It’s coming up to “Australia Day” we’ll celebrate ‘origins’, we'll celebrate ‘heroes’ and what it means to be Australian. Some rightly see it as invasion day and would prefer Jan 1st.
But what we won’t celebrate are the ordinary folk. Those talented individuals who don’t appear in news papers … Like my daughter who would play Advance Australia what ever in three part harmony …on her nose flute. That is were she not perpetually suffering from hay-fever, allergies, sinusitis or nasal tract infections from all that pollen and “golden/red” dust. And so depressed because she worked for BHP.

Then there’s the lad from down the road not yet 15 and already he’s rated by the neighbours and police as “the most evil little basted they’ve ever seen”.
The other day he had a car up on blocks pinched the wheels, And blackmailed the driver behind to buy them for $50 per corner…all before the lights changed…now that’s entrepreneurial talent!

Let’s not forget the father who gave his 14yo daughter $200 for Christmas with which she bought two litres of no name vodka and10 cans of spray paint got wasted, had sex with 4 boys in one night, then the artistic bit, “tagged” 487 sites in two weeks…

I’m reliably informed (by a friend of a friend of some one who lives next door to it) that the cult in the next suburb has marriage ceremonies that involve old men under aged girls and warm decapitated chickens now that’s imaginative.

Lastly the local politician who turned his federal communication budget into a CMC enquiry. Not be out done they came up with the verdict “not enough evidence to sustain a conviction” not innocent not guilty but two bob each way…How Aussie can you be?

The only reason our notables seem more numerous is because of the size of the base.
Yep it’s SATIRE
Australia is a REAL place. There is no one uniquely Australian character. Australia is a conglomeration of diverse races, cultures, the good the bad and the ugly …viva la diferance . (Excuse my French)

1. We must cut our ties with british monarchy if we want to speak for an indepented state, for REAL AUSTRALIA DAY.
2. We must remember the genoside of aborigines people, the deaths, suffering and humuliation of them.
3. Modern Australia is migrant's nation, a multinational, multicultural country, and that THE RACISTS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMIES OF AUSTRALIA.
4. We are lucky to live in a multicultural, multinational society, because we learn to accept, unterstand and cooperate each other for mutual benefits
Sooner or later other countries have to learn to live as we live.

Antonios Symonakis
Adelaide

It’s invasion day.

That’s all.

Personally I think its a great time for thanking God for such a beautiful country that is imperfect but certainly a lot better than most. That is why so many want to come here legally or illegally.

Our Flag

Author: Unknown

Our Flag wears the stars that blaze at night,
In our Southern skies of blue,
And a little old flag in the corner,
That’s part of our heritage too.

It’s for the English, the Scots and the Irish,
Who were sent to the ends of the earth,
The rogues and schemers, the doers and dreamers,
Who gave modern Australia its birth.

And you, who are shouting to change it,
You don’t seem to understand,
It’s the flag of our laws and our language,
Not the flag of a faraway land.

Though there are plenty of people who'll tell you,
How when Europe was plunged into night,
That little old flag in the corner,
Was their symbol of freedom and light.

It doesn’t mean we owe allegiance,
To a forgotten imperial dream,
We’ve the stars to show where we’re going,
And the old flag to show where we’ve been.

It’s only an old piece of bunting,
It’s only an old piece of rag,
But there are thousands who’ve died for its honour,
And shed of their blood for OUR FLAG

Dear examinator,

"Australia Day - what does it mean to me?"

My parents set a precedent that has much to do with
the paths I've taken. They showed my brothers and me
that it is possible for people to change their lives,
and venture into the unknown. They came to Australia
as refugees, after World War II. I was born
in Australia.

Australia didn't always have a multicultural society.
However it does today. And this is one of the most
unique and rewarding aspects of living in Australia.
The nature of being Australian is to be part of this
diversity.

The wide and varied gathering of "identities" is in
keeping with the sense of potential and openess so
many people enjoyed on coming here. I feel
privileged not only to have been born here, but also
to have found my own sense of belonging. That's what
I celebrate on "Australia Day."

WW2 vets, my great uncle killed over there, and his brother, my grandfather, his big bullet wound from WW2.

Its the sun, sea, sand, bar b q, s its pride in those that came before.
Its cricket even when we do not win, its pride in its service men and women.
Its waiting for winter and a return to NRL football, a chance to stir my mates.
Its the good, the bad the ugly and thank fate its my country.
Invasion day? what day is England's invasion day? it has been invaded many times.
What country in the world is not troubled as we are by differences between some of its people?
We are a better country, we are the Nation we are because people like Foxys parents came here.
We learned to eat so much better we gained so much from those folk.
Yet is it so very wrong that some have concerns that some want little to do with things like Australia day?

“Yet is it so very wrong that some have concerns that some want little to do with things like Australia day?”

Not at all Belly. I’d say that it would be very wrong for anyone to think only of the positives and just ignore the fact that this country was based on the ‘displacement’ of the previous occupiers, or the manner in which they were displaced.

There is another enormous negative aspect to the development of this nation and hence the celebration of it: massive environmental alienation.

And the third great negative is that once we realised what we had done and were continuing to do to this continent (and its indigenous people), we basically went right on doing it, right up to this day, ….and just not bothering to even try to reach a point of balance between humanity and environment. Our leaders, and most of the community, STILL have no sense at all of sustainability. We are the most woeful managers of this continent.

Foxy,
I think you're fibbing! You can't be that old you don't look a day older than... (A gentleman never reveals a ladies age) ok so I'm not… 29. You're too measured to be 21 and well …er…too Foxy to be older.
;-)

Nice sentiments and as someone with similar origins I tend to agree. However, I’m one who believes that the day we celebrate “Australia day” was poorly chosen and would prefer the more neutral day we became a nation.

