Australian Flag Australia Day

[Tink]

Just because we change a flag doesnt take away anything from the history, its still Australia. Wasnt the flag red at one stage, its already had a few changes.

I am not a flag waver anyways, dont even possess a flag, but it would be nice to have an individual Australian flag when it gets raised at events where they dont mix it up with others.

 

[Logique]

Our flag is too much like NZ's and its time we had our own, Canada had the right approach.....

What Tink said.

Eureka flag - my preference for it may surprise some, but I think the BLF and AWU just borrowed the Eureka flag. They don't and never did own it.

It's time we re-appropriated it for the nation. The national flag is there staring us in the face, the penny just needs to drop.

As for the anachronism of the little flag in the corner, to denote who we are: with our future prosperity and diplomatic links so tied to China, it begs the rhetorical absurdism, in this case why wouldn't you have the Chinese flag in the corner.

 

[wayneL]

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.

Here's an idea:

 

[noco]

Give 64 reasos why it should be changed. It's a flag that's been with us for 200 years. Don't fix it if it ain't broke.

 

[wayneL]

Maybe this?

 

[Calliope]

Yes, I agree and it's why I raised it. It has become the accepted thing to say, however meaningless.


Yes, agree. Hence the inappropriateness of the bleating about being humbled.

It all started with Uriah Heep.

No humbleness about this girl. No nonsense about role models or "showing the spirit of Queensland" either. She did what she wanted to do. And now she's rich and can do anything she likes. She thoroughly deserves any acolades and she knows it.

 

[tothemax6]

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

+1 wear the flag with pride. The only thing the flag represents is ones nation, and what could be more un-australian, by definition, than refusing to subscribe to the flag? The anti-flag brigade (common in the west) are against national self determination, they dislike their own nation attempting to declare national identity, they are masochistic anti-western saboteurs who should be met with hearty laughter and vilification.

Before the first settlement this place was a dust bowl, now it is a 1st world paradise. We should all be proud to be a part of it.

 

[Whiskers]

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

Hmmm... I was brought up with that drummed into me at school... but now I think it should be more about representing an ideal or phylosophy than harking back to and continuing to be proud of or justify some pretty ordinary behaviour and attitudes that prevailed at the time. History should be recorded and remembered in the narrative, not the emotional if we are to move on (gaud I hate that phrase) as a nation.

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.

I wouldn't go as far as 'sick' of it, but...

I'll be waving a flag tomorrow.

:aus:

But looking forward to an update.

Ditto.

Before the first settlement this place was a dust bowl, now it is a 1st world paradise.

Was it!?

 

[Wysiwyg]

I was born in Australia yet I still don't know what an Australian is.

 

[pixel]

As a first-generation Australian, I have mixed feelings about both ANZAC Day amd Jan 26th.
Yes, and the Union Jack in the corner of our flag as well.

ANZAC and Union Jack "kind-of" go together, so let's treat them together.
Australians' participation in the battles of European monarchs against each other was the result of clever propaganda that persuaded Australians that their freedom was at stake. ANZACs were lured into a battle that had nothing to do with their personal or national freedom and all to do with British economic interests. Their undeniable bravery stands in stark contrast to the sheer incompetence, arrogance, and class hubris of the British Military leadership, who couldn't even read a map, thereby sending the troups into open enemy fire. We can't even say "couldn't read a map to save their lives" because it wasn't the generals' lives at stake, but the duped cannon fodders' lives.

Therefore, it's fallacious to say the disaster at Gallipoli was specifically Australian. Just like the Union Jack dominating one quarter of our flag, Gallipoli shows that Australians were conned and commandeered by exclusively British interests.

January 26th may qualify a little more as an historic milestone, being the first significant step on the road to becoming today's Australia. But I strongly empathize with the peoples that already inhabited the continent; the declaration of "Terra Nullius" and simply taking what clearly was not there to be taken, is an unsolved crime against humanity.
Conceded, it was in keeping with the morals and dominant thinking at the time, but I don't believe that the time that has passed since then makes it any less deplorable.

What then do we have that is uniquely Australian and able to make us proud to be Australian?
Firstly, it's our sense of fairness and equality, which makes us treat any new acquaintance as a trustworthy potential friend. Only when someone turns out to be unworthy of our trust, will the friendly hand be retracted. To wit, "tall poppies", who give the impression of "being something better". Or new arrivals, who refuse to integrate, make no effort to learn the language, and consider the "culture" from which they come somehow superior to our tolerant attitudes.

Then there is our outdoors way of life, our plethora of sports, which comes natural in the kind of climate we're generally blessed with.

Lastly, our pride in any and all achievements where a fellow Australian has been successful on the global stage. Not an ex-Irishman, Serb, Italian, or Chinese, who excelled in tennis, medicine, music, or chemistry, but an Australian National - regardless whether first year Aussie, second Generation, or Third Fleet.

How can we better celebrate that? If it has to remain the 26th of January, by all means keep it on a nice summer's day. But focus on the achievements and pride of all Australians, not simply a bunch of invading Brits, who took something that didn't belong to them - mainly because some of them had, back home, taken something that didn't belong to them.

And if we could, one day, hopefully in my lifetime, become a truly independent Republic with our own flag and fully representative government of ALL our people, let that day become the New Australia Day.

 

[Julia]

What then do we have that is uniquely Australian and able to make us proud to be Australian?
Firstly, it's our sense of fairness and equality, which makes us treat any new acquaintance as a trustworthy potential friend.

Why do you claim this is 'uniquely Australian"?

