Dr Anita Heiss
January 26 means a lot of different things to a lot of different people. So we asked some Australians of all makes and models what they thought:
Dr Anita Heiss
Author, Wiradjuri nation
To me, January 26 is a day for both reflection and celebration. As the date marks the beginning of the invasion of Australia and the process of colonisation that followed, it’s important for me as an Australian to stop and reflect on a story that is often forgotten by commentators and every day Aussies amongst the official ceremonies and backyard BBQs across the land, that of Australia’s First Peoples.
But it is also a day when I celebrate the survival of the oldest culture in the world. I always attend the Yabun festival in Sydney, which was first conceived as the Survival Concert back in 1992. This event (duplicated in various forms nationally) showcases the talent that thrives in the Indigenous community today. It is a day when our arts and culture are enjoyed by both Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians and international visitors alike.
Blogger, writer and TV presenter
Carly, with her parents
Australia Day gives me the chance to reflect on the wonderful country I live in. I love the diversity of it all and I wish more Australians appreciated it. The ‘us and them’ attitude in Australia saddens me – we are all equals and we all have the same great opportunities available to us.
I come from a multicultural family – my Mum is from South Africa and Dad is English. They met in South Africa and came to Australia to escape the Apartheid in 1981, before I was born. In South Africa they had to hide their courtship – I say they are the personification of the INXS song Original Sin. It was Australia that gave them a better opportunity at life together.
I remember when I was starting school and Mum encouraged me to ask my Australian ‘aunties’ to teach me the Australian national anthem. My parents are now Australian citizens, and I think they now know the Australian national anthem. They laugh at some of my ocker expressions.
This Australia Day will be spent with my Mum (she’ll be telling me to turn the Hottest 100 down because the music’s too modern for her) and we will be planning our trip to New York in July. I reckon when I arrive in America, and hit the BlogHer conference with the other Aussie bloggers, I’ll be the most patriotic I’ve ever felt. I want to do Australia proud!
Aminata and Mia last year
Refugee, UNHCR representative
As an Australia citizen, celebrating Australia Day is very important to me because it makes me feel like I am home, especially when I come from a country that had war for over 10 years.
I am blessed to be in a country that is so safe but most of all that has the loveliest people in the world. I was born in West Africa, Sierra Leone, which was devastated by civil war, where I was kidnapped for a few months.
Living in Australia and calling Australia home means everything to me, because to me “home is where the heart is” and Australia is where my heart is. And now that I’m about to start my own family, it makes me so happy that my children will be even safer.
I thank God everyday for not just protecting me from the war but for also providing me a safe home and having wonderful Australian people in my life. I tell you “ it feels so lovely to have two family.” My birth family and my Australia family.
Thank you Australians for welcoming me to your home.
Jess Rudd and her family during the launch of her debut novel
The greatest Australia Day I’ve ever had was watching twenty people become new citizens.
They came from different places, arrived at different times. One Chinese man had been living in Australia some twelve years before applying for citizenship. His daughter and her boyfriend waved the Australian flag from the front row of the audience. The man beamed with pride. A Scottish family, all decked out green and gold, went for it just five years after their arrival. There they all were, standing on a makeshift stage in a suburban shopping centre, waiting for their certificates. They sang the national anthem like it was the greatest song they’d ever heard and the rest of us welcomed them with wild, emphatic applause.
To me, that’s who we are. Unless we are indigenous to this land, we were all new here once. Every new arrival strengthens and enriches us.
Susan Carland
Academic, mother
Being Australian means continually working hard to make this country what it could and should be.
I like to think this means making it a welcoming place for people who come from other countries, and an honouring and equitable place for the people that lived here for tens of thousands of years. It means celebrating our amazing successes and being honest about our failures. It means championing our achievements in the arts and sciences as much as we do in the sports. It means having a strong economy and a healthy environment are not seen as mutually exclusive. It means that we do not feel threatened by our differences, but instead see them as essential to a healthy democracy and flourishing society.
Do we do all these things at the moment? No. But I believe the capacity is there, and the will. And living up to our potential: now surely that’s Australian?
Bern Morley
Blogger, Mum of 3
To be honest, as a kid I don’t remember Australia Day being all that important. I put this down to the fact that we didn’t receive a public holiday back then. I think this says a lot about me as an Aussie. Having said that, I whipped the hat around and questioned my three children as to what Australia Day means to them. Maddison, 12, responded with “Friends.” Sam, Aged 9 answered with “Swimming” and Jack, aged 5 responded with “Boobs”.
Australia Day for us started around 5 Years ago when we were invited by a bunch of (newish) friends to have a BBQ by the beach. I’m not even sure any of us really expected to enjoy the day, but 5 years later, it is now a tradition. One of us will get down there early and set up. Someone else brings bacon, eggs and the Weber. Someone else brings the Champagne and OJ. And then one of us will bring the music. Then we swim. And eat. And catch up on a year’s worth of news. Someone else starts a game of unashamedly mismanaged tipsy cricket. And then we swim again.
