The Flag!
There has been widespread media interest today following reports that the hugely popular Big Day Out music festival was planning to ban people from being able to take Australian flags into the Sydney show this coming Thursday. This media release from the official big Day Out site says that they “are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes at the Big Day Out.”
The alleged ban has provided a great chance for politicians and others to literally wrap themselves in the flag, with widespread expressions of outrage and even a suggestion that the Big Day Out itself should be cancelled. I put out a media release expressing a contrary view. It seemed to me that there must be a genuine problem which the Big Day Out people are trying to address, and that it should be a cause for concern that such a problem exists. I would have thought seeking to prevent misuse of the Australian flag would be something most Australian politicians would support.
I did a few media interviews on the topic and consequently received a few emails from people expressing views about my comments. It’s an issue where some competing principles have to be balanced. Pride in country and community is a good thing, but can be dangerous when taken to extreme. Individual freedom of expression is also important, but if people have been misusing the flag as a vehicle for aggression and promoting antagonism, that impacts on the freedom of enjoyment for others.
I wasn’t going to do a post on this topic, as I thought it would just inflame some of the extremes of the debate which have obviously got the media excited. However, I was interested in some of the examples people had sent in emails and thought it would be useful to share them with people and see any other readers had feedback.
Here are a few samples from emails I’ve received:
“you just don’t get do you. Suggest you take notice of the Daily Telegraph pole on the subject. 82 % of Sydney disagree with you. I don’ t really care what you say anyway.”
“I’d just like to thank you for being the voice of reason in this controversy about the flag at BDO. I was at the Gold Coast event yesterday and the aggression coming from the thugs dressed in Aussie flags was palpable. There were a number of people wearing shirts with the flag and “Respect it or f**k off”.”
“That was a silly statement re the flag. You have for sure lost my vote.”
“Thank you for being the only level headed and reasonable politician to comment on the ‘Big Day Out Flag Ban’ today. A good friend of mine ended up in hospital during last years Big Day Out, as a result of an incident involving a group of men who approached him and told him to kiss the Australian Flag. When he refused they punched him in the face, resulting in a trip to the hospital and a number of stitches.”
For a bit more background, here are some more stories on the issue from the ABC website here, here and here. It’s even made news on the BBC.
ELSEWHERE: There are far too many other items around the Web on this topic to link to all of them. I found this piece by Clem Bastow (and the comment thread) quite useful, as it talks about recent conditions and behaviour at the Big Day Out which is what this issue is actually seeking to address. Also directly relevant was this post by Boudist, Sydney based music photographer, which includes a link to descriptions of last year’s Sydney BDO.
If you really are into ensuring proper respect for the flag, this site has all the flag protocols – e.g. The Australian National Flag should not be subjected to indignity. It should always be flown aloft and free and should not be allowed to fall or lie upon the ground.
Margot Kingston makes a return to public commentary with a piece on Webdiary on this topic. Andrew Bolt has a slightly different take to Margot, and I found his comment thread was worth reading for a diversity of views.
58 Comments, Comment or Ping
philip travers
Good one Senator!Heard your voice on the radio,the new Bible of Truth is the Daily Telegraph?Why does anyone want to be worked up by the flag? I can understand the RSL,wanting it to hold some sort of value,but these people ready to dig in an accuse people not having the same views as them re behaviour with flags is nonsense.The sort of cowardice that being alert about is the only option.If I had a Returned Soldier and a flag to represent a moment of our history I would relegate the flag last,by a long second,perhaps, longer than a minute in silence.
Jan 22nd, 2007
intepid
It’s embarrassing the way everyone chose to hear it as a “ban” so they could make official comments about how outrageous it was.
As an Australian I would still generally keep as far away as possible from anyone brandishing the flag… flags are for flagpoles IMHO.
Jan 22nd, 2007
Oz
Good on you Andrew. I’ve been pretty annoyed by the coverage, firstly because it wasn’t a ban and secondly because I attended last year and know what the organisers are talking about.
