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Garpal Gumnut

Ross Island Hotel
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2 January 2006
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There are some in the chattering media and whinging special-interest classes campaigning to discourage Australians from flying the flag or wear clothing containing the flag on Australia Day.

I would encourage all ASFers to be proud of our flag and celebrate the date of the arrival of the First Fleet at Port Jackson.

Some bad but much much good has come from that first settlement in this great land. We should celebrate the origins of our nation on that date.

gg
 

good post gg " remember where you come from and be gratefull that your here" some people don't realise they are really in the lucky country happy aus day to all and hope the socceroos go hard in africa in the world cup !:bier::aus:
 
When are we going to get OUR OWN FLAG.

I am sick of the patchwork flag that the rest of the world confuses with New Zealand.
 
A reasonable point.

The Southern Cross needs to stay imho and perhaps The Eureka Flag, may be suitable.

This will take us off topic though.

The Australian Flag of the time needs to be displayed prominently by all on Australia Day.

gg
 
Why does being proud of where you come from equate to a necessity to wave the flag a lot?

I'm all for being proud to be an Aussie, even though I'm not, but it seems like we're starting down the US road where if you're not flying the flag you're assumed to be unpatriotic. I think we need to head that off at the pass. I prefer small 'p' patriotism, but maybe that's just me?

As for the Southern Cross, in recent years it seems to have been hijacked by bogans and racists, unfortunately.
 
You have a point there Sidamo,

Many bogans and criminals wrap themselves in the Australian flag, but the media are now , as usual blaming the innocent majority, for the sins of a few.

Whether people decide not to is no business of mine, and I do not think it should be compulsory, but to advise folk not to fly the flag seems unpatriotic to me.

gg
 
I actually don't own an Aussie flag, they tend to wear out or get stolen from the antenna of the car.

I wonder why it is important anyway, seems kinda odd to have to wave an Aussie flag in Australia to say that you are Australian... aren't most of us Aussies already?

Is it to say that I am more Aussie than you?

Most of the Aussie flags you buy are made in China anyway - probably better off waving around an Akubra hat instead ... more Aussie than the Aussie flag
 
Garpal Gumnut said:
Some bad but much much good has come from that first settlement in this great land. We should celebrate the origins of our nation on that date.

gg
Click to expand...

First settlement - No. Australia already had a population of 300k before that 'first settlement', no matter what people think of them.

Great Land - Hell yeah!!

Celebrate the origins - Sure but it would involve celebrating something a lot older than when the first Brit arrived here, or younger by celebrating when Australia actually became a nation in its own right ie 09 Oct, when Australia adopted the Statute of Westminster.

The Yanks celebrate Independence day. Here we celebrate their equivalent of Columbus 'discovering' America. Its just not right. Its simply unaustralian.
 
Ubi , this is where the self interest groups start diverging from the majority of Australians.

According to your logic you could go all the way back to Adam and Eve and say that nothing should be celebrated prior to the first root.

Take hold of yourself and hide in a cupboard on Australia Day, you exhibit the same shame that our progenitors did according to the Judaeo-Christian tradition.

I'm quite happy to let someone of a different tradition, A Green, A Muslim or a Christian or a Jew celebrate their important days and wave their pictures of Muhammed, Jesus, Moses or Al Gore or whatever about.

They and you should allow us to wave the Australian Flag, on an imortant national holiday.

gg
 

Oh.

I thought they were now made from Tibetan hares?

Oi!!

Carn the green 'n gold!!
 
'Have a barbie' (BBQ) is all I have been hearing on the radio/TV about Australia Day, which we do anyway.

I dont have a problem with people waving flags, its their special day so let them, whatever the occasion

Off topic- I agree with the flag change.

NB - I should have said our special day but I was talking in general
 
GG, this is a most interesting discussion and I really am intrigued by your views.
As a Pom who moved here not so long ago (and took up Australian citizenship), I am flattered (and slightly embarrassed for you) that you celebrate the date that one of our sailors arrived here as the most important date in Australia's history. The sad thing is that it is not a joke that this day is seen as so significant.

So why is it insisted that this day is celebrated with fervour?

1. To celebrate independence from the Brits?

It can't be as the Union Jack is still part of the flag. On this point I do not believe the UJ should be a part of the flag. It would be akin to the Star Spangled Banner being red and yellow in representation of Spain's colours, or the Canadian flag being red white and blue in honour of the French and British. No, those countries claimed true independence. Meanwhile downunder....

2. To celebrate mateship and other Australian values?

No. This is BS. It certainly doesn't have me fooled. It is simply a way to delude/force the ever increasing non anglo saxon immigrants into conforming to the Monarchist view: "If you don't fly this flag, you are unaustralian and should go home" What bull. The unfortunate thing is that many are fooled by this and believe Jan26 to be a significant day.