So that to us, as an Australian family, is what Australia Day means – friendship. And being able to enjoy the amazing life we have had the good fortune of being born in to. That of course, and Boobs.
Benjamin Law
Because I’ve been travelling overseas lately, one of my favourite past-times has been hearing what foreigners think about Australia. Not all of it’s great. In fact, there’s a recurring theme. Norwegians think of us as racist because of Tampa; Indians think we’re racist because of the student bashings; Chinese people think we’re racist because of Pauline Hanson, and when I say, ‘No, she’s not a practising politician any more; in fact, her last public outing was competing in a national televised ballroom dancing competition’, they look at me strangely and I have no idea why. Of course, their criticisms are valid. We often fall short and should know better. But I also enjoy having those same foreign friends finally visit our shores, and seeing their surprise at how casually multicultural and staggeringly diverse we are down here. Travel enough and you realise that mix in society is extremely rare. For me, that is something Australians should toast and celebrate; one giant thing of which to be proud.
What’s your story? Do you celebrate Australia Day and, if so, how?
Comments
111 Comments so far
’And let’s say yes to judging each other not by the colour of our skin or the race of our ancestors, but by the content of our character. As individuals.’
- Andrew Bolt, I agree.
(the article this quote’s from is here – not sure I agree with it all though – http://www.heraldsun.com.au/opinion/day-of-shame-shows-why-we-must-stop-this-racial-charade/story-e6frfifx-1226254760404)
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Friends, a few drinks, long bbq and triple j cranking.
Almost perfect day-only bettered by exchanging driving rain for sunshine, and adding in a swim at the beach.
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I just wandered out the back and the children of my Fijian neighbours yelled out “Happy Australia Day”.
Honestly, it isn’t about where you were born. It’s about the feeling you get when something quite beautifully random, like kids yelling out a greeting and giving you a wave, happens. That’s Australia.
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that comment just brought a tear to my eye and a lump in my throat, if only all our neighbours were this lovely.
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Australia is about equality. Not hatred.
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I think the date for Australia Day should be changed. It is massively offensive to Aboriginal people. It wouldn’t be that difficult to move it to another day. I just read on news.com about what has happened in Canberra with people from the tent embassy storming the place and I want to say I don’t blame them. I hope that the incident gets coverage from the international media. Maybe then they (politicians) will be embarrassed enough to move the date.
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I don’t think that it’s right for anyone to hijack the day for political reasons.
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Haha, someone should tell that to Julia and Tony.
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I’m sorry but two wrongs NEVER make a right and their behaviour was inexcusable. Maybe it IS time for tent city to be dismantled?
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What I find massively offensive is the behaviour of the tent embassy protesters in Canberra today. I’m not a Julia fan but the behaviour of that rabble was a disgrace. It’s been over 200 years, get over yourselves and move on. There are plenty of Aboriginal people out there going about their lives successfully and with integrity. That lot in Canberra today does their cause no good at all. They interrupted a ceremony where people were being presented with bravery medals – shame on them. And on the flag issue, we are NOT two nations and I strongly disagree with the Aboriginal flag being flown on public buildings. It is divisive and I would think only serves to widen the gap.
Their protest in Sydney have soured Australia Day for me.
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Hmmm I won’t say I agree with everything you say but I do think that in order to move forward, people need to put the past behind them.
This DOESN’T mean that it’s forgotten about or that it still doesn’t hurt but if you anchor yourself in the past, you are never going to be able to move forward with your life.
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Move on? Why can’t we ALL move on by moving Australia Day to a different date. As long as we celebrate on ‘Invasion Day’ I think Aboriginal people have every right to feel insulted.
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You do realise that by referring to it as “Invasion Day” it just makes it about us and them don’t you?
We are ALL Australian – regardless of the colour of skin, our religious beliefs, our cultural beliefs OR when we arrived on this land.
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Which is exactly why the current date is unnecessary.
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It is entirely appropriate that Australia Day is celebrated today. Many Aboriginal people are so bitter about the past that it wouldn’t matter what day it was held on they would still see it as a symbol on the so called ‘invasion’. Those days were a time of world exploration and opening up new territories. Having said this I most certainly condemn the atrocities that were committed against Aboriginies and believe that sorry day was necessary. If they truly want reconciliation and one nation, then they should act like it and not try to set themselves apart at every opportunity with things believing they should have their own embassy.
Aboriginals talk about reconciliation but from where I sit, the majority of their actions display anything but.
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To group Aborigines, or, more broadly, our indigenous peoples as one homogeneous mass – as you do when you say “…the majority of their actions display anything but” does your argument a great disservice.
I agree with you on two points you’ve made here – that the world was in a different time when white people came to Australia, it was a time of exploration. And I also agree that a sorry day was completed warranted for the same reason as you – atrocities were committed, and not just at the time of white man’s arrival, but for a long time after.
But to say things like “they should act like it and not try to set themselves apart” is a generalisation. There are a multitude of different attitudes towards this in our indigenous communities in the same way that are on any issue between any group of people.
