From: efor6920@bigpond.net.au   
      
   "Brad Rogers"  wrote in message   
   news:pan.2008.02.08.19.13.14.968965@abydos.stargate.org.uk...   
   > On Fri, 08 Feb 2008 07:01:02 +0000, John Santos wrote:   
   >   
   >> So why do Aussies call (transplanted?) Brits "Pommies"?  Because they   
   >> eat potatoes?   
   >   
   > PoME was an acronym for Prisoner of Mother England, according to some   
   > sources.  There are other explanations, one being that it's a contraction   
   > of pomegranate, which was Cockney Rhyming Slang for immigrant.   
   >   
   > --   
   > Regards  _   
   >         / )           "The blindingly obvious is   
   >        / _)rad        never immediately apparent"   
   >   
   > Every single one of us   
   > Devil Inside - INXS   
      
      
   It is not often mentioned in the explanations but I also think the fact that   
   british soldiers referred to themselves as 'tommies' (after the thompson sub   
   machine gun) is significant.   
      
   I think I should also point out that it is not always meant in a derogatory   
   sence, that such a sence exists is true, but it can also be meant as an   
   affectionate jibe, it can also convey a level of respect. It is hard to   
   believe for those who dont associate with ausies often but those who do will   
   confirm when i tell you that we are often extremely insulting (taking the   
   words we use at their face value) to our closest friends. Many of us   
   actually enjoy being on the receiving end of an insult that has been well   
   thought out.   
      
   cheers   
   Fozzi   
      
   --- SoupGate-Win32 v1.05   
    * Origin: you cannot sedate... all the things you hate (1:229/2)