3. For those insecure citizens of Anglo Saxon heritage to keep the high ground and protect their self interests.

Yes.


Personally I celebrate being Australian everyday by being a good citizen. I will not be conditioned by some claiming to be on the moral high ground. Australia is a nation that has always been formed on immigration and as long as we let good people in, I don't care where they come from.

Quite simply, the Australian flag and its currency is dated, and so is the date on which we celebrate Australia day. I propose that Jan1 to be Australia Day where the Southern Cross is flown, and is bought with currency showing the heads of the first prime ministers post Oct9 1942.

Time to move on Australia and get your own identity. Only then will the whole country will sing from the same hymn sheet and all citizens be made to feel welcome and as equals.
 
Waving, wearing, draping yourself in the flag etc is certainly being embraced by the younger generation.

Of course every bogan here in the west has more flags hanging of the Ute than UN head quarters but even normal people (left wing greenies) are flying them too (organic made in China flags of course).

Being older and normal I prefer the understated stance.

I like the flag after all people died fighting under it.

But having said that both my grand fathers served in the Western Australian 11th Battalion in France WW1.

Uncles WW2, Brother in-law Vietnam, All of them served in the front line I dont think any of them took the flag to seriously.

Cannot put my finger on it but for some reason I feel a little awkward with all the flag waving thing.
 
Ubi, thanks for your kind words and well thought out arguments.

The problem that most Australians have is that change is not inherent in their nature, or at least rapid change. They like things to evolve.

That is why the Republican Movement fell on their collective arses, Australians are generally happier with the status quo rather than something that is imposed by pointy headed academics, toffee nosed silvertails or ground knuckle touching elements in the NSW Labor Party.

So the argument is, if it ain't broke , don't fix it. This in fact is my signature in latin at the bottom of this post.

Each new wave of poor unfortunate boat or 747 immigrant people like you, who seek a better life in this great land, try to change us. This is good for us.

But don't expect to change us quickly.

I now eat spaghetti, tabouli and thai curry, ( not together by the way ) , but I still prefer pies and peas, and until recently vegemite.

So let us all keep some of our important days.

Fly the flag on Australia Day, and when the flag is changed to the best flag of all, the Eureka Flag, let us fly that then.

gg
 

Thanks GG. I believe we are mostly in agreement. In regards to the Republic movement, in '99 it was a close call. I truly believe that if a referendum were to be held today, it would be carried.

So here's to a referendum in the near future so that the final foundations can be set for Australia to move from being merely a great place to live, to being a supreme country on a global stage. Yes it will take decades, but it can be done. Along the way we can learn from the mistakes of the US in relation to many issues, especially racial harmony. First though, we have to release the anchors.
 

I agree totally, Ubi.

Letting go can be difficult, and so often the new is not necessarily better.

I lived in England for a couple years a long time ago and I wouldn't even go there for a visit now. Socially its stuffed. And in large part due to forced social ideas from the universities and guvment on the people.

gg
 
Macquack said:
When are we going to get OUR OWN FLAG.

I am sick of the patchwork flag that the rest of the world confuses with New Zealand.
Click to expand...

I agree 1,000% Macquack.

Seriously, I ENDEAVOURed to read further posts past this but fortunately/unfortunately I have started celebrating Australia/Invasion Day early and will come back and read the further posts and try to contribute if I can, when I am better composed.

Pride in my homeland is something I hold dear.
 

I generally agree with you K, and respect your pride in Australia,

But I don't agree with calling it invasion day.

I'm sure I am in the majority.

It is offensive to the memories of the settlers and convicts who toiled to make a new life for themselves in a threatening largely unoccupied continent, often in barbarous conditions.

That's not to say it wasn't a dreadful event for the indigenous people of that time, but that was over 200 years ago.

We need to move on from all this politically correct rubbish and celebrate Australia Day.

We all need to move on for the sake of future generations, be they of indigenous, settler, convict, $10, Balt, 747 or boat people stock.

We are all Australians.

gg
 
I'm neither ignoring nor being disrespectful to Aboriginal Australians when I say that I think the nearest thing we have to a National Day is Anzac Day. I've never thought 26 January had any real relevance to modern Australia, and it certainly doesn't to Aboriginal Australia.

The southern cross flag is an icon, uniquely Australian, and should become our national flag. However a respectful delay is in order - many fought and died under various versions of the union jack composite flag.

If you include numerous recognitions on a flag, it will turn into the South African flag. Southern Cross for me, simple and resonant. Anzac Day for our National Day.
 
I agree with the change of the flag and the change of the day.

Just as the US has Independance Day and Canada has Canada Day. Thats what we should do.

The day the flag gets changed is the day that should be picked
 
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