Time for a new Aussie flag?

[Tink]

Some good posts in here

I am sure Canada went through the same to change their flag and they are just as laid back as us, but they did it

I am all for a new flag.

http://www.ausflag.com.au/

 

[Logique]

I reckon keep the southern cross.

That's a cracker WayneL. With Chairman Kevin at the helm, and we can read the news in Pravda (that's how I think of that house anyway, oh so balanced.)

For the record I strongly support the Eureka flag.

 

[Duckman#72]

I just feel that if a new flag starts, so does the culture and the history and it all starts again. I could very well be wrong about this, though.

Ray Martin made an argument for changing the flag last night, that I think should be used as a reason NOT to change the flag.

Forgive me for paraphrasing but this is the quote as best I can remember:

"Everyone said the sky would fall in if we said sorry to the Aborigines, and look what has happened 12 months later. Nothing has happened. We shouldn't get so worried about these things"

Now this is a classic. My dilemma is that changing the flag will be a costly and futile exercise with very little tangible results. A little like the "Sorry Exercise". I apologise for blending the two arguments - but Ray Martin brought it up. From where I live, I can see absolutely NO change in the lifestyle, help, assistance, self-respect, drug/alcohol abuse, welfare issues that the local indigenous face.

Changing the flag is another "feel good" project. You change the flag and the only guarantee will be that you alienate a different group of people.

As for getting confused with the New Zealand flag - please!!! The kiwi's don't have a defence force, they never win anything, they don't make much and most of them are trying to move to Australia. When do you even see their flag?? (Sorry Julia )

Duckman

 

[Dowdy]

We should change to flag altogether. The only thing that represents anything for Australia is the blue (sea). The southern cross and the union jack mean jack **** to an Australian. The abo flag has more meaning then the Aussie one (represents the land and sun)

And yes, I've had relatives who have gone to war for Australia but i can tell you, they don't fight for a flag

 

[Tink]

We had the same baloney when we changed our national anthem..

In May 1977, however, a national poll was conducted to ascertain the public choice of a national song. This time more than seven million people were issued with ballot papers. The results were: ‘Advance Australia Fair’ 43.2 per cent, ‘Waltzing Matilda’ 28.3 per cent, ‘God Save the Queen’ 18.7 per cent and ‘Song of Australia’ 9.6 per cent.

Despite the poll results, adoption of the new national anthem met widespread opposition.

Now you tell me why we would stick to 'God save the Queen' as our national anthem?

Can you imagine our kids singing that?

 

[Pieter]

Absolutely, past time. There are several flags that are recognised the world over. Japan, the former Soviet Union, the States, Canada and a number of others. Wouldn’t it be terrific to have one of those? One that can’t be confused with any other counties? I would suggest the Aboriginal flag with the the Southern Cross stars super imposed over top. I would be instantly recognised as ‘Ours’. It would be inclusive and set a wonderful example of taking the traditional owners views of our world seriously. IMO

 

[Mr J]

We had the same baloney when we changed our national anthem..

Are you sure? The current flag seems far, far more popular than "God Save The Queen".

There are several flags that are recognised the world over. Japan, the former Soviet Union, the States, Canada and a number of others.

And we have one. Yes, it is very similar to New Zealand's, and has a slice of the UK, but the flag is very different to almost every other flag. I wouldn't worry about the kiwi's having the same flag, as their's is far more likely to be confused for ours than the other way around. I like the Aboriginal flag, but not as a national flag - couldn't imagine hanging it off the back of a destroyer.

 

[Tink]

I wouldn't worry about the kiwi's having the same flag, as their's is far more likely to be confused for ours than the other way around.

Oh really?

When Australia's then Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, visited Ottawa in Canada in 1985 the New Zealand flag was mistakenly raised in his honour.

 

[Wysiwyg]

It would be inclusive and set a wonderful example of taking the traditional owners views of our world seriously. IMO

No one owns the land, just as the "planet" is not owned by anyone/group either. The best outcome is to share the land in harmony as an alternative to disharmony.
I wholly agree with taking the "aboriginal" views of our world seriously.

 

[Airfireman]

Lets go for the 2 for 1 offer and have a republic/new flag...

My avatar was a flag design submitted..i like it

 

[Stan 101]

Lets go for the 2 for 1 offer and have a republic/new flag...

