reasons for invading (even if she didn’t totally agree with their actions), being a relatively poor, hugely over populated country with a neighbour like Australia with more than enough resources to share.
For John to consider and put this point of view in his book says to me that he is not racist.
Exactly!
The book is not focusing on the fact that Australia’s been invaded by some other country – it goes deeper than that. The whole point is exploring the teenagers reactions, and the impact that an invasion would have on peoples lives. Of course, Australians are gonna hate the invaders – that is nothing to do with racism. If Australia invaded some other place, they would hate Australia. The fact that they do see this from the invaders point of view and sympathise with the opposing army various times throughout the books should prove that there are no spots of racism here at all. It is simply exploring a hypothetical situation – and it does an awesome job!
Wow, everyone has really bitten at Jonathon’s comments. And everyone has does so with well reasoned arguments against a bigoted argument. So I am going to respond with a similar style to his.
Jonathon, you must be one of those rice eating, squinty eyed, small proportioned charlie’s that the books obviously refers to. I really hope that there is a spare mower lying round when you next go outside. Take the book for what it was meant for, not justifying your own inherent flaws
fuc* you jonathan, nothing better to do?
do you think he came back to read what people said about his comment?
I really hope they make the whole series into films. I think that a movie per book is going a bit far, what I would like to see is; The Dead of Night and The Third Day, The Frost combined into one movie, Darkness Be My Friend and Burning for Revenge made into another and finishing off the series with the final two books, The Night is for Hunting and The Other Side of Dawn combined into one film. So there would be a total of 4 films in the series? I am glad the first book has a film to itself as everything is so new and its the perfect length for a movie while some parts in the later books dragged on a bit and if they were combined with another book into one movie it will be perfect. Anyone agree/disagree?
Yup I agree, I think there’s so much good stuff that would get cut if it’s just a trilogy. And combining books will make those sequels action-packed enough to be awesome stand alone movies, unlike most sequels.
Can’t WAIT for the release!!
Yar I agree too. This would do fine. God the Third Day the Frost is good. Epic. Don’t forget the Ellie Chronicles. Just reread Circle of Flight the other day and cried so much.
YEA
so awesome
i SO SO SO hope
YAY!!! Stuart plans on doing books 2 and 3 together. That sounds like a smart idea.
Well if it means the third movie is gonna be book 4, then – more movies. More movies is equal to happy fans
I also think that Beattie is pretty stupid to say that ethnicity is not an issue for the movie. And that he doesn’t aniticipate controversy over his decision. Wow that’s silly.
I also don’t really understand what he means when he says:
“The ethnicity just makes common sense. If anyone is going to invade Australia, … It’s going to be someone in Asia. It’s the logical thing.”
How does it make sense that Asia would invade Australia?! That is not common sense. No country fits Marsden’s description so it’s not logical!
In fact it’s rather rude of him to say so.
Hmm.
Either that or he didn’t really think about what he was saying and meant that Asia fit Marsden’s clues more that any other country. But I don’t think he meant this as he says for the audience, Asia is the obvious choise. But the audience wouldn’t be aware of Marsden’s clues. Therefore Beattie must be relying on Australia’s disgusting racist cultural history e.g. Yellow Peril.
Oh dear.
You’re putting to much into it. While no country matches Marsden’s clues it’s quite clear it’s an Asian country.
We know they don’t use the alphabet and it’s mentioned that Lee’s parents had a rough time on the showground because of them being Asian.
Also, Marsden is a writer who often distanced himself from racism, so who’s going to be offended when it’s obvious that the books/ movie aren’t racist.
Um lol I don’t think you understood my post. I know that Asia best fits Marsden’s clues. That’s why I said that. My point was that the audience (the majority of which who have not read the books) do not know of these clues. So why would they assume Asia??!! The only reason I can see is connected to Australia’s racist past. If you can think of another please let me know.
*Sigh* I know the books aren’t racist – see my earlier reply to Jonathon further up on this page.
Don’t put words into my mouth. I love these books.
I think Maarten understood your post just fine. It wasn’t exactly that cryptic.
However you say now that you know Asia best fits Marsden’s clues, but in your original post you said “How does it make sense that Asia would invade Australia?! That is not common sense. No country fits Marsden’s description so it’s not logical!”.
What do you mean by “Australia’s racist past”?