Meredith,
My genetic parents were a Latvian ‘reffos’ and I didn’t know them. My dad (adopted) was a survivor of the Burma Railway an experience whose consequences eventually killed him, I was still a 16. So in effect I lost two fathers and a mother to the consequences of the WW2.
Dad taught me that “Australia day is for the living and looking to the future, a joyous day, ANZAC day is for Dwelling on and remembering past sacrifices…each in their own sacred place

Dear examinator,

Just like Benjamin Button, I keep getting younger
each year :)

Seriously though, they say a woman is as old as
she looks and a man as old as he feels.
And I look (and feel) pretty great! (see I'm
humble too).

Australia Day to me should be a Celebration.
Of where we've been, and where we're going.
Sure, we're not perfect - but we're sure as
heck better than we sometimes give ourselves
credit for being. I'm proud of this country,
and all of its achievments (within a relatively
short span of time). We're not bogged down with
old traditions. We're a young country - and
there's still so much more to achieve. What I
would like to see more of though is - for us
to stop knocking things "Australian," and get
over the complex that anything from "overseas"
is better. It's not. And we should stand tall!
We've earned that right!

Anyway, I'll now get down off my soap box -
and put a prawn on the barbie!

Let's be kind to each other...

Examinator... What nice lighthearted values.

Mine taught me about the Jews and what they endured in WW2...

Examinator,

We celebrate as our "national" day the date that the British dumped convicts here( because they couldn't send them to America any longer) and we still retain a foreign monarch as head of state. Change the date, and celebrate something else, Republic Day hopefully.

Meredith I think you might be confusing Australia Day with Anzac day?

For me, being an immigrant, I look upon this as particularly significant to the settlement of Australia by Britain and the bounty of skills and institutions brought here by both convict and free-settlers to establish civilization in another Continental colony, since turned self-governing and free to choose its own destiny.

ASymeonakis “We must cut our ties with british monarchy if we want to speak for an indepented state,”

We are independent,

Pretending to fix what is not broken is a notion which costs more than the indifference which it achieves.

btw I am not a monarchist but, just as saying sorry was an exercise in cynical tokenism, so to would be the pointless break from the British Monarchy or redesigning the National Flag.

Gosh Examinator, if that is all you have to comment upon, I would suggest you try to grab one of those bottles of vodka you spoke of , run a bath (don’t worry about the water saving regulations), get in the bath, drink the vodka and slash your wrists

No, I'm not Col. He is who and what I think of... My grandfather is, in my eyes, why I am here in Australia.

I also think of our flag... and his war stuff.

Its just me man... I could write an essay on the suffering and great work of my ancestor convicts and settlers but I don't think of that as there may not have even been an Australia here as we know it anyway w/o men like my Great Uncle and Grandfather

Antonios.....

you said:

3. Modern Australia is migrant's nation, a multinational, multicultural country, and that THE RACISTS ARE THE MOST DANGEROUS ENEMIES OF AUSTRALIA.

Rubbish... modern Australia's greatest ENEMY is pathetic migrant ethnics who bring their ethnic squabbles to Australia and mess up our tennis by throwing chairs and abuse at each other.. THIRD year in a row.

Then we have your mob.. "Greeks and Macedonians".. sorry mate.. I am so disinterested in that issue that it defies description.. my only interest is in how it STUFFS up communiity relations here in my fair land.. In fact it IS against the law to vilify people on the basis of their race.. and that would include Macedonians attacking Greeks.. (verbally) and vice versa.

So.. my word to all Greeks and Macedonians (Serbs and Croats/Arabs and Jews) is... SHUT UP about your irrelevant history, and think more about how you can leave it behind and create a better Australia.

Oh wait.. I forgot.. a 'better' Australia is one where we teach just the 'Greek' version of history....right?

Soo..as for your RACISTS.. I agree.. i.e..All recent MIGRANTS who think they suddenly have a right to run the country after being here 5 minutes and still speaking with a strong FOOT-A-SCRAY accent. You know.. we were quite fine before you all came with your 'histories'..we had enough trouble with out own let alone adding yours to the mix.

BOAZ_David,

I don't know who you are any more.

What's happened to you?

Or are your comments an attempt at humour?

Because you're not the BOAZ_David I remember.
He wouldn't deliberately say hurtful things
to people. He was bigger than that.
He actually believed in the Aussie ideal of
a "fair go," for all.

Or at least that's what I thought.

David Boaz PLEASE

Not on this 'thread'

Opening new thread to discuss the people who should be asked to leave Australia.

Thank Yo

DB/Poly is a good person!

Lately I have watched him picked and picked by the forums name callers.

More so than I have ever seen anyone else cop it...

I think it needs to stop. It's obviously hurtful.

Meredith,

Light hearted values? Hardly,
you haven't read enough of me to make that conclusion if you had you'd realize how inappropriate that comment is.

Have you read about the Burma railway? Lots of AUSSIES were there and lots died in horrific circumstances only they were worked/starved/ beaten and diseased slowly to death.
Besides which what has the holocaust go to do with AUSTRALIA DAY?
There is a time and a place for that type of rememberance.
I think you've gone off on a tangent.

Col Rouge,
No not all I can comment on lots but I proposed this question for other peoples' comments.
As for the vodka invite I will if you will first when I see it on the news I'll remember you but I must admit it might take some time before I end it all I'm having too much fun.
BTW Didn't you see the comment 'yes it's satire' I wrote it especially for you and David. Not the satire just the comment. :-)

I'm proudly Australian and would love to have an Australia Day that is truly inclusive and that all Australians can celebrate with pride. The day in its current form doesn't quite cut it for me yet and I'm sure for many others.

To begin with, I agree with Ludwig and Mac, it's being celebrated on the wrong date. Celebrating the arrival of the First Fleet automatically excludes the many Australians who rue the day their ancestors' lands were invaded and taken from them. I'd prefer to see it celebrated on Eureka Day (December 3rd) or as Mac suggested on Republic Day (on whatever date that eventually ends up being).

