WARNING: Political opinion ahead.
Today, January 26th, is a public holiday designated as Australia Day. Two years ago I wrote this post and it is equally as relevant as when I wrote it.
We have been to a barbecue with friends and neighbours which was pleasant and on any other day would have been just that – a barbecue with friends. Because it is deemed to be Australia Day was I celebrating the invasion of this country and the declaration of the colony of New South Wales? I do not believe that this is necessarily the case.
I am grateful to to have been born in this country and look forward to the future in the hope that one day we will know what it is to have a truly inclusive society – one which includes all of our citizens from the original residents to the newest arrivals.
As always, the debate has been raised over the spectre of Australia becoming a republic, the relevance of our flag and the national anthem. I have read many and varied opinions on these topics today and I will not bore you with some of the drivel which has been written.
A reasoned conversation to discuss and choose a day of significance to all would be an excellent first step in creating an inclusive culture in this country. The anniversary of constitutional recognition of indigenous Australians could be an appropriate day for all Australians to be able to celebrate and be grateful for all that this country has to offer. I hope and pray that this will soon become a reality.
Meanwhile, Mr Abbott has surpassed himself with the announcement of two new knights in the Australia Day honours list. Prince Philip, Duke of Edinburgh was named as a Knight of the Order of Australia. As if it was not bad enough that Mr Abbott re-introduced the honours of Knights and Dames of the Order of Australia last year, 26 years after the abolition of these anachronistic titles, he has now awarded one to the consort of a foreign monarch. I have nothing personal against Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II or the House of Windsor but I cannot fathom this choice. Decisions such as this are divisive and do nothing to contribute to a modern, forward-thinking and inclusive Australia.
Today is not a day for looking backwards or resorting to out-dated practices. Let us move forward and work towards creating a better place for all of our children and future generations.
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I too am a descendant from other countries even though they were white. This country accepted them, one a convict of 14 when he arrived here, and gave them chances to raise their families. Many proud races have blessed our shores and helped to make it bigger and brighter and this is what we celebrate. But Mr Abbott, like young adults we need to grow and learn to spread our wings to fly further and higher not to regress under the dressing gown of our mothers. It is a modern, fast changing world in which we live now and we need leaders who can embrace that change.
Well said. 🙂
Fairy as you know I am a born and bred Indigenous South Aussie. However most Indigenous Aussies refer to Australia Day as Invasion Day. The First Australians actually thought the first whites they saw were ghosts of their/our own Indigenous Ancestors.
I too am looking forward to our Constitution finally recognising the First Australians and it would be a National Day of Significance for all Australians. My husband was born in the UK and is now a naturalised Australian Citizen for which he is justly proud and he is proud of my being an Aboriginal Elder and Traditional Owner of the Peramangk lands where we live.
I am proud of you, too. I look forward to the day when the Constitution recognises all Australians and their contributions.