You also misunderstand Nick.
“you say now that you know Asia best fits Marsden’s clues, but in your original post you said…”
Actually in my original post I also make reference to Marsden’s clues best fitting an Asian country. I see no contradiction.
My problem is with Beattie’s statement that the audience would assume an Asian country. WHY WOUDL THEY DO THIS? I see no reason other than incorrect stereotypes which have origins in the fear that Australia is being swamped by Asians who were stealing Aussie jobs etc etc.
Regarding your last question, I hope to dear god you are either joking or not from Australia. Australia as we know was founded by an invasion legitimised by the belief that Aborigines were inferior to Europeans and thus had no claim to the land. Another, perhaps more salient example would be the Yellow Peril I referred to earlier. Look that up and you will what is meant by Australia’s racist past.
An audience’s assumption that the invading country would be of Asian descent is nothing to do with racism, it’s to do with several Asian countries’ armies being massive, and closer to Australia than any other.
I’m aware of Australia’s history. The reason I asked is because Australia has virtually no “anti-Asian” history, certainly no more than any other country, which made what you said about “our racist past” in regard to Asia confusing.
Also I believe “Yellow Peril” is a term that originated in the States. Which makes it even more irrelevant, and your post even more confusing.
Look I agree. The assumption of an Asian enemy just makes sense because, putting aside any discussion about Australia’s racist past, any non-Asian country that wanted to invade Australia would have to traverse half the globe to do so. And if you think that’s an exaggeration, you obviously haven’t looked at a map lately!
Don’t forget that one of the most important characters in the books, Lee, is an Asian descendant of twentieth-century boatpeople.
“They were either colonised by a European power with a royal family or have one of their own (The Other Side of Dawn, p192 – Colonel Long’s rank insignia is three crowns)” – http://www.rsimpson.id.au/books/tomorrow/explore/enemy.html
Sorry but Asia’s proximity to Australia does not make them an obvious choice as them as invaders. Yes some Asian countries have massive armies but there are more important factors. For example, I think for many Australians today, the stereotypical choice would be a middle eastern country – especially a country that we are at war with.
Whereas at the moment relations with Asian countries are relatively good as far as I know.
No anti-Asian history? :O Are you crazzzay?
Sure Yellow Peril term originated in the US. What is your point?
The meaning of the term refers to East Asian immigration to Western countries including Australia. Like I said before,
What about the White Australia policy? – restricting Asian immigration until the 1970s!
What about the recent attacks of Indian students?
What about the continuing stereotyping of Australians of Asian descent.
Please prove that Australia has “virtually no “anti-Asian” history, certainly no more than any other country”, because I think that’s a load of crap. You think Australia has had no more anti Asian racism than: Kenya? Italy? so on and so on. Big unfounded statement.
Asis is not and should not be the audience’s obvious choice when thinking about an Australian invasion.
“…there are more important factors” – like what? No other army is large, trained or close enough to carry out such an invasion, especially a Middle Eastern one, which further adds to the logical conclusion that the invading army is Asian.
“Yellow Peril” and The White Australia policy are almost half a century old. And the attacks on Indian students in the news weren’t proven to be racially motivated… and I think one of the guys who claimed it was racially motivated eventually admitted it wasn’t and that he said so in order to scam some insurance company… or something like that.
The reason we’re talking about this is because you think the reason people would assume the invading country is an Asian one is: “…incorrect stereotypes which have origins in the fear that Australia is being swamped by Asians who were stealing Aussie jobs etc etc”.
There are no other “important factors” as to which country could logically invade Australia, and certainly not that it would be a country we are at war with. The invading country has to be close, has to have a large army, has to be trained. And logically, that country would be in Asia.
“…there are more important factors” – like what?
A motive perhaps.
“No other army is large, trained or close enough to carry out such an invasion, especially a Middle Eastern one, which further adds to the logical conclusion that the invading army is Asian.”
No arm
““Yellow Peril” and The White Australia policy are almost half a century old.”
That’s why I said Australia’s racist history/past. What is your a point?
“There are no other “important factors” as to which country could logically invade Australia, and certainly not that it would be a country we are at war with.”
I don’t quite understand this gramatically incoherent comment. A motive is an undeniably important factor.
Please remember what my argument is:
Asia is not the obvious, logical choice for a real life invasion of Australia. It isn’t obvious.