As well, if we're going to parade the national flag to the extent we now do on this day, I'm sorry Foxy, but it too needs to be inclusive of all Australians. I'd like something new and bold, something that still gives the nod to our British inheritance to some small degree, but which also includes some symbolism that speaks to Australia's original inhabitants and to the history that is uniquely Australian, again perhaps Eureka's flag seems very fitting here.

Finally and most importantly, we need to become a truly welcoming and generous country first, if the meaning of the day is to advance beyond its current narrow and jingoistic flag waving. For as long as Australia continues to demonise innocent aslyum seekers, imposes a narrowly defined citizenship test, denies Aborigines true land justice and lurks in the shadow of Cronulla (as evidenced here by BD's petty little outburst), the day will remain a day that shines on the favoured and shuts out the rest.

Until things change fairly radically, I'm afraid I'll be leaving the flag waving to others.

Dear Bronwyn,

Beautifully put.

I salute you, dear lady.
You've summed it up so well.
I only wish I would have given my
posts more thought.

Bronwyn,

I should have also written that we Australians don't have any bloodstained significant events such as wars of independence, revolutions or civil wars, that defined us as a society.I haven't forgotten the dispossession of the indigenous inhabitants, this is one characteristic we share with other settler societies. The choice of 26th January as our national day is a rather ludicrous attempt to define ourselves through the actions of the British, which is the antithesis of a true national celebration,it seems to me a symptom of the colonial mentality of many Australians.

Bronwyn
Me too we just differ on the day. Having spent some time in Ballarat I know the story of Eureka stockade not the idealized myth but the truth. Also the flag was adopted by the old BLF and would still have bad memories for some.
But all the rest is in my mind a given.
But well writ you!

BOAZ_David wrote "You know.. we were quite fine before you all came "
Do you mean you were quite fine in the GOLDEN DAYS OF WHITE AUSTRALIA?
Forget it BOAZ_David, it is very late!
Do you see what happened in America? A black president!
The burning cross of KKK did not help them to block the election of Obama.
Right and religious extremism only problems creates.
Col Rouge
We are independent with a foreinger as head of our state! Is not it shamefull?

Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

In a chapter of Kristos Tsiolkas' book "Loaded", the protagonist is asked if he's proud to be Greek. He responds that he's _glad_ he's Greek, but not proud, because he had no choice in it. That's fairly much how I feel about being Australian.

We've just been through 12 years of a government that encouraged us - a nation of immigrants - to celebrate our patriotism by excluding and attacking foreigners, and the people who most fervently celebrate Australia Day are the same ones who want to drag our society backward.

Nothing in the last decade made me proud to be Australian, so I'll be celebrating this as a new beginning, so that perhaps in another 10 years I can look back and say that I helped make this country proud for the right reasons.

______________________________________________________________________

" Australia's national day for celebration is selected on very different grounds to that used by other nations. January 26th is the anniversary date of the coming of white people. That makes celebrating that date and its significance, race-based. The national day for just about all countries is not the day Europeans landed, but the day the countries became liberated from the colonialists.


The US national day marks the date of its independence from Britain, not the date Christopher Columbus landed. South Africa and India do not mark the coming of whites but honour the date of their independence from Britain.


Chile and Argentina do the same from Spain. If Australia were to honour the date of its establishment, as North Korea, the Czech and Slovak Republics do for theirs, the date would be January 1, 1901, not January 26th 1788. Australia's date of independence from the British was the date of federation.

The nation should aim to make a settlement with Aboriginal people. The date that the settlement is reached should be the new national day for celebration, one that can include everyone."

______________________________________________________________________

EXERPT from Press Statement by Michael Mansell, Lawyer, Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre 25-Jan-09

Meredith “No, I'm not Col. “
OK, you would understand my error in assumption :- )
“I could write an essay on the suffering and great work of my ancestor,,,”

if you can, do so, if for no one else’s benefit than your children. They should know of the esteem you hold those ancestors in and why.

Examinator “BTW Didn't you see the comment 'yes it's satire' I wrote it especially for you and David. Not the satire just the comment. :-)”

Yes I did but I never realized it had a humorous component, I suppose it is as is often suggested, some can tell a joke and those who cannot just become one.

ASymeonakis “Col Rouge We are independent with a foreinger as head of our state! Is not it shamefull?”

Actually the Queen is not a "foreigner", I suggest you first learn about the Australian government relationship to our head of state, before you try to criticize.

Now to the “is it not shameful?”

No it is not.

I suggested in my first post what Australia benefitted from English colonisation were “skills and institutions brought here”

Institutions including the organization of a head of state as well as the structure and offices of government and the judiciary, military, civil, civic and commercial organisations.

We can go back to 1658 when the Republican usurper and “Lord Protector” Oliver Cromwell died and the Monarchy was re-installed under Charles II.

Since then Britain has suffered no civil war. And enjoyed 450 years of stable Monarchy and Head of state working with Parliament to maintain stability for the benefit of the nation.

Australia inherited those values and institutions and has enjoyed 200+ years of stable government.

I guess with your name you are from Greece.
Greece cannot go 20 years without some military dictator overthrowing the government and declaring martial law and himself head of state.

I fail to see what basis of criticism you can make or improvements you could suggest to improve what has worked successfully for as long as the British Head of state or more importantly, the civil institutions which were adopted from our British past, when the best you can do is a mere couple of decades. No wonder Greece is one of the poorest nations in Europe, they spend all their opportunities fighting among one another whilst Britain’s spent their time colonizing and then trading around the globe.

You and a few million others might have arrived recently, like me, to enrich our “multi-cultural” heritage but I will remind you, Australia is not just about you, it is about all Australians, most of whom proudly recognize their British heritage still.

Meredith
My comments were made purely to keep squabbling off this particular thread.
To me it shows a sign of utter disrespect to argue on a thread about Australia day.

