Men from Snowy River

 

I've always loved this bit of the comedy film Blazing Saddles(1972) where the town's marshal threatens to shoot the nigger.

The whole movie is a critique of the racism of white US culture. Mel Brooks managed to shoehorn in nearly every racial stereotype: blacks, germans, chinese, indians and even himself as an Indian. It's message is just as uncomfortable today as it was when he fought for the content against his Hollywood producers in 1972.

Remembering it again was a shock of recognition that nothing much has moved on from the 1870s when the story was set. This is the leader of "Cowboys for Trump" and avowed racist who ended up in jail for his part in the Jan 6 invasion of the Capitol. He represents a strong theme in US culture

It is interesting to note the parallels with our own Australian culture.  Banjo Paterson’s Man From Snowy River is a case in point. The NSW State Library says:

"Banjo Paterson contributed to various newspapers and magazines, in particular the Bulletin, which was a key platform for promoting and popularising a particular view of nationalism and national identity that was closely tied to the White Australia policy. For example, in 1906 the magazine changed its slogan from ‘ Australia for the Australians’ to ‘Australia for the White Man’.

At the beginning of WW1 recruitment drives included "Men From Snowy River" Marches to induction centres. The Bega memorial to its march includes this quote from British General Ian Hamilton during the Gallipoli campaign:

" Speaking out of a full heart, may I be permitted to say how gloriously the Australian and New Zealand Contingent have upheld the finest traditions of our race during this struggle still in progress."

Have we moved on? When the latest Man from Snowy River movie rehash was made in 1982, this was the poster.

More realistically, the Man could well have been from this Delegate, NSW, family. See this book published last year about the culture of the Snowy River brumbies.

And we all go quiet.

Lee