Ruby-Rose before you make any more comments you should acknowledge that the people who have commented on what you have stated haven’t mislead what you have said. In fact they fully understand and have shown that understanding in their reply. When I read your comments it has become quite confusing to distinguish your view. You first say that the author or movie director are racists, then you go further to say that you think that “Asia is best fit” to in invade australia. (For other fans, I did make this thought while reading the novels myself) then furthermore you inform other fans (Maarten, Nick you didn’t misinterpret) that they misinterpreted what you said.
Ruby-Rose how can they misterpret when they used the exact words from your comments as evidence! Continuing down the line you scrap the idea of Asia being the invaders, specifically pointing out that they don’t have large enough army’s! May I also point here, China’s army is large enough to detain and sqash their own people’s protests, surely large enough to envade another country. And Ruby-Rose they have already proven this countless times in history, They invaded Vietnam. You make reference to the middle east as the invaders, saying we are at war with them, so logically they would be the invaders. (A point! I made this assumption aswell but it was from a military perspective, more on this later) but saying the middle eastern Armies are not large enough to invade Australia. What is your view? Really, truely and honestly, specifically state your view without contradicting yourself as you have done countless times before.
I’ve lived in Australia all my life, I was born there, I still live there. The seris captiviate my imagination, (I was 13 when I read the books, I already had plans on joining the Army) The books brought me to the scenes, the vivid imagery used by Marsden literally made me think I was there with Ellie, Fi Homer, Lee, Robyn, Kevin, Corrie and Chris. The novels made me think What would I have done if Australia was invaded? I didn’t really think who the invaders were untill I finished the books. I already made my choice to my own question, I would fight! (My dream of joining the army faded after I found out that I couldn’t join due to my disablities, Hearing and sight, Though I could have been a great sniper, 45 something on a .22 rifle when I was in the NAVY cadets, the sight was out!)
Ruby-Rose, I know Australia’s racial past but may I point out, Rudd said sorry to the stolen generation, for something in our past that has deeply impacted on Australia. The Cronula Roits, started by people in Australia whom can’t accept the cultural diversity which is surrounding Australia. This I already hate. Australia is represented around the world as a multicultural society. Multicultural is defined as people accepting and acknowledging other cultures and can live peacefully side by side. We have proven some point or rather that we can’t but when disaster stikes overseas, It is Australia who are the first to rush to their aid, Australian people rush to donate money to the cause. We may have racial problems, but all countries face it. Mind you there are quite a few people out there whom has taken offense to what you state… It is your right to have an opinion but it isn’t your right to say what someone has misinterpreted, we have the right to interpret things how we wish but we don’t make opinions based on false fact (JONATHAN THIS APPLIES TO YOU ASWELL!!)
Lol!!!
Fairy you make this too easy!
“Ruby-Rose before you make any more comments you should acknowledge that the people who have commented on what you have stated haven’t mislead what you have said. In fact they fully understand and have shown that understanding in their reply. ”
Actually Fairy you are wrong, they, like you, have not understood what I said. I think I am the one who knows what I am saying Fairy.
“When I read your comments it has become quite confusing to distinguish your view.”
You don’t understand my view Fairy? Then how can you know others have got it right Fairy? Moreover how can you criticise something you do not understand Fairy?
“You first say that the author or movie director are racists,”
Um where did I say that? Can you not read?!!!! In fact I say – on this very page in plain English – (twice!!) that I do not think the books are racist. God. Please just go have a look it’s not hard. Fairy.
“Then you go further to say that you think that “Asia is best fit” to in invade australia.
Hahaha I love that you put quotation marks around that even thought it’s not a quote of mine. Fairy. Seeing as you have a reading issue I’ll repeat: I think an Asian best fits Marsden’s clues for the invaders. Pretty simple here Fairy.
“(Maarten, Nick you didn’t misinterpret)”
Umm what the hell ? How can you know this Fairy? Unless YOU know what I am thinking Miss Fairy you cannot tell someone else that THEY know what I am thinking. Absurd.
“Ruby-Rose how can they misterpret when they used the exact words from your comments as evidence! ”
I’ll show you how this is possible Fairy:
Fairy says “Rudd said sorry to the stolen generation” and she says “This I already hate.”. Fairy why do think the stolen generation got what they deserved!!? Please admit you hate black people. I used your exact words as evidence! How can I misinterpret/misrepresent? :O
“Continuing down the line you scrap the idea of Asia being the invaders, specifically pointing out that they don’t have large enough army’s!”
