Steve 101,

"Banners and flags were meant to threaten people, imposing ideas that bulling forceful influence were to be expected."

Care to comment on the flag of the Republic of Ireland?

That Orange, White and Green tri-colour, Orange for the Protestants, Green for the Catholics and White for Brotherhood between the two.

Then there is the Indian Tri-colour:
"A flag is a necessity for all nations. Millions have died for it. It is no doubt a kind of idolatry which would be a sin to destroy. For, a flag represents an Ideal The unfurling of the Union Jack evokes in the English breast sentiments whose strength it is difficult to measure. The Stars and Stripes mean a world to the Americans. The Star and the Crescent will call forth the best bravery in Islam."

"It will be necessary for us Indians Muslims, Christians Jews, Parsis, and all others to whom India is their home-to recognize a common flag to live and to die for."

- Mahatma Gandhi"

Great article
The lack of art,,film and books depicting the conquest of this land is damning and it does us whites harm too.
This void only continues the dispossession into present day - it's an active denial
It's this same denial which underpins the continuous patronizing and emasculating failed policies directed at indigenous people for the last two centuries.

It is unfortunate you felt it was necessary to use the Adam Goodes saga during the last football season to augment your article when i believe it undermines your point and confuses the issue with something which is essentially counter productive to your purpose.

We increasingly live in a culture incapable of discussing uncomfortable topics. The initial purpose of political correctness was to fast track a cultural change by censoring language. This was done with an honest and noble purpose but it was for a noble end by ignoble means - censorship.

This censorship has become toxic and has morphed in ways no one could have imagined.

Rather than fast track change it has hidden racism behind the symbols of equality - namely censored language.

It is not ironic but inevitable that indigenous films are shunned - censored -
Because a culture of symbolic politeness is fully ingrained -'I'm sure the rejection to show the film was done with impeccable courtesy

Well meaning political correctness has frozen underlying prejudices underneath a rubble of superior inoffensive language. Those who once may have acted to progress this and many other injustices no longer take strategic action to change policy, reveal corruption, challenge beliefs, expose practices and risk ridicule or arrest.

No, today, political correctness enables its proponent to feel they have acheived something simply via Discipline of words. Whilst the PC prefects feel superior to the transgressors purely by virtue of publicly policing verbal discipline.

The western skill par excellence is to put our heads in the sand. Politeness, correctness and censorship enables us to pretend everything is ok.

Thank you for that clarification on 'Love Thy Neighbour ' Rhian,
It has been a long time since I read the bible, but I always remember reading that quote.
Maybe if more people followed that thought then the world wouldn't be in such a mess.

Mind you, I was listening to a radio program on Australia Day today and they said how we were the most successful multicultural country in the world, and that made me more proud than anything else I heard about Australia.

I was also pleased to see former Army chief David Morrison named '...the 2016 Australian of the Year for his commitment to gender equality, diversity and inclusion."
(abc.com.au).
A truly worthy recipient for tackling gender disparity issues in the army and making a difference to the lives of females, homosexuals and others in the military.

This article is littered with the usual 'Pilgerisms' such as
"....This was the moment the only island continent on earth was taken from its inhabitants;...."

Clearly inaccurate as only the East was claimed by Britain, they were content to leave the West to the French.
The British brought with them their Law, hence the Mabo decision so many years later.

Happy Australia (Always Mention Aborigine) Day all

With the New Australian of the Year, David Morrison, out goes main cause Domestic Violence (ad nauseum) and in comes Gays, Lesbians, Bisexuals and Transgeneder (LGBT).

LGBT and Same Sex Marriage again and again all 2016!

Bugger!!

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/political-news/australian-of-the-year-david-morrison-delivers-turnbull-slapdown-in-first-speech-20160125-gmdsck.html

John Pilger we must move on. All the hand wringing on the planet will not correct the injustices. There are very few Aborigines left with even 50% of their genetics in tack and thus we have some that are not recognizable as Aborigines getting the financial benefits.Don't forget also that Aboriginal tribes were fighting and killing each other.We are a murderous species that continues this genocide today with wars all over the planet promulgated under the lie of terrorism.

I don't like Aust Day as it is being used to demonise Muslims and justify more wars.

The Viking and the Romans invaded Britain but now a new culture exists,so will it be here with hundreds of nationalities coming here on a yearly basis.