Australians with European heritage have a diversity of views on any given issue so why should it not be the same with indigenous people? Some would like to maintain traditional ways of life, particularly those in remote and rural areas. Some do not see the value in the conventional education system. Some are particularly driven to succeed in the conventional education system, to achieve a university degree, to enter a profession. Some would like to retain particular traditions from their culture while adopting a less traditional way of life. Some would like government policies to conserve wilderness (and their ability to preserve a more traditional way of life) from mining, some would like it to be opened to mining, for the economic prospects it brings.
And, of course, this diversity of views extends to views on reconciliation.
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Anon, I must say it is very nice to have a rational and well reasoned debate about the issue, I am enjoying reading your responses.
Yes, I suppose I did lump them all together but unfortunately I feel that the actions of the protesters today in Canberra don’t do anything to encourage sympathy for their cause, and I may be showing ignorance here but what exactly is the tent embassy there for, what are they trying to achieve, did I hear one of them say that they wanted an official embassy?
I do think they tend to lump themselves together on issues though don’t you think?
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Ok, rather than editing or deleting what I just posted, I’ll just point out that I missed this in your previous comment: “There are plenty of Aboriginal people out there going about their lives successfully and with integrity”
So, yes, while I think maybe the wording wasn’t the best in your immediate comment that I replied to, you do certainly seem to be able to identify the diversity of views I wrote about in my comment, so apologies if it appeared patronising.
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No worries Anon, I actually didn’t find your remark at all patronising. It has been nice discussing the topic with you! (BTW – are you Anon and Anonymous, I’m a bit confused?)
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No, Claire C. There are at least 2 Anonymous’s. I made the original comment, then another Anonymous replied and then Anon joined in.
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Ok, ClaireC, this is for you since I think we have reached a limit on commenting on comments – I now only have the option to Alert Moderator.
Thanks, it has been great reading your responses as well. You asked whether I agree that Aborigines have a tendency to lump together on issues. My experience has been the complete opposite – that no one person, no one organisation can ever purport to speak for the indigenous people as there is so much debate and disagreement within the community – not unlike any other community.
On the issue of reconciliation, I do believe that a majority of people in Australia – of all backgrounds – want it in principle. The difficulty is, firstly, what does reconciliation mean? And secondly, what does it entail/how do we get there?
On the first, for me I’d be thinking about more equal health and lifestyle indicators, like health, education, socio-economic status, representation in the justice system etc. To me, that’s what it is about.
On the second – this country is paying far brighter minds than mine to come up with how we get there, and we’ve still not got it sorted. There is no silver bullet, as they say and I believe that change on this scale will necessarily take decades rather than months or years. There are piecemeal solutions – offering better “carrots” for education in remote areas particularly, such as paying quality teachers extra money to teach in remote communities (I believe they already do anyway) to ensure that the next generation is being educated. Look at how to ensure high attendance at school – is the curriculum culturally-appropriate (e.g. does it cater to the needs of children who may speak English as a second or third language), are there conditions conducive to effective education at home (child welfare issues, poverty, housing, child safety etc). It is an enormous undertaking and I hope that someone can sort it out – I’m just glad it’s not me, because that is a mammoth task!
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Great comments Claire – well done on speaking on behalf of the silent majority.
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Arrrrrrgh! Arrrrrrgh! Tearing my hair out!
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“If they truly want reconciliation and one nation, then they should act like it and not try to set themselves apart at every opportunity with things believing they should have their own embassy.”
It is that kind of attitude which leads to division. You have totally put all Aboriginal Australians into one homogenous box of people who don’t want change. Most of them just want to be afforded the same opportunities as everyone else, and in this day and age they still are not. There are a nauseating number of people in this country who believe they are not racist, but their attitudes are soaked in racial prejudice and intolerance. The kind of comment you have made serves only to further divide Aboriginal and White Australia.
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On the topic of the flag… the Australian flag was designed by white Australians and includes the Union Jack to represent our British heritage. Why should Aboriginal Australians not be allowed to proudly flaunt their heritage? I could argue that the Australian flag as it is, is just as divisive. Your attitude is quite divisive to be honest. Tolerance and empathy are great qualities to have. And the fact that 6 people have “liked” your comment really illustrates how rife with racism this country still is. It really disappoints me.
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I agree anonymous. I was in Delhi on Jan 26th in India last year and Indians celebrate that as their Republican day – I believe it is the day their constitution came into effect after booting out the British.
I couldn’t help but see the irony in that we celebrate the beginning of colonialism by the British and Indian people the end of it – on the very same day!
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Reading the comments already posted reinforces my opinion we worry to much about being politically correct to the point where we create issues rather than fix them. Throwing money at the Aboriginal Community does nothing to help them just create division. When are the lefties going to realise that we need to give those less fortunate in the community a helping hand not a hand out, hand outs do nothing to build personal pride within the recipient. Lets stop the bullshit and genuinely start working together to build pride not prejudice in our great country.
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“we worry to much about being politically correct to the point where we create issues rather than fix them”
TOTALLY AGREE!