Again, what?! Fairy please be clear. There are two situations: the invasion that happens in Marsden’s books and real life. The point I have repeatedly made and that you fail to grasp is that I do not think Asia is the obvious choice when purely discussing an invasion of Australia. I think a country with unstable or negative relations with Australia is a better choice as a motivation is necessary for an attempted invasion and Asia has good relations with Australia at the moment Asia is not the obvious choice. Like Marsden says in the clip, the word obvious should be used very cautiuously In this situation it is certainly not applicable or there would be no discussion. I do not scrap the idea of Asia as the invaders anywhere and I never said they don’t have large enough armies. So Fairy what on earth are you talking about when you say “specifically pointing out that they don’t have large enough army’s!”. It’s really hard to believe you aren’t trolling as you’re lying in such an outright way or you really do have a low level of understanding…cough… intelligence…
“May I also point here, China’s army is large enough to detain and sqash their own people’s protests, surely large enough to envade another country. And Ruby-Rose they have already proven this countless times in history, They invaded Vietnam.”
Lol good logic! If a country can squash protests of course it can invade Australia! Have a read of this site Fairy:
http://www.rsimpson.id.au/books/tomorrow/explore/invasion.html
It shows that a “A out high intensity invasion such as depicted in the “Tomorrow” series is highly unrealistic and the author concludes “the invasion of Australia put forward in the “Tomorrow” series is about as credible as an invasion by Aliens”.
But hey fairy you know better!
“You make reference to the middle east as the invaders, saying we are at war with them, so logically they would be the invaders. (A point! I made this assumption aswell but it was from a military perspective, more on this later)”
So Fairy from what I can tell you are agreeing with me here.
“but saying the middle eastern Armies are not large enough to invade Australia. What is your view? Really, truely and honestly, specifically state your view without contradicting yourself as you have done countless times before.”
Please rewrite the above nonsense into a coherent question and I’ll attempt an answer. What is my view on what Fairy? Size of the Middle Eastern armies? Which in particular? Btw that number would be a fact not an opinion. And I don’t claim to know these numbers. How is this relevant? Honestly! Asia’s armies are the largest, in troops number, on Earth.
“I’ve lived in Australia all my life, I was born there, I still live there”
Ummm random. But hey same. Let’s meet up for a coffee?!
“The seris captiviate my imagination”
Obviously they did mine too or I wouldn’t have read them Fairy.
“(I was 13 when I read the books, I already had plans on joining the Army) The books brought me to the scenes, the vivid imagery used by Marsden literally made me think I was there with Ellie, Fi Homer, Lee, Robyn, Kevin, Corrie and Chris. The novels made me think What would I have done if Australia was invaded? I didn’t really think who the invaders were untill I finished the books. I already made my choice to my own question, I would fight! (My dream of joining the army faded after I found out that I couldn’t join due to my disablities, Hearing and sight, Though I could have been a great sniper, 45 something on a .22 rifle when I was in the NAVY cadets, the sight was out!)”
This is really quite funny. Why on earth are you posting this? How is it relevant to anything? Why do you think I would care about your life story?
“Ruby-Rose, I know Australia’s racial past but may I point out, Rudd said sorry to the stolen generation, for something in our past that has deeply impacted on Australia. The Cronula Roits, started by people in Australia whom can’t accept the cultural diversity which is surrounding Australia. This I already hate. Australia is represented around the world as a multicultural society. Multicultural is defined as people accepting and acknowledging other cultures and can live peacefully side by side. We have proven some point or rather that we can’t but when disaster stikes overseas, It is Australia who are the first to rush to their aid, Australian people rush to donate money to the cause. We may have racial problems, but all countries face it.”
