Most Australians don't want the date changed.

Simon Longstaff, Executive Director of the Ethics Centre
writes that there are two rival accounts of Australian history
both of which have provided rich pickings for mainstream and
social media.

Both sides have been pitched against each other.

There's the "White Arm Band"of history that sees the First Fleet's
arrival as a positive. And then there's the "Black Arm Band" that
sees the arrival of the First Fleet as an invasion, as a
negative.

There's truth on both sides.

Much that is truly admirable can be traced back to
British antecedants. The rule of law, the methods of science,
the principle of respect for the intrinsic dignity of persons.
These are just a few examples that the author gives of a strong
heritage.

Of course he also talks about the dark stains in the nation's
history.

He writes that no resonable person can deny them.

So what are we to make of January 26th?

We're told that it all depends on what is to be done on this
day?

Is this day a time for reflection - a potent anniversary.
Or is it to be a day of celebration for all Australians?

Then why, the author asks - choose a date which represents loss
and suffering for so many of our citizens?

There's more at:

http://abc.net.au/religion/a-tale-of-two-truths-what-should-we-make-of-australia-day/10095032

Foxy,

This is a perennial question posed at this time of the year.

I'm sure many media outlets have their clip-bait articles prepared and ready to go.

The Christmas break is over and schools are about to start the year.

Australia Day outrage and cost of school uniforms is about all there generally is in the news cycle at this time of the year.

I am more concerned about the apparent lack of knowledge of Australian history by the general public.

I don't have a problem knowing that Australia day can mean many things to many different people.

Hi Foxy,

Some see the 26th January 1788 as 'Invasion Day' when 11 ships of unknown origin, carrying a tribe of about 1400 people landed at Sydney Cove and set up camp. The natives soon realised the uninvited new comers were not leaving.

Every year this nonsense is dragged up by the same white-ants, showing the world what a joke Australia is. No other people rubbish their own country like these malcontented halfwits do.

Even the appalling Anthony Albanese won't touch Australia Day, which shows how mad the people who harp on it, set off like alarm clocks once a year, are. Australia Day is the 26th of January. It has nothing to do with aborigines, whose descendants celebrate lots of days at the expense of the majority.

Why is an issue that apparently has different points
of view should not be discussed or only have one
acceptable side?

Why aren't rival accounts of history unacceptable. Why
the personal insults? If the discussion is unacceptable -
don't comment. Stay away.

But apparently it is important enough to insult.

This topic has been rich pickings for mainstream and
social media. Pitching sides against each other.

I grew up knowing little about the history of our Indigenous
People. I remember celebrating Australia Day in Sydney with
re-enactments taking place. I loved the costumes, the
boats and all the ceremonies.

It was much, much later that any protests took place and I
always assumed those protesting were trouble makers out
for attention.

I did not understand that the arrival of the First Fleet
was a disaster for the Indigenous people who fought, lost,
and the wounds remain.

I also did not know that the British had been specifically
instructed to respect the interests of the Aboriginal
people of New Holland. That the arrival of the First Fleet
was a disaster for the people already living here for generations.

In the link given earlier, history shows that it was the same
kind of disaster visited on the British - on arrival of the Romans, the
Anglo Saxons invaded by the Vikings and their Norman kin.
Lnad was taken, language was suppressed if not destroyed,
local religions trashed. Everything taken by conquest.
Which was a feature of history around the world.

Today, as already stated earlier we are driven by politics
and many are greatly influenced.

It's becoming difficult to see the bigger picture. But
we should at least try to be civil to each other.

Most Australians according to the surveys want to keep
Australia Day as is. What the future holds - who knows. But
it still is worth debating.

I have to admit that I am also one who wants Australia
Day to remain as is. It's part of our history.

The First Fleeters considered themselves British.
In fact it took some time for the British and their
descendents in Australia to stop thinking of England
as "home".

Australia for a very long time was viewed as an outpost
of the British Empire. Far beyond the time when this
perception was literally true or even remotely
reasonable.

And yet, as Ben Pobjie writes:

" Yet somehow, the diverse peoples of the Indigenous
nations and deluded white criminals of the motherland
ended up forming a single nation. This amazing land we
call Australia. Which combines all the best of its
brutally cruel origins in modern complacency and
self deception".

Pobjie's book - "Aussie, Aussie, Aussie," is worth a read.

Why people even bother about changing the day shows the spoiled-child like mentality of so many who never had to work for a living & never nor ever will contribute to society in a positive manner !

Aboriginals don't need to participate in White Anglo Society if they don't want to, they have their own territory, they can have the own Aboriginal Nation holidays if they desire. Why should it be ok for Aboriginals to force their opinion on White Anglo people, this is dictatorship. Aboriginal's couldn't defend themselves when the British arrived. Victoria had a policy of protection of native peoples. No we shouldn't change the date of Australia Day

Just make it a long weekend every year. Like it used to be. Nothing more Australian than that.

"Aboriginals don't need to participate in White Anglo Society" shows not only is the Kudos Kid a white supremacists, a racists who believes in the superiority of his whiteness, but he supports apartheid as well. A bit of a Botha type!

Paul1405,
Why force them if they don't want to ? They're already totally confused with so many special days & programmes just for them & the many who pull their Aboriginality out of a raffle barrel !

On the 26th of January 1788 the First Fleet sailed through the heads
and sailed up Port Jackson and dropped anchor in Sydney Cove.

This was the biggest event in 60,000 years !

Somehow I think that has to be a day worth celebrating.

Ben Pobjie writes:

" The prospect of being sent to the far end of the world,
to a strange unknown land, was terrifying . The powerful
emotions generated by the discovery of their fate, were
eloquently expressed in the classic old song - 'Botany
Bay" :

"Farewell to old England forever
Farewell to my rum coes as well
Farewell to the well known Tim Bailey
Who used to teach me to spell
Singing too-ra-li-oo-ra-li addity
Singing bing-bong-dum-doo-dad-fi-fay
Singing spinkly pom pinkly bom baddity
It's shyte down in Botany Bay".