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And what practical steps do you propose?
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I walked down to the beach today with my family, we had fish and chips and then walked back along rocks and sand. We passed many people from different cultures enjoying the day. Australians from many different ancestries; Greeks, Italians, South Sea Islanders, Muslin fisherman praying, Aboriginals and Caucasian to name a few. Everyone was happy and smiling, saying hello. I thought how good it is to have a day like this.
While I acknowledge the wrongs done the to Aboriginal people of Australia in the past, I want to ask, can’t we all just take each person for themselves, without trying to say who is more Australian than the other, like it’s a competition or something?
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I agree, Im feed up with people who compete to prove who is more Australian. There is a stereotype, who think being racist is funny and if you’re not white and have a different language or accent, you are not Australian. PLEASE! Newsflash to all the narrow minded patriotic Australians who would like to tell the ‘non-Australians’ to go home, your hypocrite! Because unless you are Aboriginal, you cant talk! Once upon a time your relatives came to this country with a different language and a different accent as foreigners, so does that mean you should go back to where you came from too?
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Apart from the Canberra protest, the most offensive sights I saw today were yobbos in flag capes yelling Aussie Aussie Aussie, oi, oi, oi out their car windows and blowing airhorns. Bogans.
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Having just been on Facebook, I was very disappointed – actually, disgusted – to see so many ‘patriotic’ statuses rife with thinly veiled racism. Comments on the Courier Mail page and updates, in particular, contained so much negativity. Though CM Facebook page seems to attract a similar demographic to Today Tonight, so I should hardly be surprised.
I feel blessed to have wonderful friends of all different walks of life and they help make Australia all the more enjoyable to live in. I feel sorry for those who don’t feel the same way, because they’re missing out on something great, in my opinion!
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A few of us are posting this today:
If you post “F#$& off we’re full” I’m going to assume you are referring to having eaten too many sausages, pies and pavlovas.
Or that your friend’s list is overfilled and you’re requesting some people remove themselves…… in which case I will oblige!
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I think that it would have been great to read the impressions of seven “ordinary” Australians.
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What, 7 Bradleys?
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Hahaha … and then the trouble started … it must be THE Bradley. Welcome back
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Oh……John !!!!!!
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Isn’t that what the comments section is for: for us ‘ordinary’ people to share out stories?
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Thanks MM for a wonderful article and I relly enjoyed reading about everyone’s perspective.
I am Norwegian and I remember Tampa so vividly, but it didn’t make me think that Australia was racist, it was more that there was a wall put up by the government.
I have always felt very welcome by all the Australians I have met and it truly is an amazing country. I hope everyone has a lovely Australia Day.
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What a completely bullshit ‘cross section’ of Australians you have, aboriginal, black, muslim, asian, rich girl and a couple of other chicks – white Australian men have no place in your vision for Australia – that’s racist, all it is is a vision – ASSIMLATION in NOT a dirty word, you lean so far to the LEFT that you are as bad as those that lean as far to the RIGHT – here’s the deal, I don’t care who you are or where you come from – treat me with common sense and kindness and don’t bring your bullshit baggage and we’ll be sweet. And while I’m here we should never apologise for the actions of people we never knew nor are we responsible for. If your Great Great Great etc Grandfather killed mine and stole from him I wouldn’t in a million years expect YOU to apologise – IT MAKES NO SENSE.
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Yeah, that’s right! Us white Australian men NEVER get a say…when do you ever see a white Australian man on TV or giving an opinion in a magazine or newspaper…
…oh, hang on…
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Oh……..John !!!!!!!!
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Bradley? As in, THE Bradley? Wow … where have you been?
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You’re right, why should we acknowledge past wrong doings when we had nothing to do with them… the whole sorry day thing is far too progressive… come on… use your brain!
It’s pretty easy to tell someone to keep their bullshit baggage to themselves when you’ve been born into priveledge huh?
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Progressive is taking responsibility for one’s own actions not those of others.
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perhaps you need to practice a little of what you preach Chris.
I’d suggest starting with the common sense and kindness part.
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progressive: [adj] favoring or advocating progress, change, improvement, or reform, as opposed to wishing to maintain things as they are, especially in political matters
Where abouts in the definition of progressive does it say “everyone for himself”? Saying sorry is not apologising for individual actions, it is acknowledging as a group that wrong was done and pain was felt. This is part of making positive change and moving forward as Australians. We cannot move toward a vision of a better nation without recognising the mistakes that have been made in the past.
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When someone dies of cancer, do you say sorry to the family for their loss, or do you say, ‘I’m not saying sorry!! I didn’t bloody do it!’?
Saying sorry is an acknowledgement of pain and suffering sometimes, and an important part of a healing process. Particularly in the case of the stolen generation, it’s admitting that the aboriginals weren’t ‘better off’ for it as so many still believe they were. It caused problems, and it caused a rift in our community.
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I never thought of it that way. I’ve also struggled with all the apologies being thrown around, I just didn’t get it, but your explanation makes sense. Thanks for enlightening me!!!