Yeah Rudd said sorry. That doesn’t erase history. Moreover his words are empty without appropriate actions. Rudd continued Howard’s ‘intervention’ of the Northern Territory. Aborigines work for a ration-like ‘basics card’ which restrict what they can buy. The intervention is disgustingly paternalistic. The health of Aborginal kids in the NT has worsened since the invasion. The government funded a mere 20 child protection workers for the entire Northern Territory, with only 1 person actually in full employment. Yeah Rudd really cares. Please have a read of this: http://stoptheintervention.org/facts
The rest of that paragraph is sobby garbage. Fairy please prove that Australia is first to go to suffering countries aid. And even if it were true, what are you trying to prove? That is Australia is superior? Omg racist! Or that the fact that Australia has donated some money to overseas countries proves we aren’t racist. Both are lol.
“Mind you there are quite a few people out there whom has taken offense to what you state… It is your right to have an opinion but it isn’t your right to say what someone has misinterpreted, we have the right to interpret things how we wish but we don’t make opinions based on false fact”
What exactly are you offended by Fairy? Please enlighten me. Fairy I am not sure you understand the concept of misinterpretation. I as the author tried to convery my opinions. Then they (and you) did not understand what I was saying and misrepresented it. Interpreting something how you want makes no sense. Interpreting means assigning a meaning to something. You don’t think you can wrongly assign meaning? You saying I mean something I do not mean is a misinterpretation. It is not for you to choose what I mean Fairy.
Ps If you were born in Australia why is your English so bad?
You wrote a condescending and insulting post so I replied appropriately.
I do believe you might be twisting some things there, and putting words in Fairy’s mouth. I didn’t bother reading all your thing. Too long, but you stated two different quotes.
“Fairy says “Rudd said sorry to the stolen generation” and she says “This I already hate.”.”
(okay, I may have missed something, but I read fairy’s whole post, and did not see the two statements together in such a way as you construe, and I don’t believe I saw the words “this I already hate” anywhere..)
You put them together in such ways to totally twist what was said. And you seem to be making accusations, based on what you wanna hear.
lol
please say you’re trolliing.
if not, go reread it.
Wow. The only thing I really took from any of that can be summed up in this video.
Mhm.
Cos I haven’t given any evidence. Cos I do just stubbornly repeat myself. Cos I haven’t listened to what anyone else says.
Rolls eyes.
We’ve all given long arguments with no one compromising or changing sides. But of course, I am the only mule. It’s a coincidence that we disagree. I hope that wasn’t what you were implying. What about your funny one liner? Can I call that a surrender?
But I do have to thank you for the clip it was funny
I have lots of empathy with the guy in the clip.
Wow. Just wow. You’re like the kid who doesn’t get bored of the “‘Is not!’ ‘Is too!’ ‘Is not!’ ‘Is too!’” game, and just keeps going until the other one realises there’s no point in arguing with a brick wall.
“No. Just no. Everyone else just didn’t understand me. I’m right. You’re all wrong. Yes, all of you. No one understands me.”
If you do have a valid argument, neither I nor anyone else seems to agree with you. Or perhaps you’re just really bad at explaining yourself properly, because according to you, no one understood what you were trying to say.
Ruby-Rose I was going over some of the comments and this is really getting interesting,
Anti-Asian History…mmm Australia does most of its trade within the Asia area, most of our stuff like clothing comes from China, so this should easily make the statment made be Nick easy to understand.
Ruby-Rose, there was a reason for the restriction of immagrants from the Asian countries in the 1970′s and that reason was mainly for the protection of the people in Australia at this time, nothing to do with Asia itself.
We should remember that during the First and Second World Wars, all immagaration into Australia was brought to a halt. No one in! Again this was for the safety of the people already living in Australia.
The recent attacks on the Indian community has nothing to do with the government, It has alot to with the people in Australia whom participated and those whom agreed with those whom did it… Here is something you should know, One of thoses students whom was bashed to death, use to work at hungry jacks, I have been apart of Hungry Jacks 2007 and my heart goes out to his family.
Give this up Ruby-Rose…. Evidence is against you
*Like I said before… there was the idea that Chinese immigrants were stealing Australian jobs, accepting low pay and worsening conditions etc.
^This post is to Nick.
I guess Beattie was wrong about the controversy lol.
Still Sheesh this movie is gonna be fun.
It’s interesting watching you back down after Fariy101′s comment “I guess Beattie was wrong about the controversy lol” Which i’m going to take as a comment towards the arguement that you were involved in.
I must admit you seemed to be in it for the long haul and after ridiculous statements you have crumpled under the strain of Nick, Maarten and Fairy101′s evidence to what hypocrisy you have shown on the subject.