My avatar was a flag design submitted..i like it

Qantas would like it..

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

One of the big problems is that those who would most support the new flag if it were the Eureka Flag, also have served or have family members who served under our present flag.

So a significant minority might vote against a new flag as a result.

I'd like to see a Eureka Flag, but served under the present one, so understand the feelings of those who don't want any change.

gg

 

[Duckman#72]

One of the big problems is that those who would most support the new flag if it were the Eureka Flag, also have served or have family members who served under our present flag.

So a significant minority might vote against a new flag as a result.

I'd like to see a Eureka Flag, but served under the present one, so understand the feelings of those who don't want any change.

gg

That is sort of what happens now. We have our "official" flag and a couple of "unofficial" flags - boxing kangaroo, eureka and aboriginal flags. New Zealand do the same with their black silver fern flags.

It is a little like the National Anthem - we have our official anthem but also belt out Walzing Matilda and True Blue.

The Eureka flag means nothing to me. If you want me to change - you will need to come up with something better than that.

Duckman

 

[Garpal Gumnut]

That is sort of what happens now. We have our "official" flag and a couple of "unofficial" flags - boxing kangaroo, eureka and aboriginal flags. New Zealand do the same with their black silver fern flags.

It is a little like the National Anthem - we have our official anthem but also belt out Walzing Matilda and True Blue.

The Eureka flag means nothing to me. If you want me to change - you will need to come up with something better than that.

Duckman

Ok , I don't like it, but many would.

gg

 

[Mr J]

Oh really?

When Australia's then Prime Minister, Mr Hawke, visited Ottawa in Canada in 1985 the New Zealand flag was mistakenly raised in his honour.

Yes really, because that's actually what I said : - their flag is far more likely to be mistaken for (being) ours.

 

[GumbyLearner]

Ok , I don't like it, but many would.

gg

I would prefer the Eureka Flag with a Cornish pastie in the top left corner. Great miners food those pasties!

 

[wayneL]

The Eureka flag has no chance because it symbolises rebellion against the gu'mint. Dear Leader would never go for that unless it's their version of it like I posted in the other thread.

It would be like the Yanks thinking of changing to the confederate flag.

What's the fuss anyway? It's a piece of cloth ffs. It's an official identifier, it's no big deal.

What does it even symbolise apart from the gu'mint of Australia? Any old piece of coloured rag will do really. But people want to wave a flag around at the world cup or the olympics or whatever. That means it can't offend anyone. That means simple and symbolically bland and it has to match all our shoes and handbags.

A tall order.

The Canucks pulled it off and I reckon the Suth Ifricans did a good job too.

The Kiwis are into black in a big way so they could do the silver fern on the black background thing without even missing a beat.

Aus has developed the green and gold colour awareness through sport (though confusing with the 'boks having the same), so I reckon any piece of rag that people feel they have to get irrationally emotional over would have to be green and gold predominantly.

As far as symbols, the 'roo is probably about it that is uniquely Oz... but Aussies all go out and get pissed on the weekend and blow most of them away; with the rest ending up embedded in the radiators of Commodores and Kenworths. People will give note the hypocrisy.

On the other hand, the current flag is attractive, immediate recognisable as Aussie and it's already emblazoned on everything in the new found American-style jingoistic fervour.

People with a hangup about the Union flag in the corner should probably direct their attentions toward the social matters and the encroaching state interference in everyones lives.... ahhhh but you're kept pacified by middle class welfare.

Where's that Eureka flag when you need it?

 

[Tink]

I think its time they designed some flags, show the public and see what they think, like they did with the national anthem, even though with the poll, we still had to endure 'God save the Queen' for another 8 years.

why would aborigines want to sing God save the Queen?

Lets go for the 2 for 1 offer and have a republic/new flag...

My avatar was a flag design submitted..i like it

Nice flag and I agree with you : )

 

[gav]

Stan, do you think the country has changed in the past 200 years? If it has, then the flag should probably change to represent the new society. What we were, wasn't actually very good... eeeek! SK

So we should just change the flag every time society changes? I guess the yanks should have changed when they elected a black president then.

 

[wayneL]

why would aborigines want to sing God save the Queen?

Why would anyone want to sing God save the Queen?

Re Advance Australia Fair - Great anthem tune, but what about those lyrics.... uuuggh. Cringe-worthy.