There was an uncomfortable ultra-nationalistic atmosphere which I’ve never felt anywhere before. Australia First members were handing out leaflets out the front of the festival and there were alot of drunken yobs wrapping themselves in the flag intimidating others.
Sadly, the entire issue has been about the flag rather than the underlying issues that were raised.
Jan 22nd, 2007
phil
can’t agree with you more. just because the flag is our national symbol doesn’t mean its not being used by the majority against the minority.
the media and politicians have conveniently misinterpretted the big day out managements statements to suite themselves.
Jan 22nd, 2007
Tom
I wonder if the big day out organisers would ban the Aboriginal flag. Doubt it.
Why is it people on the left are always outraged by Australian nationalism, but never seem to have a problem with East Timorese or West Papuan nationalism?
Jan 22nd, 2007
philip travers
Do you want a self analysis or something longer that suits your frame of,um,reference?Which is essentially your last question!Or, in other words how have you arrived at your startling conclusion?Did you spend sometime getting a degree in jingoism,or since leaving school,have reduced your capacity,to first define what you mean as initially evidencing your own thoughts,and then by weight of your virtuosity with language assist those whom you accuse, of, whatever you are accusing them of!? I dont indulge in wave flagging,because the flag doesnt essentially represent me or me it. Could it be said that the more National flags fly at sport and entertainment,the less they are considered worthy of that title?I have sympathy for the RSL.
Jan 22nd, 2007
David Jackmanson
Almost certainly someone who was never going to vote Democrat anyway.
Jan 22nd, 2007
Rose
Tom says:
Wow – so many errors and stereotypes in so few words!
(1) There’s no ban on the Australian flag, so why would they ban the Aboriginal flag?
(2) If a group of thugs were walking around with the Aboriginal flag saying things like ‘kiss the flag or kiss my fist’ and following through on their threat, the organisers would be negligent if they didn’t start looking out for people using that flag
(3) The ‘left’ is who here exactly? The Big Day Out? Anyone who is opposed to racist violence? Anyone who disagrees with John Howard on anything, including Kevin Rudd who has been agreeing with him on this?
(4) what East Timorese or West Papuan nationalism? Mixing up nationalism with self-determination or fighting to be free from oppression has to be one of the dumbest attack points yet. Is this seriously meant to be a right wing view?
Jan 23rd, 2007
Les
Andrew, you are spot on as usual – but everyone else who has commented publicly (eg Howard, Robb, Iemma, Trad etc) should go and take a chill pill, and sit down and watch the Futurama episode entitled ‘A Taste of Freedom’….those who’ve seen what Dr Zoidberg gets up to will know what I’m talking about!
Jan 23rd, 2007
Rosie Young
“Flags are bits of coloured cloth that governments use to first, shrink wrap people’s brains and then as ceremonial shrouds to bury the dead.” [Arundhati Roy].
Jan 23rd, 2007
dodgyville
I think pride in your country can be a healthy thing, but not when it becomes pride in your country to the exclusion of others. Making people kiss the flag is terrible, and I can’t believe Rudd, Howard and some of the people emailing you believe it is acceptable!!!
Not just that, but the BDO organisers are the “authority on the day” … they’re the ones responsible for security … but now, in a repeat of Cronulla, NSW politicians (including Sydney-sider Howard) have been goading people into mobbing an event and completely undermining the BDO’s authority. The job for the BDO security is much harder!!! Their authority has been undermined, and a large part of the 50,000 people going to attend have been whipped into a nationalistic frenzy by asshole racists. If anything bad happens on the 25th I hope criminal charges for inciting violence are put on the people – I mean, one riot in Cronulla is careless, but two in Sydney???
What’s up with that city anyway? Methinks poor leadership that gets its jollies by dividing the community.
And one last thing … Rudd said that banning the flag was “political correctness gone mad”. In my mind, Howard’s claim the flag “should [never] ever be banned anywhere in Australia” is absolute political correctness gone mad! Can he honestly believe that it should be OK to fly the Australian flag at any time and in any place? At funerals, in cinemas, inside the children’s ward at the hospital??? Political correctness is when we seriously modify our behaviour for pointless reasons.
intepid said it best earlier – flags are for flagpoles.
(end of rant)
words of Howard,
Jan 23rd, 2007
Minotaur
Trackback
Let me add my name to the chorus of thanks for making the only sensible comments on this debate. It’s a terrible shame that so many other leaders now default to the path of least resistance on controversial issues. Apart from anything, it’s a good way to make sure that the issues themselves never get properly addressed.
Jan 23rd, 2007
Julien
Why is it the flag wavers seem to be a “certain class” of the conservative demogrphic? Change the flag where not a colonial outpost anymore. Still the “outrage” by Howard and co (real aussies) is comedic gold!
Jan 23rd, 2007
dodgyville
Julien:
Yes, I did laugh when I saw John Howard had said “Flags don’t have arms or legs”. I try not to get personal, but that struck me as pretty funny.
Jan 23rd, 2007
Michael
Essentially the problem is in the presentation of the views from differing people IMHO
are the organisers of the BDO DISCOURAGING the use of the flag on the day, or are they ENCOURAGING the proper use of the flag
also – I think that the organisers, and I think your position too Senator, cannot hide behind a ‘this was taken out of context’ argument. While this is true, it is hardly supprising, and the idea may have been presented in a way less able to be abused by those seeking to warp the viewpoint.
Jan 23rd, 2007
Deborah
Just more dog whistling from Howard, Rudd has to add his voice to it so that he doesn’t alienate the redneck vote.
Why you need to wear and wave flags at a music festival is beyond me. The BDO is not a celebration of Australia Day, people are supposed to be peacefully rockin’ along to great music, not fearing physical harm from racist thugs disguised as patriots.
I truly believe that under Howard’s vision of Australia, it has become OK to be loudly and proudly racist and for that reason he should be condemned.
Jan 23rd, 2007
jim sharp
even neo-liberals
go about wrapt in the flag…
year of the dogs
Jan 23rd, 2007
Bismarck
The Big Day Out is a private event, and its organisers are free to impose whatever limitations they wish. If they want to ban the flag, more power to them.
However, it strikes me that they have not thought this through. Some of the staff at my workplace’s lunchroom were talking about this yesterday. One person commented, “It’s like they’re winning.” She was referring to Muslim Australians, whose feelings she presumed to have been the beneficiaries of the flag policy. This is understandable in light of the controversy over the proposed flag ban in Sydney last year following the Cronulla riots. There seems to be a perception that Muslims want to radically alter Australian society (fed by some of their clerics) and a creeping ban on the flag is an aspect of this. This is unfair to the majority of Muslims, but the actions of a few have created a serious image problem and half-cocked (if well-intentioned) actions like this will only feed it.
Jan 23rd, 2007
Lynette2
If the vicious comments over at blogocracy are any indication then there’ll be some fairly ugly scenes at the Sydney BDO. We could reasonably expect to see violence and people getting seriously hurt.
This isn’t about the flag itself, but over what different parts of the community think it stands for. I’m not overly fond of the flag but I’d hate to see it come to stand for violence of any kind, let alone violence against innocent people just there for the music on our own soil.
If the worst does happen Andrew will be the lone political voice able to say “told you so”. I may move house so I can vote for him.
Jan 23rd, 2007
philip travers
And here he is straight from Tamworth.N.S.W. and his heavy acid rock band John Howard and In ya Face Liberals,and their rendition with big amps Jimmy Hendrixs Star strangled slammer….Lets all now slow clap and and shriek with joy because,man it takes along time to see this man live……………………………………………………….
Jan 23rd, 2007
Kaye Bernard
A BDO mosh pit with flags…high voltage rock n roll!!
Jan 23rd, 2007
Yobbo
What a surprise, the left have uniformly agreed with the ban. There will be a riot at the BDO this year because of this idiotic action by Ken West. And they deserve to have the concert cancelled as a result.
The Big Day Out is a private event, and its organisers are free to impose whatever limitations they wish. If they want to ban the flag, more power to them.
Sure it’s a private event, but private events don’t exist in a vacuum. The Big Day out is a huge event attended by hundreds of thousands of Australians every year. They can’t expect to insult 95% of their customer base and come out of it unscathed.
It’s no different than an auto parts shop putting a huge sign out the front saying “NO BOGANS”. Up to them if they really want, but don’t expect your business to last long.
Jan 24th, 2007
philip travers
I didnt say in print ban the flag..yobbo..you speak in print with a contempt that is a virgin to the experience of being on the wrong end of uncontrollable behaviour.Would you like the comparative right,The Police,to have the right to use beer bottles in case of riot.If you are proud of being a yobbo and a bogan well I am sure some Police restricted by law,for the common good of all,will find your attitude not in their best interests,and you take the risk with your conceit.
Jan 24th, 2007
Max Baumann
Interesting isn’t it how the News Limited papers reported it as a ban, the ABC went along with them, but the Fairfax papers published the facts. It was not a ban but a call for the flag not to be misused and a recommendation to leave it at home.
I was at first outraged by the reports that the BDO organisers had “banned” the Australian flag, but when I saw the press release and clarification and story in The Age, I realised it was another Daily Tele beat up.
I think it is concerning that some people do misuse the flag and that is the issue that was raised by the BDO organisers. It is a hard issue to make a statement on without being wedged when going against what the major parties said. I think Andrew Bartlett did well in not endorsing a so called ban, but instead raising the issue that was ignored by everyone else, the misuse of the flag to inflame racial and nationalist tensions.
If people want to take the flag to such an event, fair enough, but don’t let people misuse it.
Jan 24th, 2007
Yobbo
What makes the police the “comparative right” and comparative to who? That’s an idiotic statement.
And why would they use beer bottles? They already have batons and guns.
How long did you spend thinking about that comment before you vomited it onto the internet?
Jan 24th, 2007
Andrew Bartlett
Ah yes Yobbo – the “left” are at it again. About as helpful and meaningful a comment as saying that the “right” are once again giving suport to racist violence (which no doubt somebody has said).
I think the Big Day Out will lose a lot more support if people who attend their concerts feel unsafe from violents thugs and hoons. It seems to me they are taking their duty of care responsibiities seriously by trying to do something about it, although the course of action they were considering may not have been the best approach.
Clearly they were extrardinarily naive in thinking they might get media assistance to discouraging racist and nationalist violence at their concert. This major beat-up once again shows there are plenty in the media who will happily grab the chance to inflame nationalist fervour and see if they can get some biffo going. There’s no doubt it’s good for ratings. Newspapers wrapping themselves in the flag are even more dangerous than politicians doing it.
Jan 24th, 2007
Megan
Have the BDO musos been gagged? I know some of them have participated in the AEC’S rockenrol:
http://www.abc.net.au/triplej/rockenrol/default.htm
But has anyone heard or seen any of the musicians on the BDO bill come out and say hey kids, this is all just BS, and just relax. Come along to the BDO to enjoy yourselves?
Young people pay attention to their musical heroes, and they have a responsibility to their fans.
Jan 24th, 2007
CORAL
andrew:
I agree with your stance on the matter, but am terribly worried about the cause of the bad behaviour.
When I went to Sydney recently, I found myself outnumbered 100 to 1 by Asians (mostly Chinese, I think). This made me feel afraid.
In another part of Sydney, I was heavily outnumbered by Vietnamese.
Since I returned to Brisbane, another Muslim sheik has started causing problems; and when I switched on the TV a couple of days ago, they said the trouble-making Mufti was running for a government seat.
As a white person, I am afraid of becoming a member of the new white minority, with someone like the Mufti ruling the country.
When I spoke with an elderly friend about it, she said lots of white people are telling her the same thing.
Added to this, some of the Asian people who’ve lived here for quite some time don’t want a large influx of their former countrymen and women coming here and reducing the wages and living standards of everyone – no matter what their colour, race or creed.
They came here to get away from third world conditions – not to have it follow them.
Jan 24th, 2007
philip travers
To Yobbo,now child,let me explain the manifest workings of the universe in relationship to the comparative use of your brain.As the world unfolds to you as it should,you may one day recognise,that Police pull over drunks on roads..they are the relevant Authority to all matters,where property or person could be in danger,and as a right,sometimes at law,they enact matters, that offend them in relationship to potential law breaking..that is..as a result of their own thoughts ,plus established law..they then decide.They therefore on a day as citizens and Police in protecting themselves as individuals, could if need be resort to using beer bottles,and there is very little that a person like you,could do to muster up any reviewable incident.That,my friend child,is why in a comparative sense,to our opinions here,they could even insist my opinion is ,or could be,construed,as incitement to riot.I will take that risk,after all, it would be my first offence,and well I just dont like the idea of Police being attacked by beer bottles.So if it does eventuate,that they get attacked again,then obviously the beer cartons you unfold, are not what I desire for the Police.Police dealing with matters like this could refuse to have any identifiable means of picking out an individual,either as a emergency they call or by their union.Either way that is more power than The Senator or me,with my left wing views.
Jan 24th, 2007
Donna
I myself think we should bundle the ‘white minority’ off to Christmas Island.
… and make sure there’s no internet access there.
Jan 24th, 2007
muzzmonster
Coral.
However nervous you might feel, white people are a very long way from becoming a minority in Australia. And the large majority of immigrants – no matter what colour they are or where they’re from – just want to get by.
I agree with the Prime Minister that it is a very small minority of immigrants who don’t seem to want to obey the rule of law and fit in. But what he neglects to say is that there is also a very small minority of Australian born people who also don’t seem to want to obey the rule of law and fit in.
As to a mufti running the country, look at the ethnicity of people in Parliament. It ain’t going to happen for a long long time, if at all.
Jan 24th, 2007
Yobbo
But has anyone heard or seen any of the musicians on the BDO bill come out and say hey kids, this is all just BS, and just relax. Come along to the BDO to enjoy yourselves?
One of the bands performing at the event, “Jet” have said that they are disappointed because they planned to use the Australian flag as the stage backdrop during their set. I guess they are racists too.
Jan 24th, 2007
Yobbo
Ah yes Yobbo – the “left” are at it again. About as helpful and meaningful a comment as saying that the “right” are once again giving suport to racist violence (which no doubt somebody has said).
Do you see any right-wing bloggers condoning and encouraging racist violence? If you do, let me know.
Every left-wing blogger in Australia, on the other hand, has come out in favour of this ban. As I said, what a surprise.
Jan 24th, 2007
Yobbo
Phil: Have you ever stopped to read one of your comments? You are a dribbling idiot with a bad case of verbal diarrhea. Get yourself some immodium and go have a nice lie down.
Jan 24th, 2007
Andrew Bartlett
In case it wasn’t clear, I was suggesting that there’s probably at least one person on the ‘left’ who has accused the ‘right’ collectively of giving support to racist violence, and I was saying this would be just as unhelpful and inaccurate a thing to say as suggesting the ‘left’ collectively had supported a ban on the flag – particularly as there is no ban except in the minds of newspapers that recognise the ‘news’ value in whipping up some conflict.
Of course, many of those who have come out frothing at the mouth against the imaginary ban have not condemned the racist violence or seemed to show any concern at our flag being used in this way. Some have even suggested the flag should never be prevented from being display anywhere, even though the offical flag protocols specifically suggest that the flag should not be used in certain ways (such as covering a statue, monument or a plaque for unveiling).
Seems like the flag itself and how it is treated has actually become a bit forgotten in amongst the toing and froing.
(and Phil and Yobbo have both had enough of a go at each other, so I’ll chop out any personally directed aggro from further comments)
Jan 24th, 2007
lisa
Perhaps a “ban” on aggressive behaviour, anti-social behaviour, violence, intimidation, etc, might be more useful. Much as I loathe rampant nationalism in any form for any nation, discouraging Aussie flags specifically was a bad idea; more helpful to discourage all national/nationalist flags.
Jan 24th, 2007
Marilyn Shepherd
I remember not so long ago Arthur Tunstall tried to have the rightful and much respected aboriginal flag banned at the Olympic Games after Cathy Freeman wrapped herself in it at the commonwealth games when she won gold.
I didn’t hear a murmur out of the PM at the time, did anyone else?
I can honestly say I have never once taken a flag to a rock concert – not once since 1968. I do believe I know I am in Australia and I reckon it was a fair bet that David Bowie, Bob Dylan, Suzi Quatro, Leo Kottke, Melissa Etheridge, the Bee Gees and others got the idea when their tour banners said “Australian tour”.
Jan 25th, 2007
CORAL
Donna:
Well, isn’t that interesting? Trying to send into exile and permanently silence those who might not agree with you.
Marilyn:
Didn’t Cathy Freeman carry both the Australian and Aboriginal flags?
I had no problem with her doing that, but I do remember some kind of uproar.
Jan 25th, 2007
CORAL
muzzmonster:
I don’t want anyone with attitudes like the Mufti taking over at ANY time – now or into the distant future.
Jan 25th, 2007
Cas
“racism disguised as patriotism” says it all!
Jan 25th, 2007
Megan
Speaking of the role of the media in all this, I noticed that todays ‘City News’ (one of Murdoch’s many Brisbane titles) reminds us of the true reason for the Australia Day celebration.
“January 26 marks the anniversary of the country’s federation.”
http://www.springhillvoice.com/media.html
Jan 25th, 2007
Yobbo
I can honestly say I have never once taken a flag to a rock concert
The Big Day Out isn’t just a rock concert, Marilyn. It is a festival that goes for the entire day, and last year was held on Australia Day – hence the flags.
inaccurate a thing to say as suggesting the ‘left’ collectively had supported a ban on the flag
Except that the left HAS uniformly supported the ban, Andrew.
particularly as there is no ban except in the minds of newspapers
Only because the organisers backtracked at light speed when they realised how badly they stuffed up.
Didn’t Cathy Freeman carry both the Australian and Aboriginal flags?
Not the first time. She carried only the Aboriginal flag, which some people considered an insult because she was competing for all of Australia, not just Aboriginal Australia. The second time around she carried both flags.
Jan 25th, 2007
red crab
will some one please explain to me
who are the racists in this country.
just seems to me that its just a convenient word that some ppl use to cover up there own actions.
once againe you ppl have missed the real point .
you are all carring on about the flag while howard and co are stealing your water.
Jan 25th, 2007
Richard
My impression of this whole affair is that the organisers of the Big Day Out, while meaning well, ultimately made a huge error in judgement in attempting to intensely discourage people from bringing the flag.
Not only does it make them look bad in the eyes of the public but their act might not be effective in discouraging people from bringing flags or even stopping violence. Is it even physically possible to discourage or outright ban people from bringing in flags?
Jan 25th, 2007
Deborah
This article in the Australian says a lot, seems now, if you’re not Anglo, you won’t be comfortable going to the BDO.
http://www.theaustralian.news.com.au/story/0,20867,21120081-2702,00.html
“Thousands defied organisers’ suggestions that they leave their flags at home, turning out loud and patently proud with their nation’s ensign.
Some appeared willing to fight for it, others used it as a citizenship test on a T-shirt. Many wore the flag with the words “Support it or f..k off” or a caption: “If you don’t love it leave”.