Asia is infact the best suit country to invade Australia if it came down to any country in the world. Not only for the close location and extreme military numbers and resources but make note to the television series “The Pacific” which recently finished on Channel 7 about the Japanese invading. If it wasn’t for the brave Australians and the necessary assistance of the United States, Australia would have most likely been a part of Asia. They were right on our doorstep and one battle made the difference between Australia and Asia-tralia.
In future endeavours, I think you should choose one side of the arguement and stick with it whole heartedly. Not only have you confused many people with your jibberish comments, you have made quite the fool of yourself.
Geez back off. I haven’t even spoken to you before so don’t be so rude.
“It’s interesting watching you back down after Fariy101’s comment “I guess Beattie was wrong about the controversy lol” Which i’m going to take as a comment towards the arguement that you were involved in.”
Um I was the one who made that comment. And I didn’t back down after Fairy101′s comment.
“I must admit you seemed to be in it for the long haul and after ridiculous statements you have crumpled under the strain of Nick, Maarten and Fairy101’s evidence to what hypocrisy you have shown on the subject”
Before labelling me hypocrtical, ridiculous and a fool, why don’t you give some evidence. And crumpled? I am weak because I didn’t reply for a few days? I think an apology is on order.
“Asia is infact the best suit country to invade Australia if it came down to any country in the world. Not only for the close location and extreme military numbers and resources but make note to the television series “The Pacific” which recently finished on Channel 7 about the Japanese invading. If it wasn’t for the brave Australians and the necessary assistance of the United States, Australia would have most likely been a part of Asia. They were right on our doorstep and one battle made the difference between Australia and Asia-tralia.”
Lol at “best suit country”… No one knows which country is most likely to invade Australia. It’s a judgement call so you shouldn’t state it like a fact. And I maintain that a motive is the first necessary factor when judging who is most likely to invade. You’ve kind of shown this yourself by posting about Japan’s attack on Australia during WWII.
“In future endeavours, I think you should choose one side of the arguement and stick with it whole heartedly. Not only have you confused many people with your jibberish comments, you have made quite the fool of yourself.”
I have stuck to one side of the argument. Sigh. I agree they and you are confused. Doesn’t make my comments jibberish. If you still don’t understand then ask questions instead of assuming I am the stupid one.
Please dont be so frigging rude!
Not speaking to me before means nothing about whether or not I am polite to you. Reading your comments is enough to get an idea as to how arrogant you are. You believe you are right and everyone else is wrong and you hold yourself above everyone and no ones opinion matters but your own. Typical self-absorbed arrogant human.
You may have seen what I said as facts, but they werent meant like that. Never did I say “according to the 2010 poll..” or “after conducting intense research i have come to a conclusion that..” it is all my own personal opinion that you have easily dismissed over the fact you believe you are right. You are getting immensely worked up over this subject and one can only assume you are from an Asian country or are apart of a multicultural family living in Australia and have taken offence to the subject.
Ruby-Rose,
I’ve always had a pretty good memory when it comes to what I say and how I’ve said it.
When I stated “Rudd said sorry to the stolen generation” I meant he did one of the most memorable things in our very short modern history, he said sorry, but you simply and absolutely astound me by buting words in my mouth, seriously, I never once and never will say that I hate black people, how can I when I lived amoungst them when I was little, how can I hate the aboriginal people when I am a decentant, my mother is a half-cast, furthermore, in my family I have 2 aboriginal Aunties and an aboriginal cousin, how can I state I hate aboriginal people when such evidence states.