 

[RandR]

Im proud to be Australian, Im proud of the culture we are establishing (that of multi-culturalism) and I am proud of the values that 'most' Australians adhere to. I think its fantastic that we are part of a culture and society still in its infancy, and so its one that we can still influence the direction of

... but to an extent ... i also believe patriotism to be an evil, it seems to do nothing but breed ignorance and ultimately seems to lead to suffering for humanity.

 

[noco]

Im proud to be Australian, Im proud of the culture we are establishing (that of multi-culturalism) and I am proud of the values that 'most' Australians adhere to. I think its fantastic that we are part of a culture and society still in its infancy, and so its one that we can still influence the direction of

... but to an extent ... i also believe patriotism to be an evil, it seems to do nothing but breed ignorance and ultimately seems to lead to suffering for humanity.

Fifty years ago it used to be the lucky country and now that it's being run so many dumbwits, it is becoming the unlucky country......more and more taxes and higher cost of living. Spend, spend, spend and when it runs out just ask for more. It's about time they learned how to handle the tax payers money instead of squandering it.

 

[pixel]

Why do you claim this is 'uniquely Australian"?

Good question, Julia;
the answer may be only my own personal experience:
"In no other country - and I've been to quite a few - have I found the same openness, coupled with irreverence, that I've found in Australians."
Sadly though, we're catching up with the rest of the world. Where not so long ago we left a door unlocked so friends could come in even when we were out, we now need not only locks deadbolted on doors and windows, but security systems that are monitored 24x7.

 

[Julia]

Hello Pixel, I know what you mean. I was, um, just being a Kiwi which I will always be at heart: New Zealanders are some of the most hospitable and friendly in the world which is why I had a little hissy fit about your suggesting such a characteristic was "uniquely Australian".

 

[nulla nulla]

Just because we change a flag doesnt take away anything from the history, its still Australia. Wasnt the flag red at one stage, its already had a few changes.

I am not a flag waver anyways, dont even possess a flag, but it would be nice to have an individual Australian flag when it gets raised at events where they dont mix it up with others.

I'm happy to be corrected but I think the red version of our flag may be (or have been) the Naval (merchant) version of our flag.

Australian Red Ensign

http://www.itsanhonour.gov.au/symbols/otherflag.cfm#Defence

 

[Logique]

...No humbleness about this girl [Jessica Watson]. No nonsense about role models or "showing the spirit of Queensland" either. She did what she wanted to do. And now she's rich and can do anything she likes. She thoroughly deserves any acolades and she knows it.

She's rich? Must have been a lot of upfront costs to recoup? But she's a straight-up kid no doubt. If she's rich she deserves to be.

She'd go alright as a pollie I reckon. Premier Watson, sounds alright.

 

[Bill M]

Where not so long ago we left a door unlocked so friends could come in even when we were out, we now need not only locks deadbolted on doors and windows, but security systems that are monitored 24x7.

I lock my door all the time, don't want friends, neighbors or anyone to come around unannounced, hate being disturbed. Some people don't take the hint, LEAVE US ALONE...:sleeping:

Oh yeah and I'm an Aussie too.:aus:

 

[noco]

Im proud to be Australian, Im proud of the culture we are establishing (that of multi-culturalism) and I am proud of the values that 'most' Australians adhere to. I think its fantastic that we are part of a culture and society still in its infancy, and so its one that we can still influence the direction of

... but to an extent ... i also believe patriotism to be an evil, it seems to do nothing but breed ignorance and ultimately seems to lead to suffering for humanity.

You won't be so proud to be an Australian when, not if, Australia becomes an Islamic state. Then you will get your wish for a new flag.
Thank God I won't be around when it happens.

 

[tothemax6]

I was born in Australia yet I still don't know what an Australian is.

That is because the term Australian has a weak basis. National genesis requires geo-demographic discontinuities to persist over a sustained period. For instance, it is quite clear what a Japanese person is. This is because the nation has existed in some form for a long time, they have their own unique language, a highly unique culture, and most importantly high nativity of ancestors. A Japanese person is born of the same, and so on, for many generations back. Indeed this has led to the firmest distinction between peoples that can occur - you can spot a Japanese person by physical appearance.
An Australian, on the other hand, does not have a distinct language, has only minor cultural distinctions (non-distinct diets, religions, customs etc), and very low nativity of ancestors. The reality is that looking for 'what is Australian' is always going to be clutching at straws.

Was it!?

It was, nice big dust bowl. Some people enjoy living in that, but I fail to see the virtue.

Im proud to be Australian, Im proud of the culture we are establishing (that of multi-culturalism)

Nonsense. What colour is 'multi-coloured'? What colour is a rainbow? Multi-culturalism is not a culture, it is the demographic situation in which a host culture commits self-dissolution.
The man who likes multiple cultures was quite happy with the world before this new abomination called 'multi-culturalism'. He could travel to all the countries and their cultures, un-mixed, and enjoy their uniqueness. Good luck to him doing that now. Cultures mix. They can only exist by their separation and territoriality. There is a long list of cultures that no longer exist - and there is only one way in which a culture can cease to exist. Immigration, supplantation, submergence, dissolution.

You won't be so proud to be an Australian when, not if, Australia becomes an Islamic state. Then you will get your wish for a new flag.
Thank God I won't be around when it happens.

Highly unlikely. Europe states will start to go first, and this will change the attitude in others nations (like China, India, Southern Africa, Australia, Americas) to be more anti-Islamic as they tune in to reality. Only Europe actually has the percentage of muslims for the problems to start.