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Anytime, lol!
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Love this comment, Sharon!
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Your cancer analogy is like comparing apples with oranges – play fair.
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What is unfair about it? Enlighten me.
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Chris, I find it remarkable that you are asking to be treated with commonsense and kindness when you’ve not shown any respect in your comment here today.
And what do you mean by ‘bullishit baggage’? – are you asking people not to bring their culture with them?
I may be bias – being featured in this article, but I do think this is a pretty good cross section of the type of people who contribute to this website. Diverse, cross cultural intelligent women, and an intelligent man.
Over on the Herald Sun they feature a range of prominent Australians – 5 men and one woman – talking about what Australia day means to them.
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Carly how have I shown no kindness in my short paragraph?
By ‘bullshit baggge’ I refer to Muslim immigrants who want to implement sharia law or other ethnic groups with century old hatred for each other bringing their rivalries here. This happens – acknowledge it as fact, it won’t make you any less left leaning.
I agree that it a good cross section of Australian minorities who clearly have their own vision for this country which is inconsistent with that of mainstream Australia.
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Chris, perhaps a little lesson in political science wouldn’t go astray if you continue to throw around the word “left” as though it is an insult.
Lesson number 1: The concepts of left and right, on the political spectrum, relate purely to economic policy. Far left = communism. Far right = absolute capitalism. Thus, left indicates a desire to provide state services, such as education, healthcare etc and right believes that it is a case of user pays – no state subsidised education or health. That is all.
Lesson number 2: If politics can be represented with another dimension, keeping the economics going along the horizontal axis, there is totalitarianism and liberalism along the vertical axis. The extremes of this are dictatorships and anarchy, respectively. There is no “left”, no “right”. There may be communist dictatorships or communist liberalism (the Scandinavian model is pretty close to the latter, Cuba was, for a time, pretty close to the former).
Lesson number 3: It is lazy commenting to therefore throw a “left” or a “right” as an insult to someone who’s views you disagree with, unless you can justify it in the economic sense. A desire for multiculturalism is not owned by the “left”, nor is nationalism owned by the “right”.
My suggestion? Inform yourself using resources other than Today Tonight, ACA, The Australian and the dailies in the different states. You will likely be received much better if your assertions are evidence-based, using empirical evidence by independent organisations, rather than mass generalisations and statements based on a little anecdotal evidence and experiences.
On the subject of the issue, I profoundly disagree with you. When you refer to mainstream Australia, I truly wonder how that is qualified? I am Australian and I’m sure that my vision of this country is very different to yours. I’m sure that I have very different values and beliefs. And, unless you can demonstrate to me that “mainstream” Australia counts compliance with our obligations under International Human Rights Law and treaties as one of the fundamental issues that they vote on, perhaps I am out of step with the “mainstream”.
However, I was born in this country, I have lived in this country for two thirds of my life and I resent the fact that people like you assume a role of speaking for the “mainstream” or for the “everyday Australian”. News flash: there is no such thing.
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Wow, go Anon!
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Anon, you can be as textbook as you like about ther terminology, but common useage of the words ‘left’ and ‘right’ with regard to political leanings has come to encompass much more that the strict definitions you have outlined above.
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Which is exactly why Chris saying ‘…blah blah blah left’ means absolutely nothing.
Left does not equal support for multuculturalism in the same way that right does not mean support for nationalism. Nor was I suggesting that he supports either. But if one wants to throw it out there as an insult, one must be aware of what it means – which, in this context, is nothing.
And if debate is what Chris wants (and let’s face it, that’s what it appears like to me), s/he should employ specific language which supports her or his argument, not language which descends an argument into petty insults which mean nothing.
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Charming language, Chris. When intelligent debate fails you, resort to offensive language. Excellent.
Would you respect me any more if I told you my name? For the record, it is Lise. Now we’re on a first name basis, care to actually address my point – what makes you an expert on mainstream Australia? Why are you able to speak for it?
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I don’t read or view mainstream news sources but your assumption highlights the fact that you think I fit into some sort of box – I don’t.
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yeah you do fit into a neat little box actually. Racist and ignorant sum you up nicely.
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Snap! I bloody love you Anon!
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I would want to apologize. Some may find that silly. I found out that i had relatives in Adeliade in 1853. It is likely that they were here long before that but I don’t know anymore. As soon as I heard that I was so worried that they had been apart of the wrong doings against the Aboriginals. Then I thought nah no relative of mine would do something cruel. Which is obviously completely irrational. I have no idea what they did or didn’t do or why they were here. They weren’t convicts that’s all I know. If I found out they had done something terrible I would desperately want to apologize for it. I know some find that’s stupid or nonsensical but that’s how I feel. I always thought saying sorry didn’t apply to me because my family was relatively new to the country ie my Dad is an immigrant and most of Mums family were. Well clearly I was wrong and very naive it would seem. Btw I thought it was interesting that the article was about 7 Australian stories and you immediately labelled them all. That seemed very odd to me.