David I thank you for respecting my request- if that is what you did- not sure. Anyway the thread was rejected. I called it citizen’s watch.
Considering the thread to a large part has been destroyed already and especially spirit or lack of the way it was opened I guess it doesn’t matter.

I share your concerns and anger at some people wanting to destroy our country.

Antonios Symeonakis

Has stated many times on OLO they will vote us out and take over. All his comments have been anti Australia.

He Wrote = I do not think most Australians are racist.
Then he wrote something similar to this=

I write bellow some of the Concerns and recommendations of Human Rights Commission, UN, about Australia.
COMMITTEE ON THE ELIMINATION
OF RACIAL DISCRIMINATION
Sixty-sixth session
21 February-11 March 2005
CONSIDERATION OF REPORTS SUBMITTED BY STATES
PARTIES UNDER ARTICLE 9 OF THE CONVENTION
AUSTRALIA

= entrenched guarantee against racial discrimination that would override the law of the Commonwealth (Convention, art. 2).

** Pls Note override the law !**

If anybody cares to look he raised the issue of the funds from ASTIC being frozen.
Yes- because it was suspected that some of these funds were being sifted off to Muslim organisations opposed to our laws. Not to mention these funds were meant to be helping the aboriginal people and made up by our tax payers.
In one post I recall reading ASymeonakis, angry comment” That money was supposed to go to us!.
It was rumoured a group of Muslim People were working to open their own political party in Melbourne. It was also rumoured that these were the funds to be used.
He has refused to explain what he meant by those funds were supposed to go to us. Care to answer now ASymeonakis?

BTW It was My pleasure:):)

Our Flag

Author: Unknown

Our Flag wears the stars that blaze at night,
In our Southern skies of blue,
And a little old flag in the corner,
That’s part of our heritage too.

It’s for the English, the Scots and the Irish,
Who were sent to the ends of the earth,
The rogues and schemers, the doers and dreamers,
Who gave modern Australia its birth.

And you, who are shouting to change it,
You don’t seem to understand,
It’s the flag of our laws and our language,
Not the flag of a faraway land.

Though there are plenty of people who'll tell you,
How when Europe was plunged into night,
That little old flag in the corner,
Was their symbol of freedom and light.

It doesn’t mean we owe allegiance,
To a forgotten imperial dream,
We’ve the stars to show where we’re going,
And the old flag to show where we’ve been.

It’s only an old piece of bunting,
It’s only an old piece of rag,
But there are thousands who’ve died for its honour,
And shed of their blood for OUR FLAG

Foxy

I'm sorry for referring to you specifically when I mentioned the flag before. You must have wondered why I did that when you hadn't even mentioned the flag yourself, but as usual you were too polite to draw attention to my mistake!

I've just realised, now that she's posted it a second time, that it was PALEIF who posted the flag poem, not you. It was next to your post and looked like one of your posts which I guess is how I made the mistake, though certainly no excuse for it. My sincere apologies.

PALEIF

I understand your attachment to our current flag and the fact you've reminded us twice of now that thousands have died in its honour. It is possible for a new flag to include aspects of the old so that those who died serving their country continue to be honoured. No flag is ever worth dying for, but certainly not one that ties us so rigidly to an imperialist past and one whose symbolism fails to include all of us.

By the way, we got the message the first time, or are you just getting forgetful?

Bronwyn, Ludwig agree with you entirely, as a 6th gen white Australian myself I see a need for a flag that represents ALL Australians not just white Brits. And, as I have pointed out in past threads, Canada has a flag that projects "canada".

However this thread is not about the flag.

What does Australia Day mean to me? It would mean a lot to me if it was celebrated on another day - a selection that included everyone like the future Republican Day as Mac suggested, would be more in the spirit of inclusiveness.

Australia is an ancient land, with an original culture that goes back millenia and a multiplicity of cultures in recent history - not just British (Afghan camel drivers, Chinese gold diggers) and lest we forget Aboriginals who fought side by side whites in all our wars AND prior to getting the vote in the 60's.

January 26th is not fitting if we are to take pride in and call ourselves a nation.

Dear People Against Live Exports & Intensive Farming,
You wrote " Antonios Symeonakis Has stated many times on OLO they will vote us out and take over. All his comments have been anti Australia.
Only few simple questions.
1. What do you mean with the words "us" and "they"?
2.My coments are not anti Australia, BUT AGAINST THE RACISTS.

Col Rouge you wrote
1. "Actually the Queen is not a "foreigner", I did not know that the
British Queen lived in Australia and she passed the exams for Australian citizenship!
2."Greece is one of the poorest nations in Europe" you have right. Greece did not steal the wealth of other countries, as did all colonial countries, and did not benefit from the slavery. They was unter othoman ocupation.
3."proudly recognize their British heritage" I understand it, and I do the same thing for my Greek heritage" but it is a huge distance between the heritage and the queen of England to be Queen of Australia. WE ARE NOT ANY MORE BRITISH COLONY OR WE ARE?
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

BOAZ_David wrote
"modern Australia's greatest ENEMY is pathetic migrant ethnics" Realy? You love the migrants, even more than the One Nation!
All your Christian deep love have expressed to the "pathetic migrant ethnics"
YOU DRIVE THE WAY TO THE RACE AND RELIGIOUS UNTERSTANDING AND COOPERATION BETWEEN AUSTRALIANS! Haha!!
Antonios Symeonakis
Adelaide

ASymeonakis,

Your on record saying 'we' will vote 'you' out
So the real question must come back to 'you.'
.

I asked you long ago what you meant by WE and YOU?
You didnt answer.

Pls also answer my other question- What did you mean by the ATSIC
money was suppopsed to go to us?

Who are Us? and why would you feel tax payers funds for aboriginals should go anywhere other than to them.?

Did you not lobby the UN about this matter.?

What does Australia Day mean to me?

Its a day of reflection and of giving thanks for the life we have here.

