Does the King's Birthday long week-end mean a great
deal to Australians or does it signal little as
Julianne Schultz writes in The Guardian? She
tells us that it merely signals that our independence
is unfinished business.

Do most Australians just enjoy the public holiday and
not think about what it represents?

Many will probably not even know that King Charles was
born in 1948 on November 14th.

We know that the days that nations choose to celebrate
vary world-wide. And the days chosen say a great deal
about the nation.

What does it say about us - and what days should be put on
our country's list to celebrate?

And why?

The following link explains further:

http://theguardian.com/australia-news/commentisfree/article/2024/jun/09/kings-birthday-long-weekend-public-holiday-australia

Public holidays are a nuisance - why can't people just take their holidays when THEY need them?

«We know that the days that nations choose to celebrate
vary world-wide. And the days chosen say a great deal
about the nation.»

There you go again - there is no such thing as "nation", there are only people living and breathing, being born, getting old and dying, meanwhile trying to make the most of the life they have: please stop imposing that nonsense on them!

Yuyutsu,

In 1901, Australia became a nation forming the Commonwealth
of Australia.

Australia is a federal parliamentary constitutional monarchy
comprising six states and ten territories. The states of NSW,
Victoria, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia, and Western
Australia, the major mainland, ACT and NT and other minor or
external territories.

The King's birthday was first celebrated
in 1788 on George III's birthday.

This long week-end is a reminder that we're still part of the
Commonwealth. Calendars and diaries have changed to declare
that this is the King's Birthday - King Charles III.

Of course, there are other days that we could celebrate
if we chose to that would paint a different picture of
our nation. However many people are quite happy with the
way things are.

There's more at the link I gave.

Dear Foxy,

Please do not repeat the hollow propaganda regarding this stupid "nation" thing,
especially when attempting to include me by writing "our nation" as if I have anything to do with it
- you are more intelligent than that when you want!

So what if some people in 1901 said whatever they said, I was not there and had no say in it.

If you feel like celebrating anybody's birthday, nothing stops you from doing so at any time,
but there is no justification for forcing your preferences on others.

Yuyutsu,

I am not forcing anything on any one. This is a
discussion on the King's Birthday which is
being celebrated in this country today as a
public holiday.

You're not obliged to do so. Or for that matter
you are under no obligation to contribute to this
discussion either. Your validation is not required.

Cheers.

Now back to the topic:

The author of the article I gave in my first post
suggests that there are other days what we as a nation
could celebrate that would paint a different picture
of us:

1) 24th March (1966) the end of the White Australia Policy.

2) 18th December (1894) - when South Australia first place
in the world gave women the right to vote and the right to
stand for parliament.

3) 3 March (1986) the Australia Act that made the nation
fully independent of Britain (85 years after Federation).

And the list goes on. We could also include the recognition
of so many other dates - it is up to us to decide - or not.
Or keep things as is.

It is something to think about and debate.

Of course preferably without insults.