I re read my comment Ruby-Rose and when I stated “This I really hate.” it was in regard to the fact that the roits in melborn were started by Australians who are unaccepting to the culture diverstity that surrounds Australia, nothing in relation to the aboriginals or any other racist rant. Ruby-Rose, saying sorry doesn’t erase the past but it opens the future. I can understand how YOU can see no action is in place for the future of the aboriginal people but try, try and see it from this perspective, since the start of the first settlement of white people in Australia, the aboriginal people have had their land taken from them, until the recent times aboriginal people were viewed as animals, they were given low standard living quarters. Then everything changed, women were allowed to vote, anti-discrimination legislation put in place. They had a chance of real change. But what happens to people when they see real change occuring? From what theses people have been though, change like this would be hard to accept, hard to trust because they were treated like animals in the past. I garantee you they didn’t think they could trust us when we gave them the change. I have nothing against them, I see their point of view, they are different to you in every way that I am different to you. I am deaf, with next to no hearing I reject all forms of communication with kids my own age. I am bullied and teased because I attempt to prenounce words I knew and end up getting them wrong.. I can relate to them. I can never relate to those who think that every person from a cultural background that is not their own should go back to the country their culture originated. If thats the case then WE shouldn’t be in Australia, Australia never really was ours, Australia is the home of the Aboriginal people, they were here before us. Ruby-Rose I grew tired of listening to people make suggestions that what I say is racist, when I can think of one person in this whole forum who just spilt the racism on her. Let me jog your memory. “If you were born in Australia why is your English so bad?” you refer to the fact that being Australian implies that we should know how to spell, be literate in our speech and writing. Ruby-Rose my spelling can be incorrect at times becuase I am dependant on what hearing I have. I hear a word I spell it as I hear it. Unless someone tells me that it is not spelt as I heard it. I don’t need someone like you making a racial comment because of something I rely on everyday.
What a wonderfull and powerfull statement! Thanks for sharing.
Hey Chris!
How strange would have that been, If we were invaded at that time…. Freaky!!!!!
Got a question for everyone!
‘What would you do if Australia was invaded by another country?
(Check my comments to see my answer)
Who knows what Australia would be today if we were infact invaded!
I doubt it would be anything like the life we have today.
Mostly asian-run I think and most likely communist!
Very freaky.
To all of you…
OMG! What is wrong with all of you?! Did any of you actually go to school? I have o say most of you just seem like poorly educated “I know everything because I’m 15!” types.
Asia is NOT a COUNTRY, nor is the Middle East!
-Side note… We are not at war with “the Middle East”! If that were the case it would be pretty silly of us to aid in the training of an army and provide supplies!!!
War/invasion is almost always due to greed eg money and produce, or a difference in opinion gone too far (often due to ego) eg religion.
Yes, many of our Asian neighbours are densely overpopulated and seem the obvious choice, but there is a reason the invaders were never named!
The beauty of books (especially when written by a clever author) is that your imagination brings them to life and fills the blanks.
I found this interesting in the beginning, but debates are only entertaining when they are well constructed and factual.
Getting defensive and using the opposing persons name at the end of every question or sentence to make your argument seem more intelligent because you lack any real relevance is just juvenile.
I loved these books, but I have concerns over the transition from book to film, especially that of the identity of the invaders.
I like that the books never named a particular group. It isn’t necessary. Just concentrate on the lives of the teens. It is about the central characters and the adventures they undertake, the struggle of dealing with normal adolescence in an abnormal situation and the changes in their perspective as well as their bodies!
I guess its that whole ‘normal teens doing extraordinary things’ deal that makes it cool.
Anyway, that’s my contribution.
It may have been a while since I read these at school, but I enjoyed them thoroughly.
Could you all please do us a favour and check your facts before you argue?
Some of you must also have appalling marks in English?!… (This is not a racial slur. It is concern over Australia’s education system.) Maybe you guys should work on that?!
Rachel, interesting arguments but your reply has one major problem. Can you guess what it was?
I really don’t think there’s going to be an issue with the ethnicity of the invaders, and i think what Beattie is trying to say is that there won’t be any doubt as to their logical origins, as in where they’re from. But he also goes on to say that they won’t be naming any one country, so as to avoid creating further controversy and to stay true to the idea that in the books the enemy aren’t named.
However, I’m not Stuart, and I believe the logical choice has to be an Asian country, or a conglomerate of Asian powers. Why? Well, they’re closer than the rest of the globe, they have the resources and manpower. Why does it have to be an issue of racism? It doesn’t, and it’s not portrayed that way, and as Beattie says, the story is more about how eight teens survive the invasion and what happens to them, not about who’s doing it or why.
I’m so excited for this movie to come out, I just hope it’s still in cinemas when I can see it, because when it comes out I’m going to be in America! I’ve waited 10 years for this movie and I won’t be in Australia until the end of September! I’m hoping it gets a release date in Canada, cause that’s where I’ll be for most of my trip away!!!
In future endeavours, I think you should choose one side of the arguement and stick with it whole heartedly. Not only have you confused many people with your jibberish comments, you have made quite the fool of yourself.