Even with its faults, we are fortunate to have inherited the British systems of governance, justice, laws and community services. I appreciate that the Brits were strong enough to take this land and prevent other nations from claiming parts of it. Sure aboriginals got a rough deal but that was the times and they could have, would have, had it far worse if others were their conquerers.

I think of our explorers, pioneers, settlers who toiled hard to make us what we are today.

The drovers, shearers, navies, cane cutters, sailors, railway men, ringers, police, trackers, farmers, station hands, labourers of all sorts and all others, of many nationalities, and their wives that contributed so much. We are indeed fortunate.

I do not single out Aboriginals, Poms, Chinese, Afghans, Europeans or any other race/nationality for mention as I hope we are all Australians first and foremost.

I am reminded that there are some that want to change our way of life, either by design, selfishness or carelessness. The recent events of the riots at the Tennis and the media highlighting the comments of some religous cleric are stark reminders of this. This demonstrates our folly with the multicultural ideology and its divisive outcomes and the need to keep pressing integration. To me it also shows the need for us to be far more discriminating in who we allow to immigrate. We should not import those whom have shown they will not or cannot be part of our community, but wish to keep on with old world hatreds and impose alien cultural practices on us.

Someone once said that the price of freedom, and our way of life, is eternal vigilance. I could not agree more.

I honour our forebears.

Fractelle “the future Republican Day as Mac suggested, would be more in the spirit of inclusiveness….

January 26th is not fitting if we are to take pride in and call ourselves a nation “

I think that would be extremely divisive… changing things for meaningless reasons

But it could be put to a referendum, as described in the constitution and maybe when it flops it will be an end to the silliness.

ASymeonakis ”British Queen lived in Australia and she passed the exams for Australian citizenship!”

She inherited her Australian citizenship upon her ascension to the throne.

She has duel citizenship, like me.

“Greece did not steal the wealth of other countries,”

Too busy stealing from other Greeks.. and UK did not steal, it traded.

From the beginning of the 18th century, UK developed a political strategy of maintaining a Navy larger than the next two largest navies, a situation which was maintained until at least WWI.

From the time of Henry VIII the strategy has been to establish and protect trade routes. If you wanted theft and plunder, simply look at the Spanish, they raped South America in a way and with a ferocity which was never practiced by Britain.

So your cheap shot is about as convincing as Greece’s contemporary colonial success (ie going backward out of Cyprus)

“WE ARE NOT ANY MORE BRITISH COLONY OR WE ARE?”

No but we have not changed the head of state and like I said previously, nothing you have suggested offers the stability which we find in what we have already got.

I am not a monarchist but

I would rather have a titular monarch as head of state, than some here-today-gone-tomorrow politician elected by who – other politicians? Or maybe you would prefer we put on a three ring circus the way the Yanks do every 4 years?

ASymeonakis if I were you I would identify a reasonable alternative to implement before you try and tear down something which is obviously beyond your personal comprehension.

When you do suggest something, I will be happy to disclose it as bunkum

Examinator,
Nope, you misinterpret, Light hearted is talking about it as a joyful day, nothing to do with Burma.
As I said for me it is my grandfather.

Col,
Thanks man, yeh, this grandfather was the 3th generation to keep his old farm alive, my uncle is now the 4th… When I visit I am the 5th. Those guys are pretty proud of their past and the hard work and achievement. It’s sent a few of them to an early grave with droughts and the various stresses but yes, we are proud of it over all.

To keep up with the news: I’m against a republic too, I love the Commonwealth

Just to lighten things up a bit...

I came across this poem on another website by Evan Elpus:

"I've just seen 'Pride and Prejudice,' but feel no great compunction,
To swan around a vicarage, with tea and cakes for luncheon...
Though buying oil from Saudis, we decline to put their robes on,
And as for German influence - do you wear lederhosen? ...

And Kiwis are our cousins, (or something of that kidney),
But which of us would really say, 'Tum Funn hud fush un Sundey?'
...If Graumann's Chinese Theatre has a cast of Nixon's nose,
And parts of Dolly Parton are inflatable by hose,

Then who are we - and who am I - to get all snide and stroppy?
I only plead, Australia Fair!
Advance, - don't look and copy!"

Happy Australia Day Everyone!
Let's Celebrate - not what separates us, but what unites us. For
after all - ... " We are one, but we are many, and from all the
lands on earth we come ...You are, We are - A-U-S-T-R-A-L-I-A-N!"

As for changing the date of Australia Day? That will be up to
Australia to decide sometime in its future. We could still keep
the same date, if that's the date we choose to become a Republic!

Be Kind To Each Other!

Meredith,
Fair comment. My bad.

Fractelle,
I couldn't agree more. But no gum tree leaves please...besides which species? There's heaps of them and species vary from state to state.
:-)

Col
Speaking of jokes which book of British history are you reading? Was the author Alf Garnet? it seems so.
British royalty stable? Since when? their history is full of internecine plots and counter plots blood and plunder. Even Liz's uncle had questionable contacts/interests.

You mean the current Royal family isn't a three ring circus every day? (not so much Liz) Even as a soap opera it's over the top. The next crop are real clowns when it comes to being figureheads.

BTW the absence of one doesn't immediately imply the other.
You were obviously not paying attention but the model(S) presented were nothing like the US system. Even if the prez (figurehead) is elected his/her powers would be different to that of the US Prez.(no comparison)
The last plebiscite etc merely showed how devious Howard and Co could be and that we haven’t had a real choice of options Yet! According to latest polls over 60% of Australians want to be a republic.

