We are indeed so fortunate not to have the problems of North Korea, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Cuba.

But why attribute this to nationalism?

Compared with other evils, nationalism is one of the least - I even wonder sometimes whether this minimal indulgence is not a necessary evil under the circumstances. It is negative, but not as negative as other problems we have in Australia, such as drinking, gambling, the nanny state, political dysfunction and the aboriginal wound - and as I mentioned above, even these are small relative to the problems of others.

Let it be, Aristocrat, but to deduce that our blessings and positives are a result of our intolerance is no more intelligent than to deduce that they are a result of our drinking habits.

Australia Day, 26 January 1788, could be celebrated as a dawn of new beginnings, of new opportunities, although our history beyond this beginning has been so sorely tarnished. There has been a lot of mis-management, a failure to engage the original inhabitants, a failure to attempt to understand and to share. But, this was after all an opening of new horizons, and it is now up to us to determine where it will finally lead.

With rare exception, white settlement has been arrogant and ignorant, ambitious and uncompromising, determined and vicious, foolhardy and uncivilised. Thus, any celebration of new beginnings has a very large obstacle to overcome, an almost insurmountable mountain of inhumanity and injustice to conquer and surpass.

Only great compassion and enormous magnanimity on behalf of the original inhabitants can overcome this divide, can render history to its place, and thereby really enable new beginnings. It is a lot to ask, but ask it we must, for we are at an impossible impasse, at a point where we can not move constructively forward unless we can make such a reconcilliation, on both sides.

Nothing can undo the past, so what we must ask is what will it take to create the sort of future of which all may be justly proud. We must find a way to unite in conviction, in tolerance, and in justice.

Aus will never lead the world in carbon taxes and climate change, but it has an opportunity to lead the world in the sort of reconciliation and exemplification of humanity so desperately needed in such places as Israel/Palestine, Syria, Iraq, Afghanistan and Myanmar, to name just a few.

Let us then do our best to find this way forward, for all our sakes, and for the common good, through our resolve to unite and be recognised as Australians - not old, not new, but all.

Are you consistant in your beliefs Anne?

For there is another national day in the year on which our flag is displayed everywhere, even on cars. On that 'other' day there is rampant nationalism and a widespread belief our forebears were better than others and their descendents the same. Do we have to ask who we are including in a day of national celebration, on that 'other' day too?

On that day 'are we more concerned about maintaining a set and definable identity which may exclude some of our number' too?

Are such moments on that 'other' day also leading you to fear the flag, even when displayed when Australians still feel free and proud to fly their flag?

Do you want to denigrate Australians love of their flag, their country and their history on that 'other' day too?

'On the 24th of January a report was published on the ABC and across commercial news that suggested flag-flyers on Australia Day are more likely than not to hold racist views'

This appears to be the basis of your fear and your article.

You should know the survey was taken after a b-b-que on Australia Day in Western Australia. It involude very limited questioning, was not broadly based, and was undertaken by a left-wing leaning academic from a university in West Australia.

How you can extrapolate that out as representative of all Australians is unfathomable.

One wonders what results would show if a similar survey was undertaken of ex-servicemen and women, the descendants of ex-servicemen and women, current returned service personnal and their families after the celebrations on that 'other' national day

As much as I love the Aussie flag and think it is a great design. I would be willing to unite with all Australians to pick an entirely new flag that everyone could embrace and have no hostility too.

Are the Aboriginal people willing to pick a new flag too, or is all this talk they go on with about reconciliation something to be sceptical about.

But why, Cherful, would the aboriginals care for this flag or another? They lived without one for about 50000 years and it did not make them any less happy - perhaps we can learn from them!

Flags evolved from warfare - they were initially used to identify the battalions on the battle-field. Is it not time yet to say "enough is enough"?

With all the faults of British settlement everyone has far more opportunity than if the British did not come here. The aboriginal flag would be non existant except for the Settlers because the first people would have no material to make a flag from. The kind of dogma written by the author drives people like me who has never owned a flag to at least consider buying one just to get up the nose of the self loathing judgemental leftist academics.