Mitchell if that is your outlook on Australia and life in general, then you should run a warm bath and be done with it.
This false outraged is most unbecoming. Australians, and I mean all Australians have much to celebrate today, and everyone can pick what they are celebrating. The arguments about what Australian day is about are silly and petty, a bit like the same ones about Christmas. We are a work in progress, we have made mistakes and we will make mistakes in the future. All Australians however can enjoy a standard of living that most people in the world would risk their lives to get.

Mitchell and others if you can't find something that your proud of about this country, the common wealth of Australians then you are free to be as sad. or outraged as you like on Australia Day or any other day, for this is Australia and "we are young a free"

Mitchell,

The Aboriginal Flag is officially an Australian flag, under the Flags Act 1953, so it can be flown anywhere, anytime. If there is to be a new Australian flag, what say they replace the Union Jack with the Aboriginal Flag ?

My dear wife Maria and I started making Aboriginal Flags in mid-1972, for the Aboriginal embassies and for visiting artists. We made probably hundreds, after work: we'd put the kids to bed and knock out a couple each night. I've always thought of it as the Australian Flag, so beautiful and striking.

Joe Lane

cornonacob,
Thanks for that really thoughtful response. What “falsed outrage” are you talking about? And can you tease out one item for me from among the “much [Australians] have to celebrate today”, apart from their good fortune?
Do you have anything thoughtful to say on the subject? Have you ever really thought about it? Socrates’ dictum that “the unexamined life is not worth living” applies to whole cultures too you know. And what is OLO for? Is it there for us to simply nail our colours to the mast? Or are we prepared to take our blind prejudices to task, consider contrary points of view and grow?
Is Australia Day about anything more than self-congratulation?
I can’t believe my luck that I get to bring up my kids in this country. But I stop short of thinking it’s just, patting myself on the back for it!
Joe,
That’s a great story about you and the Mrs making flags. And the aboriginal flag replacing the Jack (I’m a pom by birth btw), oh yes! Now that it’s topical again you should push for the idea. What a beautiful flag that would make, and the symbolism!
But while the Aboriginal flag might be legal, try flying it in suburbia, mate. There’d be a lynching!
The whole Australia Day binge is despicable and stands for nothing—sorry to p!ss on the parade

Mitchell,

Today while celebrating Australia day with friends, I discussed this topic with a group consisting of an 8th generation Australian, two Chinese girls, and an Indian student. I think that we agreed that your position, as will as the position of Marieke Hardy-the author of the opinion piece you cite, is most probably due to your interaction with a minority of people who are intolerant, racist and offensive. However, you will be happy to know that the majority of people in Australia are tolerant, friendly and proud of the country we live in. This view of Australia is shared by many people, living in Australia and overseas- a fact supported by the large numbers of people wishing to migrate to Australia every year.

You are free to express your opinion, and even if the majority of people do not agree with you, you can still vote for a party that supports your concerns. If this party does not exist, you may even start your own party and campaign for your cause. Wow isn't this country just great!

Perhaps you should consider moving house, as the people in my suburb would be happy to accept the flying of the Aboriginal flag . However we may become offended if you start burning flags!

Stezza, "However, you will be happy to know that the majority of people in Australia are tolerant, friendly and proud of the country we live in".

And, "Perhaps you should consider moving house, as the people in my suburb would be happy to accept the flying of the Aboriginal flag".

Congratulations on your omniscience, Stezza; to be on intimate terms not only with your whole suburb, but the whole of Australia! And they all sound like such wonderful folk.
...Are you sure you live in A_U_S_T_R_A_L_I_A? and not Fantasia?

Well you've certainly got the Aussie spirit down pat on its special day: shallow and delusional.

I posted in the general section

A challenge to those who are fiercely defensive of the current national symbols to answer a few simple questions from memory.
1. Name the stars of Crux Australis (southern cross)?
2. Tell me from how many points does the big star have?
3. why?
4. what's its name?
5. How many verses has the "national Anthem" have?
6. Recite them?
8. Describe our coat of arms?
9. what's written on it?
10. Can you describe, name, your children/grand children
11. your parents birthdays?
12. you love them don't you ?
13. Give you say our symbols are so sacred how come you can't get 80% of the first 9 questions right?

My point is that most of fiercely defensive posters don't really identify with the symbols and are just being emotionally recalcitrant.

PS I can answer all except number 6., but I'm for changing them because they are obsolete unjustifiably biased while ignoring, the input, contribution and existence of others. Celebrating a mythical, "white-washed" exclusive history of ONE racial group. Which by the way treated us as lessors in at least 3 wars and culturally.