My last comment got me to thinking maybe its time for a new Australian Flag. It is probably the British aspects of the flag that antagonise some groups.
Maybe we could have another national design competition as we did once before and chose something more Australian in design and less British.

The flag of Australia should be the one raised at the Eureka Stockade as a symbol of Australian freedom - the Southern Cross.

Having read this thread with some interest, let me throw in my tuppence worth.
Respect for the Flag started going downhill when the over expensive Canadian stainless steel pole went up in Canberra, and it became necessary to let the flag fly at night (in flag ettiquette a sign of distress) because of the expense/difficulty of taking the oversized symbol down and up each day.

NSW followed with the 'pole-on-on-island' in Darling Hbr.

So no wonder it gets used as a sunshade/blanket and walked on etc.

What about the Aussie Flag Beach Towels? Now there's Patriotism.

Arjay: again, it is (was, now) the Big Day Out, not an Australia Day event. Has a lot more to do with countries that aren't this one, actually, since the focus is international musical acts. Nothing about the big day out has anything to do with this countries pride or identity or culture. Its a culture of music, and neither opposes nor supports any current or historical national issue. It acts independently from every single issue you bring up in your posts.

Again: the big day out. Not an Australia Day celebration. No one has the right to tell an organiser how to run their festival. It's their festival. Disagree with it all you want, but it aint your festival.

More than any of that, it had absolutely nothing to do with anything Islam. You injected this particular religion into this conversation, and failed to come up with a single rational reason why it belongs here any more than say, Buddhism or Catholicism.

And of course religious crosses should be kept out of public schools, duh. Again I ask, what makes you think this is related?

Oh, and they didnt discourage the flag for fear of 'potential violent nature of muslims', what garbage. The incidences last year were actually the *realised* potential violent nature of white australians.

'kiss the flag!'
'no.'
*pow*

Wow, its almost like all humans are potentially violent! Guess we're all equal after all.

I for one am glad to see young Aussies taking to our beautiful flag. Go for it kids.
Three decades of a certain class of trash rubbishing our nation and everything and every one in it went on too long,they had even the media on their side.
We still have the same type still rubbishing our flag.
Well the young people have accepted it with gusto and just as Anzac day has had a resurgence, so will our Australian flag flutter on for ever.
No one is listening to the Aussie haters,perhaps they could just disappear up their own fundamentals.