I went into a clothing store on the weekend and the sales assistant asked me “Are you looking for something for Australia Day?”. What makes this even weirder is that it was a KIDS clothing store.
Th question took me by surprise. Was I meant to wear something special on Australia Day? Were my kids? Has Australia Day become the latest consumer festival that requires you spend money on it? Do we not get any peace between Christmas and Easter dammit? What next, do I need to buy something on ANZAC day?
There are a lot of opinion pieces around this week about Australia Day. The flag. What it means to be Australian.
Some believe it’s time for us to change our flag….
Former television journalist Ray Martin is leading a new push to replace the Australian flag on the eve of the country’s national day. AAP reports…
“I object to having the British flag in the corner of our flag,” Martin told the Herald Sun newspaper. “We have well and truly reached the point where we should have our own flag. I think we have to grow up and move on to the next stage.”
Martin is a board member of Ausflag, an apolitical group established in 1981 to agitate for the replacement of the flag with a new design. “I am going to add my name and voice to those who are talking the issue up and try to bring about a change,” Martin said. However, Victorian Premier John Brumby said the present flag was a symbol of resolve in bushfire-ravaged regions of Victoria. “As is the case with many Australians, my father and grandfather served our armed forces under our flag,” he said. “I remember seeing so many Australian flags in front yards in bushfire communities; it signified resilience and defiance and gave people solace.”
A Galaxy poll commissioned by News Limited has found 44 per cent of Australians are in favour of becoming a republic, with 27 per cent against. But the same poll shows 27 per cent of people want to remove the Union Jack from the flag, while 45 per cent want to retain the present flag.
While others feel that the flag, and even the word and idea of ‘patriotism’ are being co-opted in a disturbing way by a small but vocal section of the population. Writer and broadcaster Marieke Hardy writes on the ABC’s online opinion site The Drum….
It may be frowned upon to burn the Australian flag, but wearing it as a cape whilst off one’s face on Bundy and dry is fine, apparently. So is wrapping it around your head as a turban, pinning it around your tits as a boob tube, and writing “If You Don’t Love It – Leave” underneath to deter pesky gatecrashers threatening your way of life (said product advertised as follows on a shopping website: “A fantastic way to publically (sic) show your pride in our great country … with ATTITUDE!”). It’s not racism, god forbid we call it that. No, it’s patriotism, a thumb in the face of those fussy “UnAustralian” types, a way for true-blooded men and women to unite against a common enemy: fear.
And overall it’s a great pity, as I am very fond of my country. I like the people in it, I like the frank, robust way they speak. I like the inimitable, flat, overcooked air of our childhood summers and the impetuous, heart-on-sleeve way in which neighbours rush to assist others in times of natural disaster. But the last thing I’m going to do on Australia Day is wave a flag or get some sort of idiotic boxing Kangaroo tattooed to my calf. Because the very idea of national pride has been soiled by the t-shirt wearers who disguise hate in the name of allegiance. And I don’t know if we’ll ever get it back.
How do you feel about the flag? Would you like it to change? And have you noticed this rise in aggressive ‘patriotism’ that is openly hostile towards immigrants and anyone who isn’t white?
How will you be spending your Australia Day? Me, I’m going to an Australia Day BBQ. My husband will be playing cricket with his mates. None of us will be wearing a flag as a cape.
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[NOTE: the other image that originally accompanied this story was published in error as it is owned by John Griffiths at The-RiotACT which was, according to their website: “established in late 2000 with the purpose of setting up an open journalism project focused on the Australian Capital Territory region and its inhabitants. With the aim of spreading the word of what is going on in our town RiotACT provides an outlet for the local community to have their say on the issues that interest and affect them. RiotACT is grass roots news, the opinion of the people and up to date information about the Canberra scene.”
Sincere apologies to John and The Riot ACT.]
Top Comments
I missed this article when it was published, and my comment is not about the article but the accompanying picture. Talk about objectifying women! The segment of the picture that appears in the 'You might also like' section is just the girl's thigh and bottom. Disappointing
Why isnt there a day for the aboriginal people , to recognise there history ,culture and arts. I would love to understand and learn more about there ways and maybe this would bring us closer and help to heal some of the damage of our past.