The original question, what does Australia day mean to me?

Nothing, absolutely nothing.

I was born here, & my parents were born here.

I have served in our defence force, & my son is serving in our defence force.

I know who, & what I am, & I am comfortable in my skin, & my with relationship with my country.

I don't need any symbolism, or public displays, to affirm that relationship, but I have no problem with others who enjoy or need such things.

I hope you all enjoyed the day, in what ever way suits you.

Hasbeen,
First post...2 points
1. One swallow doesn't make a spring.
2. To each their own according to their needs...some people need symbolism. Churces thrive on it. It has nothing to do with maturity.

Second post

I tend to agree with you there'll be glaciers in marble bar before I'll go all jingoistic.
Cheers
examinator.

Meredith
I understand and accept your political orientation.
But you must really watch those unrealistic extreme/absolutist assertions.
ie. >> UK is a big part of the majority of Australians history and not a problem.<< This depends on you view point some say 200+ years is a bit pitiful alongside 40k. Given that there are an increasing number of people here who aren't anglophile "not a problem" is tendentious at best.
When what I surmise you mean is that you don't see the indigenous people as being a significant part of "Australia" the colony come country as an act of the British parliament. And that this isn’t a problem to YOU. Which is your right... but the way you put it?

Meredith, As has been the case on several threads, I agree with your perspective.

I too agree with hasbeen’s comments, regarding the fading vestiges of a colonial heritage
“As one said to me, why bother, it won't change my day.”

Anyone who thinks the earth will shift beneath their feet simply because we change flag or head of state is a fool.

Anyone who thinks Australia can ignore its British heritage is entitled to think that but they are not entitled to presume their view is shared by more than a minority of the population of Australia .

When we consider the colonial past of most of the rest of the world, anyone incorporated into the old British Empire should consider themselves lucky it was the Brits who colonised

and not the French, Spanish, Portuguese, Germans, Belgians, Dutch, Russians, Italians or other old colonial master who could have planted a flag and declared Australia their sovereign territory or as worried one past GG and Labor Party leader, Bill Hayden observed, Indonesia (whose made a public demonstration of their colonial values in their conquest of East Timor).

Bearing in mind the overwhelming dominance of the British culture on Australia’s institutions and fabric, as well as its population, as I said to another poster on another thread earlier today, if it is such a problem for you I suggest you bugger off back the rat hole you came from.

and those who protest about aboriginals in the context of Australia, that was “fixed” in the 1967 referendum. Just as the republic was rejected in 1999 referendum and the process for calling those referendums was incorporated into the Australian Constitution, which previous Australians, overwhelmingly from British Stock, wrote for the moment of Federation

and we all benefit from their constitutional wisdom fortunately conceived with its exclusive dependence on "British" values and influence

Hi guys,

Thanks Col, I tend to agree with you too a lot of the time too, you seem morally clear and easy going enough to be open to new things too, I like that combination lots, and Hasbeen I think that post is spot on.

But with the symbols, I think symbolism is pretty important, it's like a visual, aural language of its own... and it's potent and its everywhere...

Examinator,
You've corrected my spelling and grammar before, now my manner of speech? I must come over and re do your wardrobe and hair for your betterment too... I wear black and at times have my hair dyed green and you just "must" too... (just stirring)

As I have said to you before, I like and appreciate you but I don't like like to have how I speak dictated to me, I can see your able to understand (or misunderstand) me as you choose and that is good enough for me, that I don't debate or discuss according to your criteria is not a big deal. Your free to talk as you wish so am I.

A lot of people really are jack of the the attempted rewriting of English by the PC over the past 20 odd years. I'm one of them, hey.

AAAAAH Antonious :) u are surely a naughty boy.. a bad rascal.. in need of some discipline......

You CUT off my sentence about WHICH migrants jusssst before it said:

<<....who bring their ethnic squabbles to Australia and mess up our tennis by throwing chairs and abuse at each other.. THIRD year in a row.>>

In other words.. you tried to MIS represent me and make me out to be a hater of ALLLLL migrants just because they are migrants.. .

*BIG SMACK* for you... verbal only :)

Now.. u must do better.. and see what is actually written.

I should add one more category of 'enemy' of Australia.. it's the "greek" women, who said to the Age reporter "Oh yes..I'm so proud to be GREEK" and she was 3rd generation AUSTRALIAN.. or...was she?

With a mindset like that I call her UN-Australian just as much as any one who says "I'm so proud to be Scottish or English or Welsh or Irish" if they are 3rd generation here!

To say such a thing.. Greek/Irish/English is RACCCCCCCCIST!

Get over yourself and just be 'Australian'.

So, Australia day for me is to AFFIRM that idea.

This last rant from the sockpuppet who's just been raving on about "we Anglos" on another thread. No hypocrisy there...