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Actually, that’s sexism you’re referring to, not racism.
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‘….and a couple of other chicks…’
“chicks”? Charming. Your respect for others is shining through like a beaon.
Also think you’re taking far too narrow a definition of ‘sorry’. As well as a personal apology, it’s also commonplace as an expression of one’s sorrow at another’s misfortune. Eg ‘I’m sorry to hear that your father is ill’. (Or ‘I’m sorry that your people had such a difficult time’).
I really hope you’ve simply expressed yourself poorly, because the narrow minded and inflammatory way your post reads makes me truly despair for the future of this country if your words are truly representative of a white Aussie male.
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Chicks is a slang word for women – any derogatory notion is your own, not mine. Don’t make assumptions, you are splitting hairs wasting time highlighting that.
With respect to your sorry comments that was addressed previously but let me also add from personal experience that I don’t blame Germans for the treatment of Grandfather in WW2 – I blame the context of different time and thinking, I blame people who initiated and executed the orders at the time. I would not expect an apology today from Germans, my German friends or the German government – they are not responsible. It does not make sense. It does make sense to ensure that the wrongs from the past are not repeated.
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“here’s the deal, I don’t care who you are or where you come from”
But you clearly do care, or you wouldn’t be calling this list of seven people, all of them Australian and respectfully expressing their opinions “bullshit”
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I think it is time to change the Australian flag and make it more representative of who we are and our history. I’d like to see the union jack gone and some inclusion of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander herritage. It is sad to see our flag associated with racial hatred, but I think it is hailing time for change. Just for fun, here is a flag I designed ages ago as a possible new Aussie flag:
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What a great design, lucindainthesky. It’s the first one I’ve seen over all these years, where I’ve thought, ‘yeah, I’d fly that!’ Nice one.
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thank you!!! I appreciate that : -)
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Agreed!! Makes sense!
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I agree that we should have ‘some inclusion of our Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander heritage’. It’s way, way overdue. And it would be fun if everyone could have a go at designing a new flag. I wonder how they would go about choosing a winner though. We’d have to have some kind of national vote and hope that there were no ties.
On a serious note though every time someone suggests changing the flag a lot of people jump up and down about history and how people died under the flag, I don’t know if those people make up the majority. I doubt that any politician would be brave enough to find out.
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When people say that diggers fought and died for our flag I immediately think; no. I think they fought and died for the right to be able to change our flag, should we chose to do so.
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I just hosted an Australia Day breakfast (was supposed to be at the beach, stupid rain). But my lounge room was filled with my favourite aussies, and we used my aboriginal and australian flags as the table cloths and had an all aussie playlist playing in the background. Australia day for me will always just be about getting together with friends, having a few drinks, eating yummy food and listening to the Hottest 100.
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Your flag is disgusting and pays no reference to our British heritage – without which this country would still be Terra Nullius. The march of progress and technology is pure Darwinism, survival of the fittest, it has been how this planet has evolved for millennia.
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You do realise the concept of Australia being ‘terra nullius’ was overturned?
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Chris,
I am going to freely declare my interest. I’m a British subject and have lived in Australia for nearly 35 years after migrating here with my family when I was a teenager. I have dual citizenship, as do my two Australian-born children.
I take great offence to your appalling lack of history. It was the British colonialists who implemented the rule of law in this country. It was part of that law that the continent, then called NSW, was declared Terra Nullius. It was implemented to obscure the patent fact that without a nation of native people to do business with, ( a nation of people who, unlike the Maori for example, had no recognisable king or tribal leader they could do business with) the British could simply colonise the country they found at will, using their laws.
And so they did.
The prevailing law did not do justice to the original inhabitants of this land, a fact that was at long last acknowledged by the High Court of Australia, a decision I am proud this country made.
Regardless of who colonised this country – only a few years separated Britain from taking it from France, who in turn used stolen Portuguese maps – I have no doubt whatsoever that with the way of the world is now, people would have dragged this country into the 21st century. They would have done it through that other great civilising influence – Democracy.
Democracy is the reason why you have advanced to the purient level you have. Rule of Law is the reason you have the so-called freedom to yell like a mad bastard at passers by, telling them all to bugger off. Darwinism did not give you your one iota of civility towards your neighbours or to this online community. Darwinism did not give you a free education, universal healthcare, the right to own property, vote, pay your taxes or be a considerate and thoughtful neighbour. Democracy did. Civic-minded citizens lead the way, invited discourse, took it to the streets, fought for it.
And in doing so, they created the best place in the world to live, mad bastards not withstanding.
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Chris, you are walking a very fine line today with your comments on this post. The only reason I haven’t deleted this comment (which clearly breaks our dinner party rules) is that the response from La Petite Chou to you is incredibly interesting.
You are welcome to express your views. Please do not insult others when doing so.
