Gee whizz Rapaire, you draw a long bow. I haven't detected a - lack of pride in one's ancestors - in any of those posting. I alluded to a "possible" reason for silence in generations past but that this is not the attitude today. A bit like being a bastard was once hidden but today nobody gives a damn.
And as for being afraid of a contest, you only have to look at the cemetaries full of Australian servicemen generated by two world wars to see that we don't shirk a stoush.
And on a lighter note - there's always cricket.

JG/FME