One doesn't have to have a clear alternative to see that the current system has more problems standing than a roo with one back leg.
Antonios is right we need our own symbols ones that relates and refects the reality of Australia not just its colonial past.

in·va·sion (n-vzhn)
n.
1. The act of invading, especially the entrance of an armed force into a territory to conquer.
2. A large-scale onset of something injurious or harmful, such as a disease.
3. An intrusion or encroachment.

gen·o·cide (jn-sd)
n.
The systematic and planned extermination of an entire national, racial, political, or ethnic group.

de·ni·al (d-nl)
n.
1. A refusal to comply with or satisfy a request.
a. A refusal to grant the truth of a statement or allegation; a contradiction.
a. A refusal to accept or believe something, such as a doctrine or belief.
b. Psychology An unconscious defense mechanism characterized by refusal to acknowledge painful realities, thoughts, or feelings.
3. The act of disowning or disavowing; repudiation.
4. Abstinence; self-denial.

hu·bris (hybrs) also hy·bris (h-)
n.Overbearing pride or presumption; arrogance.

shal·low (shl)
adj. shal·low·er, shal·low·est
1. Measuring little from bottom to top or surface; lacking physical depth.
2. Lacking depth of intellect, emotion, or knowledge:

de·fi·ant (d-fnt)
adj.
Marked by defiance; boldly resisting.

my·o·pi·a (m-p-)
n.
1. A visual defect in which distant objects appear blurred because their images are focused in front of the retina rather than on it; nearsightedness. Also called short sight.
2. Lack of discernment or long-range perspective in thinking or planning:

psy·chot·ic (s-ktk)
adj.
Of, relating to, or affected by psychosis.
n.
A person affected by psychosis

anx·i·e·ty (ng-z-t)
n. pl. anx·i·e·ties
1.
a. A state of uneasiness and apprehension, as about future uncertainties.
b. A cause of anxiety: For some people, air travel is a real anxiety.
2. Psychiatry A state of apprehension, uncertainty, and fear resulting from the anticipation of a realistic or fantasized threatening event or situation, often impairing physical and psychological functioning.
3. Eager, often agitated desire: my anxiety to make a good impression.

Examinator

Your point about eucalyptus leaves is most pertinent. How about a great big Macadamia nut?

Cheers m'dear.

it means not much to me, sorry guys

for many here in WA another reason to get pissed, and sadly for some to start another fight down the line

for others spending their day at the beach meaning getting pissed as well and leaving their rubbish behind

for those I forgot to mention earlier it means having a couple of quite ones and throwing the empty stubbies out of their beloved Holden Commodores with two flags waving in the wind

No Australia Day would mean one day less of anti social behaviour,
so it really means nothing to me..

examinator,
We, not long ago, had a very extensive debate and referendum on a republic and it was soundly defeated. Blame Howard for that! He made his position clear from the start and took no further part in the debate. The republicans got to put the model they prefered and Howard even allowed his parliamentry members to take part freely for or against. It was defeated and that is the best poll.

It was soundly beaten because no one could show any sound practical advantage, either social or economic, for us to change.

When republicans can demonstrate just how we will be better off by discarding a reliable working system for a pig in a poke, then I may listen.

Oh, and don't forget the costs to change.

Examinator “British royalty stable? Since when? their history is full of internecine plots and counter plots blood and plunder”

since Cromwell how many times has the Monarchy been deposed and not succeeded with another Monarch?

There have been ripples and sometimes arm bending but all to be expected in any institution.

Of course you also confuse the personality with the institution.

As to Alf Garnet, are you trying to promote yourself as a cliché … or just out to gain a place at the bottom of the debating pecking order, that position held currently by the other lover of Alf Garnet, the resident CJ Moron?

“The last plebiscite etc merely showed how devious….”

The excuse of the lazy malcontent, unable deal with their own rejection.

“One doesn't have to have a clear alternative to see that the current system has more problems standing than a roo with one back leg.”

Ahh that is the system which has coped with two world wars and the odd constitutional crisis.

Seems to me, more hollow criticism devoid of substance or justification…

“Antonios is right we need our own symbols ones that relates and refects the reality of Australia not just its colonial past.”

Only the chronically insecure and emotionally crippled need “our own symbols”.
Real people find making their own way in life and making families is where they make their own mark, independent of the symbolism you seem to need to express yourself through.

Our colonial past is part of the present reality and is perpetuated in the structure and institutions of of government and the courts. Maybe you will demand we change to some alternative governmental and judicial order next.

More pointless change designed to placate the insecurities of the patently inadequate.

I see Banjo has already addressed one of your rewrite of history.

I see rainier has mastered the art of “Cut and Paste” (he probably does a lot of that as he plagiarizes the effort of others) unfortunately he has failed to associate it with any meaningful comment but of course, we are looking at a post from rainier

Banjo,

It wasn’t a comprehensive debate it was a stage managed farce. There was never an intention to let the public to choose between a Republic and the Monarchy. Howard/Nick Minchin tactics were to manage the debate to their favour this they did by setting the terms and parameters of the debate, a limited plebiscite, refusing to allow the widely preferred method of a yes or no on a Republic. Then present a number of options in a run off situation.

The referendum wasn’t about do we want to be a republic it was which of the TWO alternatives do you want Turnbull’s option or status quo.
The referendum didn’t fail because the public couldn’t see any benefit in a Republic, that was Howard/Minchin’s spin! The truth was the public didn’t accept Turnbull’s undemocratically arrived at option they wanted more say.

As you are clearly committed to your argument I recommend we agree to disagree. Thanks for your civil input.

Col Rouge
You seem to have forgotten I am here for discussion not your unimaginative plagerized insults and bully boy BS.
Am I being precious? No just bored. When you’re ready to agree to a sensible discussion I’ll be around.

Stab! lucky! water off a ducks back. Yes! the convicts ,zmshdlaeurhpiuv2eh5tifhwetuifv2pior, there day. salivate! Not one of you understand the struggle of right and wrong!

THE world must be a collective! or better still, a global, if not, provable, back to all our places.

A 100 years of reduction and repair. This is what is needed, and you only need half a brain too understand, we are all in deep sh@t and that's a fact!

Australia day. and we are waking up too what? Another UK 1900 century fu-k up!, this is the reality. I spent my day with my family, and this is a treasure in its self!