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Thanks Bec, I couldn’t believe what I was reading when I woke up this morning and checked my emails. I have never experienced such rudeness on MM before. Glad some other MM readers stuck up for me x
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Hey Chris, did I say anywhere in my comment that I wanted the aboriginal flag to be the national flag? No I didn’t. I am not aboriginal but I love the flag, it represents a large group of people in this country and reminds me of how grateful I am to these people and what they have gone through to allow me to live in this beautiful country.
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Australia Day means the one day of the year I’ll listen to triple j. Flags make me cringe, but I also try not to make assumptions about the people flying them – there are more than enough racists around every day of the year without us assuming every person with a flag on the car is one as well.
Tbh I think Australia day is more a construct of the alcohol and meat industries than it is a sacred national day. Which isn’t to say it’s not fun, I’ll be spending it with friends being grateful for their company like I do every public holiday.
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“Tbh I think Australia day is more a construct of the alcohol and meat industries than it is a sacred national day.”
Totally agree with this. Even when I was a kid, Australia Day was no big deal. Just a public holiday like any other. It’s only in the past decade I’ve noticed lot’s of people actually celebrating it.
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Why only one day a year of triple j? You are missing the other 364 days of great music!
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So over being constantly told how racist we are and how wrong it is to celebrate Australia Day. What is wrong with being proud of our nation? Telling us all how bad we are has become the favourite past time of so many social commentators. My kids wanted those flags for our car but I refused to buy them as I was worried people would think we were racist rednecks. Why couldn’t I just let my boys have some fun?
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Why all the hateful comments Chris? You sound like a really angry, unhappy person. Step away from your computer & take a few breaths.
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My 12 year old daughter is patriotic to the last! Last year we created this video for a school assignment and I just had to post it today – being Australia Day.
In it – she talks about what being Australian means to her – and it’s more than just vegemite on toast! *proud*
http://diaryofa30somethingwednesdayschild.com/aussie-aussie-aussie/
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I am feeling a bit sad because I planned to spend australia day with my family in Brisbane at our annual JJJ hottest one hundred BBQ. We were suppose to drive up earlier in the week but the awful weather made us wait. Not sure if we will get there or not these holidays. So checking weather forecasts and moping at the moment.
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Stoopid rain
Hope you get to do something fun with the day off anyway Zelicat.
I’m off to work soon as I do most public holidays which doesn’t bother me … Australia Day, Mothers Day, Fathers Day, all those signature days seem a bit of a non-event to me because every day is about Australia and your mum and your dad and your children and the world we live in. I hope everyone has a good day today for whatever it means to you and every other day of the year is a blessing for you too!
Really enjoyed reading the comments of the seven too … people are so interesting
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Thanks Susan as well. I have pulled my head out of my ass now. Playing Lego with my girl, and having a quiet glass of wine. Appreciating how lucky I am to be doing this…
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I love how Susan Carland put it!
)
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I’m sick of the hate surrounding Australia Day. If you want to, wear Australia Day get up! People aren’t doing it to be racist! I wrote a blog about this today: http://moniquefischle.wordpress.com/2012/01/26/what-australia-day-is-about/
One of my twitter friends summed this up perfectly “ok now you can trend happy australia day since its actually the 26..the day where its rasist in your own country to celerbrate with our flag” (spelling mistakes hers not mine).
http://moniquefischle.wordpress.com/
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Personally not a big fan of the Aussie Flag (at least until we get rid of the Union Jack), but I think the majority of tolerant, inclusive Australians should reclaim the symbols of our nation back from the minority of racist, inward looking idiots. We shouldn’t have to feel ashamed of feeling pride for our nation…
What I don’t like though is people proclaiming “Australia is the best country in the world” like it’s a competition or something. No it isn’t. It’s just a place we all happen to enjoy and like to live in, which is more valid than saying “it’s the best”.
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You don’t like the flag, JJ?
I couldn’t bear to have it changed, especially when I think of all the men who fought and died for it and what it represented to them.
I know that it doesn’t reflect too much of what most Australians are now, and we could do with having our own identity reflected in it, but it feels almost disrespectful to alter it.
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You know the Canadian Flag isn’t the flag that Canadians fought under in WWI and WWII?
It is possible for a country to move on from an out-dated symbol without forgetting or disrespecting what their forebears fought and died for. We will do the same one day.
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Hmmm. Didn’t know that.
Maybe it is do-able then.
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The Navy fight under the White Ensign, the RAAF fight under their RAAF ensign. The Army have the Aussie flag as their ensign but I’m pretty sure in neither WW1 or WW2 was anyone fighting under the Australian flag.
Let me have a ferret around, but I’m pretty sure I remember reading that it was the Australian Imperial Forces and therefore under the Union flag.
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No-one “fought and died for” the Australian flag as we know it today, which wa sonly formalised in the 1950s as the official Australian flag. They “fought and died for” the Union Jack. History, people. Google it.
http://www.anbg.gov.au/oz/flag.html
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And it’s a place that most of us just had the dumb luck to have been born in. A point many seem to forget!
