DannyPhan:would these work, LOL
I got a couple of ideas for American Avatars too
Or perhaps
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Convicts_in_Australia
The number of convicts pales in comparison to the immigrants who arrived in Australia in the 1851-1871 gold rush. In 1852 alone, 370,000 immigrants arrived in Australia. By 1871 the total population had nearly quadrupled from 430,000 to 1.7 million people.[2] The last convicts to be transported to Australia arrived in Western Australia in 1868.
With increasing numbers of free settlers entering New South Wales and Van Diemen's Land by the mid-1830s, opposition to the transportation of felons into the colonies grew. The most influential spokesmen were newspaper proprietors
Austrlia had already been settled by the time the 1st Fleet of convicts arrived.
Most of these convicts came here for stealing a loaf of bread etc,
Although most Yanks refer to aussies as convicts in a derogatory manner. Many Australians are proud of their convict ancestory. When the convicts were freed, Many notable figures and dignatories evolved.
Policians, Authors, Publishers, Merchants, Architects, Chemists, Scholars, Builders & Developers.
A small percentage of these 'convicts' actually were criminals and continued to be criminals.
The USA has a similar history.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/United_States_of_America
Found by an italian, its indigenous race originated from Asian heritage. Later settled by the French and Spanish & early dutch settlers then, the English began to colonise
Between the late 1610s and the American Revolution, about 50,000 convicts were shipped to Britain's American colonies. Beginning in 1614, the Dutch settled.
Originaly the convicts were sent to America, once the war of independence was Won, Britain then began sending the convicts to Australia
So, the USA had about 50,000 british convicts and Australia over about 80 years had approx 165,000
then Australia grew up, watching America and all her mistakes from a safe distance
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Australia
Australia is now the world's 13th-largest economy and has the world's fifth-highest per capita income. Australia's military expenditure is the world's 13th-largest.
With the second-highest human development index globally, Australia ranks highly in many international comparisons of national performance, such as quality of life, health, education, economic freedom, and the protection of civil liberties and political rights
America on the other hand endured its early beginnings with Slavery & the Slave trade, American Bison slaughter, Culling of the indiginous Indians.
I wonder if each time one of these Americans who taunt and tease Aussies with the 'feeble' Convict Heritage attack, have ever really had a look at their OWN history and the actual FACTS.
I'm an Aussie and these comments fall off me like water off a ducks back.
However, all too often the reference to Convicts is meant in a derogatory fashion, usually by the uneducated.
So my post was an attempt to offer a bit of education and reflection.
"All men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness"