Toni, no sorry I'm not trying to be coy.
I don't remember what I thought about Australia day back then, other than to imagine that changing the date so people could have another excuse to have another day off, would have seen me reach for the bucket, because that's what Australia needs; more holidays.
Toni, sorry my asking for info about the controversy about Australia day, was because there was debate about what to call the 'occupation' or the arrival of 'white man' here.
I vaguely remember it said that because there was not a war or no-one was killed then it was regarded as, X and not Y.
I was just hoping someone could remember the details of that debate or point, that's all.
I think it's relevant to present day discussions.

//I don't remember what I thought about Australia day back then//

Can't have been terribly important to you then. May I ask what's changed, and why you're so worked up about it 30 years on?

Most Australians who are quite happy with 26/1 don't even discuss it. People who want to argue with aboriginal-identifiers and Far Left loons are merely giving them oxygen to continue their naive rants. The date will not be changed, so why argue with idiots? Have none of you ever been in a group when someone has blurted out some point of view they wanted to test, or just get off their chest, only to be met with a deadly silence? Nobody says a word. The blurter looks stupid, and suffers embarassment and humiliation.

Not speaking. Not rising to the bait. These are powerful psychological weapons. Silence works. Making people feel like shite works. But, every Australia Day, someone brings up the imagined controversy, usually without provocation, giving entre to some lunatic lefty who wants the date changed; then it's on and on - boring drivel about a non-event. Pretty tedious in my opinion.

Toni, I think it's probably more like what ttbn says, it wasn't as 'in your face' back then, as it is today.
It's like the queers back then, we knew they were around but were never 'in your face', so they were left alone or ignored.
Not hated and vilified like today.
What's changed in both camps?
I think it has something to do with 'overreaching'.
It's one thing to suggest or ask for something, it's quite another when you demand it, and with malice.
These issues, today are being promoted by force and with physical confrontation.
I think that is the main detractor and dislike of todays abo's and queers.
They decided to get militant.
So it goes that even the best intentioned people will reject any form of violence and therefore those who perpetrate or promote that violence.

ALTRAV,

Bravo,

There are people these days who just love to stir the possum. As you suggest, these people were largely left alone with their differences or peculiarities; but now,with all the stuff that is ranked down our throats, we react. When I say ‘we’ I mean the vast majority who believe in democracy and the rule of law, not mob rule.

Normal people who once said nothing about queers, aborigine-identifiers, multiculturalism and all the other stuff, are now seriously pissed off by these things, thanks to the loud mouthed yobbos who think minorities have more rights than the majority.

But, there is no point arguing with idiots. Ignoring them is the best way to show them how pathetic and powerless they really are. It is ludicrous to allow the tail to wag the dog. It's ludicrous to encourage those people to keep pressing our buttons.

ttbn, I agree with you, but I must have a disease of some kind which does not allow me to shut up when I hear BS or distortions of the facts or truth.
I am 'triggered' by stupid, childish and totally unrealistic comments.
Can't help myself.
It must be that if I let those comments pass without some kind of response, I must feel as though I am agreeing with them, which is absolutely not the case.
There are many things I let 'pass' without comment, but even I have a limit.
I'm probably not as tolerant or casual about things as most people probably are.
Anyway, unfortunately for some, I will still be here challenging maggots and neuters, hopefully for some time yet, or I get bored or find some other distraction.