I hope you back off once in a while and think about what is important.

With-out Love! you have NOTHINK! Gain the point for money at own peril, don't say I didnt warn you.

PS I told you ploy will loose it. The frame work is a work in its self. Only the man or woman will understand the which one has achieved, pray-tell, the ones who studies, what is the reality! Only them will mark the way.

In small, this is a tragedy!

And you all celebrating what?

EVO

The only thing Australia Day means to me is that it provides a badly needed long weekend!

But boy doesn’t it make it hard to go back to work on the Tuesday after!

Hwaaaaw (:>(

Colonoscopy wrote: "I see rainier has mastered the art of “Cut and Paste” (he probably does a lot of that as he plagiarizes the effort of others) unfortunately he has failed to associate it with any meaningful comment but of course, we are looking at a post from rainier"

Most intellectually able people who are able to understand abstraction - as such those words are comment enough.

Clearly you are more comfortable with a more didactic approach

So just for you:

An·glo·phile
____________

n. One who admires England, its people, and its culture and incessantly declares its virtues whilst living elswhere
An'glo·phile, An'glo·phil'ic adj., An'glo·phil'i·a

Tosser
______

noun
1. terms of abuse for a masturbator
2. someone who throws lightly (as with the palm upward)
3. a post Thatcherite romantic
4. a pretentious bore
5. one eyed ideologue

bes·ti·al·i·ty
_________________

Pronunciation: "bes-chE-'a-l&-tE, "bEs-
Function: noun
: the crime of engaging in sexual relations with an animal —see also CRIME AGAINST NATURE

Examinator “You seem to have forgotten I am here for discussion not your unimaginative plagerized insults and bully boy BS.
Am I being precious? No just bored. When you’re ready to agree to a sensible discussion I’ll be around.”

I suppose that is one way of avoiding your lack of debating prowess. You cannot discuss the overwhelming significance of Australia’s British Colonial heritage, no differently to proclaiming to Banjo “As you are clearly committed to your argument I recommend we agree to disagree.”

You might think it suffices for a response as far as it goes it is an excuse and a far from adequate one for someone who proclaims their perfection and personal virtue at every opportunity.

Rainier “Most intellectually able people who are able to understand abstraction - as such those words are comment enough.”

Yes but there is a difference between “abstract” and “obtuse” which you seem to have missed,

Largely because you are so obtuse.

Regarding anglophile

I proudly acknowledge, that field of opportunity from which to recall Britain’s worldly significance and world shaping achievements is a far richer pasture to survey -

Than the bare rocks and burnt wilderness of your ancestry.

We well recall the pictures you were previously banned for posting and realized a long time ago your personal familiarity with “Tosser”. I fear you are merely projecting if you think such things are equally applicable to civilized folk.

Again bestiality… your tribal practices differ from those pursued by we folk of British stock.

(but it does remind me of a joke about beer bottles filled with blow flies… )

So rainier, keep ‘em coming, doubtless you are working yourself up (and maybe off) but it matters little to me, just an opportunity for a practice slapping

I have no objection to retaining , or changing , 26 January , as the date . I understand why Aboriginal citizens want it changed , and I suggest the day when Australia becomes a republic as an appropriate date . At present , I feel no stirring of national pride in this celebration . The head of state is a foreigner .

The national flag contains the foreign symbol of the Union Jack . Those whose idea of demonstrating national pride is to wave the flag [ regardless of what sort of flag it is ] , tattoo their faces with this flag and sing the national anthem with their hands on their hearts , are demonstrating that they have no concept of being Australian . They are behaving like second rate Americans , waving a British flag .

ASymeonakis - the racist (anti-Aussie) taxi driver.

Do you ever pick up pax at Adelaide airport?

Look behind when you pick up your fare or next time you go Greek.

Colonoscopy,

I simply cut and pasted some words/defintions. If you see fit to reflect on their relevance to your own character, that is your choice.
Far be it for me to accuse you of what you already know / or are in denial about yourself.

50 dollars is my last offer!

rainier, you cannot buy me, although I am sure you would not be above trading your sister

examinator,
There are quite a.few things that I am far from happy about, with the UK. After all we did for Briton during the war, when they thought it may be more advantagous to them they cast aside our trade and went to the EU. We gave heaps of aid, especially food, to them both during and after the war. I clearly recall butter rationing up until about 1950 here, because the butter was being sent to Briton. Despite our close ties and part of the Commonwealth, if one travels to the UK, we Aussies have to queue in the foreigners queue at customs while EU people get preferential treatment. This includes the Germans who bombed hell out of them. These things irk me!

But I am not going to discard a good workable governance system simply because of this. You should look again at the events of the Constitutional Convention. If anyone could call it a farce it would be the Monacists because it was top heavy with Republicans. Despite what you say the Republicans decided on what they wanted and it was put to the people and defeated. You and a few others should accept that and be gracious about it. The issues you mentioned were after thoughts, after the race was run. You are thinkung 'perhaps we should have done this or that'. Blame the ref for losing the game.

The reason you do not want to continue the debate now is because you know I will ask you to show ALL the practical advantages of becoming a Republic and you will be unable to do so. For there are none and you still want us to risk a good system for one that may well be worse.

I want to stay in the Commonwealth so the Queen can come sack Mr Rudd if we ask. (joking (kinda))

But yes, why fix what isn't broken. UK is a big part of the majority of Australians history and not a problem.

I sailed into the Island of Gizo, in the Solomons, quite a few years back now, but also quite a few years after the Solomons had achieved self government. The paint on the main warehouse, behind the warf was rather faded.

Even faded, it was clear to read.
GIZO, BRITISH SOLOMON ISLAND PROTRECTERATE.

I was most impressed with the maturity of these people.

All over the pacific I had watched a frenzy of activity, as newly independent people rushed to obliterate the signs of their colonial past, but not here. As one said to me, why bother, it won't change my day. After all, it's just a couple of lines, on a bit of paper, & a sign on a shed.