Little trouble was reported during the event, with few willing to challenge the aggressive sentiments. Most of the 50,000-plus crowd was white Anglo-Saxon Australian, and any minorities kept a low profile.”
Jan 26th, 2007
CORAL
red crab:
In answer to your question, I will tell you what an Indian friend said to me.
“Everyone is a racist, whether they say they are or not.”
Her family hired my son to tutor their Year 10 student. As soon as they found an Indian to do the job, my son’s services became redundant.
It is natural for all races to feel more comfortable among members of their own culture.
In the dance class I attend, there are several Australian born Italians who have lived here all of their lives. They dance and chat almost exclusively among themselves.
A couple of weeks ago, I met the Manager of an Aged Care Centre which was built to house the Greek population.
Do these things sound like integration to you?
Do they sound like an acceptance of other cultures?
Jan 26th, 2007
Richard
The message I got out of it is that trying to discourage people from bringing in flags merely results in the opposite happening.
Another message seems to be that the most Australian thing to do is to surgically attach the Australian flag to your body.
Jan 26th, 2007
Vishal
In a democratic country like ours, if Flag carrying is banned on Australia Day, that means we are helping the cause of radicals. Carrying a flag is all about being patriotic, paying respect to martyrs who sacrificed life for our beloved nation.
I wonder how many Imamms will/have come out saying flag shoudlnt be banned.
I love my country and my Flag!.
Jan 26th, 2007
Andrew Bartlett
In response:
Yobbo at #42: The “left” can’t have “uniformly supported the ban” because there was no ban to support. It appears you are defining “the left” as anyone who took a different view to John Howard, which is rather a circular definition. I certainly never supported a ban, I supported the aim of trying to deal with racist vilence and the concern about misuse of the flag as cover for such violence.
Vishal at #48: what has it got to do with Imams? Even when Muslims aren’t involved at all, people still seem to want to drag them into it somehow or other. If you love your flag, are you happy to see that flag used as a cloak to justify aggression and violence.
If the newspaper quote in Deborah’s post (#45) doesn’t cause the uber-patriots concern, then we’re in for dangerous times ahead. When ethinc minorities feel they have to keep a low profile in the face of aggressive sentiments from people who have now basically got the Prime Ministerial seal of approval, we have gone backwards 40 years as a nation.
I am at a loss to see how any patriotic flag lover could think it is a good thing for people to have t-shirts with “support it or F… off” written under a picture of the flag. But in our ‘brave’ new Australia it appears that expressing concern about this is being anti-Australian and akin to calling for a ban on the flag being used anywhere.
Sad days indeed.
Jan 26th, 2007
Angharad
“There will be a riot at the BDO this year ” said Yobbo.
Well, if there was a riot, I missed it – and it didn’t make the papers. There were many flags at the Big Day Out yesterday but the vibe seemed fine to me. In fact, it seemed to me that a good many, if not majority, of those with flags had brought or worn them for reasons that weren’t about ‘us vs them’ or anything ugly.
There’s a cute quote in the SMH story referred to above. A young man took his flag to “stick it up the government”. Well, whatever! The subtleties of the news reportage are wasted on some people.
Jan 26th, 2007
Yobbo
Angharad: In case you missed it, the BDO organisers backed off in the face of overwhelming public opposition to their idioti c idea. Lucky them.
Jan 27th, 2007
red crab
thanks coral thats just what i thought
so one day in the future when a white anglo aussi wins a case against someone of any ethnic heratage on the grounds of racial discrimination the word (racist)will realy mean something.
untill then its still just a word that some ppl use to justify there own actions.
Jan 27th, 2007
muzzmonster
Perhaps we should get a new flag. That would undoubtedly solve all our problems.
Jan 27th, 2007
CORAL
red crab:
I guess you’re right.
People also need to realise that truth isn’t racism.
muzz:
I think we should keep the flag we’ve got. When people misuse the flag, no matter what their behaviour is, it’s an indicator of racial tension and/or fear.
Jan 27th, 2007