Aussie PM blasts author Greer for criticism of Australia
SYDNEY, Australia (AP) - Prime Minister John Howard branded feminist author Germaine Greer "elitist'' and "condescending'' Tuesday after she criticized Australians as "too relaxed to give a damn'' in a newspaper article.
Greer, the acclaimed author of "The Female Eunuch,'' was born in Australia but moved to England years ago.
In a highly critical article published in national broadsheet The Australian last Thursday, she said Australia was drifting into a suburban mediocrity personified by the residents of Ramsay Street - the fictional location of long-running soap opera "Neighbours.''
"If your ambition is to live on Ramsay Street, where nobody has even been heard to discuss a book or a movie, let alone an international event, then Australia may be the place for you,'' Greer wrote.
Howard described her comments as "hopelessly out of touch.''
"I thought it was pathetic, I really did, and so condescending,'' he told Australian television's Nine network.
"What she basically says is that the average Australian is too stupid to think about anything that's the least bit philosophical or important,'' he added.
"I thought that was a particularly patronizing, condescending, dare I say elitist article.'' - AP
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