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You’re so right JJ. By simply critisising those who use the flag as an exclusive symbol and not offering up another approach, we lose. I saw this in England were the St George’s Cross flag became associated with right – wing white supremacist types, National Front etc. Regular, every day folk who were proud to be English, and were happy for all races and creeds to claim their ‘Englishness’, cud not be seen anywhere near this flag because of it’s links to these groups. Let’s not let this happen to our flag.
That is my over riding sense from all this debate. Can we please look to other countries and identify examples of what we don’t want to be like and of what we do want to emulate.
1. U-S-A type nationalism. We are the best in the world!! As you say it’s not a competition. (Don’t)
2. South Africa (mostly Afrikaans) Very vocally nationalistic when abroad while many still wish theday never came when ‘blacks took over’ (Don’t)
3. New Zealand, unassuming but grown -up pride in their nation (DO) Perhaps this has something to do with having the Waitangi Treaty
4. Irish, proud of their Irish roots, even for many generations after their families have left Ireland. This is me so I’m biased. (DO)
As a very young nation (since European settlement) wouldn’t it make sense to learn from others, the best and the worst.
Thanks all – Happy Australia Day and may we all find ways to listen and understand each other better in 2012.
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Some people are doing it to be racist though. Certainly where I live, the only people I’ve seen wearing anything Australia Day related have been acting disgracefully (I passed a group of 20 or so people in a park at 8am, draped in towels with the flag on them, already completely drunk and chanting “Australia for Australian’s” and other idiotic slogans). I saw racist graffiti on two asian-owned businesses this morning. My area certainly wouldn’t be representative of the rest of Australia, as it’s basically ignorant, racist redneck central, but you can’t deny that Australia Day brings out the worst in some people (and the best in others). No, not everyone who dresses up or decorates their car is racist, but some definitely are trying to make a point by doing it and that point isn’t “I love Australia”.
In reference to your blog post, Independence Day in the US and Australia Day have very different histories. A more apt comparison would be Thanksgiving, which many American’s have qualms about celebrating.
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Who do we judge ourselves against…the 20 drunk people in a park, or the 1000s of people across Australia who celebrate sensibly?
Australia, if we have a fault (and we have many) it’s that we try too hard too look for bad images of Australians and don’t promote the positive images of the majority of Australians…the 7 stories in this post are those good examples…I’m going to follow their example, not some random number of idiots in a park…
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It’s not just 20 people in a park though. If it’s anything like previous Australia Day’s there will be hundreds of people in my town behaving like this. I won’t be leaving the house again to find out though. Btw, this park is less than a km from a police station, but friend texted me 30 minutes ago telling me that they’re still there, now numbering 40-50, openly drinking, littering and being public nuisances. The cops in my town are notorious for moving people along if they hang about in public spaces for too long, even if they aren’t doing anything wrong. The aboriginal people in the town have a joke that if they want to speak to a cop, they just have to sit in a park or on a public bench and one will come to them. But these people they apparently have no problem with.
Then there’s the plethora of “Fuck off we’re full” and similar stickers that have cropped up in the past fortnight. There’s always been a lot in the area, but they’ve doubled in the lead up to today and now I’m even seeing them in shop windows and on letterboxes. On Tuesday I counted 87 of those sorts of stickers on cars in less than 15 minutes (won’t be playing that game again, at least until the next time I feel like a good cry).
In my area these people are the majority, and the vibe on Australia Day here is scary and hateful. I get that my experience isn’t the norm (cannot wait until I can move the hell away), but this sort of thing shouldn’t be ignored.
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I think the issue here is you just don’t notice the majority of normal decent Australians as much as you do the idiots…
How many cars passed you when you counted 87 of those stickers…89? 189? 500?
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JJ, she’s not saying there aren’t plenty of normal people celebrating respectfully and happily. Pointing out that racist behaviour is on the rise in some areas in no way invalidates the thousands that are not racist, it just highlights the ‘mob mentality’ that exists in some areas. Australia is a wonderful place and I agree with you that we are prone to finding faults with ourselves, but I think we only do that because we feel we can do better. As indeed we can. The fact that people like us see such behaviour and take offense to it is, to my mind, a symbol of hope for a more tolerant future.
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Australia: I unreservedly love its good bits, and would love us all to work on its not-so-good bits.
When I lived OS, I really missed Australia Day… it feels like a somehow youthful celebration to me, friends, kids, pools, beaches, BBQs, slip’n'slides… but I also grew to understand the term ‘mother’ country. Australia is my ‘mother’ country. I love her, she loves me and she will always be there for me when I come home.
I love other countries too, but they are more like affairs (hello Italy), best friends (Chile) and seductive lovers (Hong Kong). They are not my mother.
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I look at Australia Day with cynical affection…
Cynical about the jingoism and patriotic hyperbole…
Affection for Australia and the Australian people, who, by and large, I love and admire more often than I don’t.
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I’ll be spending some time at the Aboriginal Tent Embassy in Canberra because today marks it’s 40th Anniversary! I can’t wait to immerse myself in my culture and see all my good friends.
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What a great line up of Australians and their comments. Thank you!
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For catherine deveny’s views on the subject see her twitter account. Revealing.
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