By John Steley
My ethnic heritage is entirely British. The first of my forebears arrived here in 1839, just 51 years after the First Fleet. But I am not British, I am Australian 100%.
To me it is un-Australian to have a foreign flag as a part of our flag. Likewise to celebrate our national identity when that same flag was raised on our soil.
OK, “modern” (colonised) Australia began in 1788 when half the continent plus New Zealand was declared to be NSW, a colony of Britain. At the time, Western Australia and parts of SA and NT were excluded.
But like the world, we have moved on.
We grew from one colony to six. New Zealand became a separate country then we became a country. And our country includes this entire continent.
We have also accepted immigration from all over the world and are now one of the greatest multicultural societies anywhere.
Oh, and we have two First Nations peoples.
Yes, that’s right – Aborigines and Torres Strait Islanders. We did not see them at first, declaring the land to be Terra Nullius. That is, “no man’s land”.
They were VERY inconvenient, those First Nations people, standing in the way of “settlement”. So we embarked on a process of “ethnic cleansing”. We hunted them down, murdered them en masse, took their lands and moved them into concentration camps, raped their women. We tried to breed them out of existence and stole their children.
Now we are much kinder. We support reconciliation.
I am sorry, but we do not support reconciliation and never have. Nor will we ever as long as we celebrate our national identity on the day that marks the start of the destruction of Aboriginal lives.
Australia Day, our flag and our anthem all reflect and create who we are as a nation. As it is we create the belief that a British heritage is the essence of a true Australian. This makes second-class citizens of those who do NOT have a British heritage. And perpetuates the belief in terra nullius, ignoring the fact that some Australians have a heritage here stretching back for 60,000+ years.
We need national symbols that all Australians can relate to. Our national day will always be special PROViDED it does not focus on any one sector of our society. My suggestion is March 23, currently National Eucalypt Day.
This is my design for a new flag:
The same colours as our current flag, except that each colour is uniquely Australian. The blue is the colour of the early evening Australian sky, the red is our red centre and the Southern Cross is oriented exactly as it was at reveille on the centenary of ANZAC. (I know because I commissioned a photo).
So – morning stars in a night sky reflecting the words “at the going down of the sun and in the morning, we will remember them”. Those men and women who have served Australia whatever their ethnicity.
Our anthem is the “least bad” of the three and has been improved by the minor change from “young and free” to “one and free”. But it was written in 1878 before we were even a nation. And “I am Australian” is vastly better, much more reflective of modern Australia – I am, you are, we are Australian. Perfect. An anthem should inspire.
OK, I get the most recent survey shows 69% of Australians support January 26 as Australia Day. Let’s discuss that.
The Australia Institute conducted a survey in 2017 about our understanding of the significance of January 26 and found widespread ignorance.
Only 27% got it spot on. Half did not even realise it relates to the arrival of the First Fleet. And only 12% realized that Australia Day has not always been celebrated on Jan 26.
We are pathetic at telling our own history. Not just in relation to First Nations people, but generally. What if we told a truthful history? So we all knew the facts. Perhaps then we would not disgrace ourselves by celebrating our national identity on a day that First Nations people call Invasion Day, Survival Day, or Day of Mourning. Shame, Australia, shame.
But our parliaments never have this conversation because it suits them not to. They are happy to let the ignorance be. While they tell us what a wonderful country we are.
Well, other surveys show that 70% of Australians do not want further population growth. And yet our parliaments ignore this, stifle public debate on the issue and persist with high levels of immigration that result in rapid population growth. They have presumed to over-rule the very people they are meant to represent. Bob Hawke acknowledged it as a conspiracy.
For them to use the 70% support for Jan 26 – based on ignorance – to justify their refusal to act decently towards our First Nations people is pure hypocrisy.
“It’s time”. Remember that slogan? When we had a Prime Minister with integrity? A true leader. It is time today’s leaders changed the date, the flag and the anthem and set this country on a decent path. Instead of banging on about what a wonderful country we are, start being one. And tell the truth.
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Agree on article and the flag, but what's the last unrelated paragraph for, a dog whistle?
Citing without elaboration, a Resolve poll on 'population growth' via TAPRI The Australian Population Research Institute run by Tanton Network linked 'demographer' Dr. Bob 'never seen an immigrant he liked' Birrell (or just post '70s white Australia immigrants?).
Promoted via another Tanton Network linked outfit, SPA Sustainable Population Australia's website, and related historic influencers of the former from the UK including Malthus on population, and Galton on eugenics; what is the 'solution' to the issue of population growth?
Not just circular but the same informs FoxNews, SkyNews After Dark, MacroBusiness, 2GB, RW MSM, the far right and bipartisan bigotry on migration policies, with at best, Orwellian takes on population growth.
Focuses on 'the other' or 'immigrants' (mostly short term international student NOM/border churn over), but conveniently ignores the growth in the permanent cohort through increasing longevity, needing support.
The Senior article with ABS trends shows population presentation 1982-22 on how our youth/working age cohort has been static, even with immigration & NOM churn, but the permanent middle aged and older is heaving.....hence, trend of increasing old age dependency ratios.
The Senior: 'ABS data shows Australia is ageing, prompting a workforce, retirement and health wakeup call. The Senior's analysis of ABS population data from 1982-2022 shows a growing proportion of people aged 55+ representing the whole population, a shrinking amount of younger people, and a greater proportion of the overall population being eligible for retirement.
https://www.thesenior.com.au/story/8271715/an-ageing-australia-can-we-handle-it/
Risible in 'news desert' regions with people robotically dog whistling immigration and/or population growth, and Sudanese gangs, but oblivious to the ageing and depopulation around them with loss of amenity starting with fertility, babies and schools &/or youth migration to cities....rest follows....