I think I'm beginning to dislike Australia day. Don't get me wrong, I love the public holiday, the hottest 100 countdown and the bbq that goes with it. But what does it represent? It's a day that marks the anniversary of the invasion of this country and raping and pillaging of the indigenous people.
Is this really an appropriate date to celebrate our fine nation? Is it really inclusive of all Australians? Okay, so it was the date when it was first settled by white folk, which is a significant milestone in our history. But the country wasn't named Australia at the time. Hell, it wasn't even a country - just an outpost that was founded to house the naughty people. To celebrate this day as Australia Day, really only acknowledges one of this country's groups of migrants.
I do like the term Invasion Day, although it does seem a little too antagonistic. Perhaps 26th January should be known as White Settlement Day and then we could have a completely separate day to celebrate our country. A day that doesn't belong to one individual group of migrants, but to the whole of the population. A day where we can band together and celebrate ALL of the people, places, cultures and other things that make our country wonderful. A day where patriotism and racism are not intertwined. Where it's not okay to shout White Australia catch phrases whilst waving the flag.
Yes, there are racist groups in Australia. We need to make a stand to say that it's not okay. To say that we're trying to do something to include all Australians. That every individual in this country is valued. What better way to do that than to give the nation a whole new National Day to celebrate the rich melting pot that is Australian Culture.
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Hear hear!!! i totally agree.
ReplyDeleteit's my wedding anniversary so we just celebrate that. But i don't belive celberating genocide is really a what Australia is about and if it is Boo Hiss to that!
We should celebrate Federation Day (Jan 1st) that's the day when we actually united and became a nation.
ReplyDeleteCan you name a country in existence today that wasn't siezed from previous residents? I can't, but I admit I have a weak knowledge of world history.
ReplyDeleteand weak spelling it would appear.
ReplyDeletelol at the weak spelling, Angela. I think that most countries, have at least some violence in their history and have been invaded by overseas powers at one point or another. But I think that most of them don't celebrate that massacre of the indigenous races as their national day. I just don't think that this celebration is helpful to reconciliation efforts.
ReplyDeleteBrilly, although on one hand I agree that Federation Day would be a good day to celebrate Australia, it wouldn't give us another public holiday, and well, that's just un-Australian. lol ;)
Tonga has never been over ruled. They signed a treaty with Britain and were under British protection but they never gave up their own monarchy, culture or traditions. Tongan people are proud of this fact. They adopted a British system of Govt etc but it was by choice, not force and Britain has never had any say in how they run their country.
ReplyDeleteI get what you mean Angela, everyone has been taken by someone but I also understand that Australia Day isn't a celebration for Aboriginals. In fact it's sort of like rubbing their noses in ut and we don't have to do that. My vote is still for Federation Day.