Many of the respondents here might gain something, from spending some time with those islanders. On second thoughts, they should stay away, the Solomon Islanders don't need these insecure, immature types up there, demanding they paint out a bit of their history.

The original question, what does Australia day mean to me?

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

I was born here, & my parents were born here.

I have served in our defence force, & my son is serving in our defence force.

I know who, & what I am, & I am comfortable in my skin, & my with relationship with my country.

I don't need any symbolism, or public displays, to affirm that relationship, but I have no problem with others who enjoy or need such things.

I hope you all enjoyed the day, in what ever way suits you.

Hasbeen,
First post...2 points
1. One swallow doesn't make a spring.
2. To each their own according to their needs...some people need symbolism. Churces thrive on it. It has nothing to do with maturity.

Second post

I tend to agree with you there'll be glaciers in marble bar before I'll go all jingoistic.
Cheers
examinator.

Meredith
I understand and accept your political orientation.
But you must really watch those unrealistic extreme/absolutist assertions.
ie. >> UK is a big part of the majority of Australians history and not a problem.<< This depends on you view point some say 200+ years is a bit pitiful alongside 40k. Given that there are an increasing number of people here who aren't anglophile "not a problem" is tendentious at best.
When what I surmise you mean is that you don't see the indigenous people as being a significant part of "Australia" the colony come country as an act of the British parliament. And that this isn’t a problem to YOU. Which is your right... but the way you put it?

Meredith, As has been the case on several threads, I agree with your perspective.

I too agree with hasbeen’s comments, regarding the fading vestiges of a colonial heritage
“As one said to me, why bother, it won't change my day.”

Anyone who thinks the earth will shift beneath their feet simply because we change flag or head of state is a fool.

Anyone who thinks Australia can ignore its British heritage is entitled to think that but they are not entitled to presume their view is shared by more than a minority of the population of Australia .

When we consider the colonial past of most of the rest of the world, anyone incorporated into the old British Empire should consider themselves lucky it was the Brits who colonised

and not the French, Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Russians, Italians or other old colonial master who could have planted a flag and declared Australia their sovereign territory or as worried one past GG and Labor Party leader, Bill Hayden observed, Indonesia (whose made a public demonstration of their colonial values in their conquest of East Timor).

Bearing in mind the overwhelming dominance of the British culture on Australia’s institutions and fabric, as well as its population, as I said to another poster on another thread earlier today, if it is such a problem for you I suggest you bugger off back the rat hole you came from.

and those who protest about aboriginals in the context of Australia, that was “fixed” in the 1967 referendum. Just as the republic was rejected in 1999 referendum and the process for calling those referendums was incorporated into the Australian Constitution, which previous Australians, overwhelmingly from British Stock, wrote for the moment of Federation

and we all benefit from their constitutional wisdom fortunately conceived with its exclusive dependence on "British" values and influence

Hi guys,

Thanks Col, I tend to agree with you too a lot of the time too, you seem morally clear and easy going enough to be open to new things too, I like that combination lots, and Hasbeen I think that post is spot on.

But with the symbols, I think symbolism is pretty important, it's like a visual, aural language of its own... and it's potent and its everywhere...

Examinator,
You've corrected my spelling and grammar before, now my manner of speech? I must come over and re do your wardrobe and hair for your betterment too... I wear black and at times have my hair dyed green and you just "must" too... (just stirring)

As I have said to you before, I like and appreciate you but I don't like like to have how I speak dictated to me, I can see your able to understand (or misunderstand) me as you choose and that is good enough for me, that I don't debate or discuss according to your criteria is not a big deal. Your free to talk as you wish so am I.

A lot of people really are jack of the the attempted rewriting of English by the PC over the past 20 odd years. I'm one of them, hey.

AAAAAH Antonious :) u are surely a naughty boy.. a bad rascal.. in need of some discipline......

You CUT off my sentence about WHICH migrants jusssst before it said:

<<....who bring their ethnic squabbles to Australia and mess up our tennis by throwing chairs and abuse at each other.. THIRD year in a row.>>

In other words.. you tried to MIS represent me and make me out to be a hater of ALLLLL migrants just because they are migrants.. .

*BIG SMACK* for you... verbal only :)

Now.. u must do better.. and see what is actually written.

I should add one more category of 'enemy' of Australia.. it's the "greek" women, who said to the Age reporter "Oh yes..I'm so proud to be GREEK" and she was 3rd generation AUSTRALIAN.. or...was she?

With a mindset like that I call her UN-Australian just as much as any one who says "I'm so proud to be Scottish or English or Welsh or Irish" if they are 3rd generation here!

To say such a thing.. Greek/Irish/English is RACCCCCCCCIST!

Get over yourself and just be 'Australian'.

So, Australia day for me is to AFFIRM that idea.

This last rant from the sockpuppet who's just been raving on about "we Anglos" on another thread. No hypocrisy there...

YAWN! how droll.

Just a bit of a different thought towards this issue:
A couple of months back my wife and I flew to Frankfurt, Germany.
At our arrival we were asked no questions whatshowever, we didn't need to fill in any written documentary of private information and we didn't even need to open our suitcases. We even have been welcomed there.
Coming back to our luckiest country, we were reminded straight away to fill out the incoming passenger card, asking around 30 different questions, after queeing our lagguage was taken apart by our friendly custom staff and once we left the airport in Perth, we were advised
that for legal and safety reason we have to walk around the building to await a cab there. A welcome back home was completely missing!
Is there a chance that I do get something wrong here? Where has the Aussie spirit gone? Maybe we have to focus more on a together again with a fair go for others instead of trying to become the second best after the US (of course),
cheers Michael

Meredith,
What'wrong with my green hair? :-o
No one was dictating anything I was just rephrasing what you said because it was literally different from what you meant. Likewise I was clarifying your comment so that we both understand.
No insult meant...Sorry.