Knowing that it's highly offensive to many - I wouldn't burn a flag. However, I see no point in banning an action that is symbolic and which doesn't physically harm anyone.

It is highly contradictory for us to claim that it's ok to have anti-muslim sentiment in cartoons, based on a culture of free speech, then demand that flag burning to be banned.

In South Africa - if we are to go by the book - it is illegal not only to burn the flag (unless incinerating ir completely in solemn ceremony whilst saluting it to dispose of an old flag). What's more, it is illegal to wear it on undergarments, doormats, and other debasing items. Whilst I don't think we should be going as far as to prosecute the young'uns who wear the flag as a cape and, due to their height, have the end touching the ground as some countries would, burning the flag in protest is surely an obvious and confrontational denial of something profoundly important: the authority of the state without which we could not securely claim that we would exist.

Appreciation of the flag is gaining. The British Island tradition of writing your football team and town on your flag is an example of the flag being owned and revered by the people, an acknowledgement of how everything fits in the grand scheme of things. At Sydney FC's last match (2-1 victory over Adelaide), in the "Cove" I saw a New South Welsh flag, with "Sydney FC" written into the Union Jack, and was glad not only to see the New South Flag being used, but also to see it being revered and celebrated in such a way. What's more, the use of the state flag showed a parochialism which one hopes will not dissappear. I was also happy to see the Irish tricolour emblazed with Sydney FC.

(Continued)
Above someone asked whether it is possible to be of Irish extraction and still want the Queen. The answer is certainly a 'Yes'. The Irish of Australia are the most British Irish that exist in the entire world. As Patrick O'Farrell noted in The Irish in Australia, for the Irish Australia was a land of new opportunity, and they were all for becoming 'Australians', the poems of John O'Brien also testify to this, whilst being proud of their heritage. Away from the strife and problems of Ireland, Australia looked like a fairer version of England. Republicanism was truly popular in Ireland after the departure of most then Irish-Australians. The historical greivance of the American Irish, most coming during the time of the famine, means that they saw America as great due to its absense of England. The Australian Irish, with even fewer coming in bad years (mainly due to the cost) than in good years left Ireland to share in a greater spoil of what England had.

The Irish played the greatest role of any minority in demanding a definition of "Australian" which was not the same as "British". It was, however, very similar to "British", due to our collective lot in which we found and still find ourself... in a Westminster system, with a monarch, speaking English, and adhering (once) to progress and improvement. Whilst there are noticable differences between working class Irish sentiments in Australia and upper-crust and rural Irish sentiments (with the latter two favouring monarchism, generally) on the whole, it is very possible to be a monarchist and owe allegiance to a Christian Queen. Irish is a mark of heritage, and the Australian Irish, though proud of their heritage, are markedly more English in most ways that their European ancestors.

The Irish pushed the frontier, settled and became established (even deported revolutionaries, noticing the difference, adhered to the state and became premiers and squattors), fought in wars and built our nation. They did so because what the monarchy best represents existed in Australia, when it didn't in Ireland at all.

A great way to grab a headline. It is sad people need to be so provocative to get their message across. I prefer dialogue...so long as everyone is listening to each others messages.

I am not sure how prawns on the barbi or curried rice have reference to the Australian or Aboriginal Flags. Unless ir represents our unity and diversity and our tolerance of diversity. Prawns on the barbi could be considered more Aboriginal than curried rice.

A flag is a symbol of the values of the group, and our current flag represents that very well. It symbolically represents our heritage values, institutions, laws, form of Government and our freedoms etc.

I have to agree with mickijo, "Our flag is a symbol of our history,and if the "invasion" upsets some, they should blacklist all products, electricity, transport, communications, money, medicines, that have flowed from that "invasion",have nothing whatever to do with modern housing ,gadgets, cars. You know all those things that have been invented and brought to you by the white races.

This is the most stupid reverse racism in action and if you think you would be better off sitting in the bush eating goanna, go and do so but do not be a hypocrit and use white man's inventions and commodities[what! no sugar! no tea!}then turn around and revile him."


Col Rouge has rightly identified the origins of our heritage derived from the Union.

The chappy who burnt the Aussie flag is a goose who is desperate for his 15 minutes of fame..
Obviously theres some problem that makes it not possible for him to get "good" attention so like a child with ADD any attention will do.
Of course he would be too principled to accept welfare payments from a commonwealth government.
Its hypocritical to feel like cringing about the murri flag being burnt and be ambivalent toward the same treatment of the Aussie flag. But theres my point fella...In doing so he's distinctly distancing one culture from the other, and not in a positive manner.
Dreadlocks form from poor hygene, perhaps he wants the government to buy him a swimming pool if he starts washing himself properly.