I wish there was a “like” button on here like on Facebook, because this is great!!!!!
Yeah, I kinda have to agree with a lot of comments so far – that as far as I know and understand, the only really logical ‘invader’ would have to be Asia in general – simply because it’s closest, many countries have well developed armies and the population is larger.. enough to warrant ‘reason’?
But, see, ‘Asia’ is a pretty general area. It’s big. It includes Middle Eastern countries. So saying Asian in the end is pretty general.. It encompasses pretty well all the closest countries to here.
The only other real logical one I could think of might be Russia.. But thinking about it seems a bit far fetched. Probably too far away.. I don’t know enough about it.. I remember thinking about it last time I read the books.
Whatever country/general area was chosen, in the end, some would take offense. If not ‘Asia’ then where? And if Russia was mentioned, there would be accusations of the cold war phobia of relatively recent times also. Not everyone can be made happy. Perhaps it was better to leave this particular fact a mystery, as in the books. Though many people would likely draw similar conclusions to I. How could that be done in a movie anyway?
Having said this, I loved the books, and I await the release of the movie impatiently! Can’t wait!
I don’t think the enemy the enemy will or should be Asian. I mean when Ellie pushed that chick off the cliff in the seventh book she said she had green eyes. Just something i noticed.
In my comment last night I forgot to thank a few people,
Maarten, nick, Eli, Chris and If I forget anyone else just drop a line.
Thanks guys for backing me up, for helping me, I support you guys!
Can’t wait for the movie, Trying to find my paper back version of ‘Tomorrow When The War Began’ so I can read it before the movie comes out you know just to refresh my memory.. but can’t find it anywhere..
Have fun…..
Why does a fiction stir up so much emotion? Why do people have to bring up racism where there obviously isn’t any? Why do the invaders have to be Asian – more likely to be Tasmanians in retaliation for us mainlanders labelling them inbred (joke, before any nutters out there make any comments on that) or New Zealanders (half of ‘em are already here so they don’t require a large invasion force (joke, before those same nutters make comments about that).
The invasion of Australia by us ‘whities’ – hello! racist comment/derogatory comment/inflammatory comment. Keep of the politically correct bulls^*&, please. It stinks and I’m fed up with such racist mumbo jumbo. What a wonderful world it would be if no-one was allowed to wander down the road in the middle of the night asking ‘Why don’t all you whities go back where you came from?’ Here’s a question for everyone: ‘Why don’t we all go back where we came from?’ Probably because we will all end up in Africa, shoulder to shoulder. No more racist slurs against whites or blacks, please. We ALL came from elsewhere – Australia is no more the country of one colour than it is any other colour. Never was. Never will be. I couldn’t give a toss if someone is one eighth, one quarter, etc, aboriginal. I, as a white person, still have the same rights to be in Australia as anyone else. ‘Nuff said on the illogical race argument (yes, the above has been mentioned in one or two of the above non-arguments) that really has nothing at all to do with the book/s. Read them, enjoy them – for what they are: FICTION.
Calm down!
Does it really matter what ethnicity they are??
Really??
They’re fantastic books, and the movies will entice more people to enter the wonderful world of John Marsden.
The point about the invaders = they invaded a country that they had no right to invade. Doesn’t matter what ethnicity. They are the baddies, doesn’t matter who their family or friends are, or what they look like, or their religion, they’re bad people, that’s the whole point.
kthxbai
YOU ARE ALL READING WAAAAAAAAAY TOO MUCH INTO THIS.
and you’re actually ruining the excitement people have built up about the movies and the books.
Just leave the issue alone. Jeez.
Find something better to do with your time than arguing back and forth about something that you have zero control over.
kthxbai (:
TO ALL THE PEOPLE AGAINST THE MOVIE.
get over it and enjoy the movie. its just a movie. its based on books that kept my a.d.h.d brother in his seat and quiet enough to read them, so obviously they are well written and captivating. i loved the books and read and re-read them.
no one would care if the invaders were russian because theyre always the typical bad guys.
its called giving the movie a twist.
its fiction.
deal with it and enjoy or keep your opinion to yourself, because no one is forcing you to watch the movie, and no one who wants to watch it cares what you say.
in attempting to put a race based view on things your wasting other peoples precious life space. GET OVER IT.