So, Australia Day. Here’s how I think the whole debate can be settled. We swap King’s Birthday and Australia Day.
King’s Birthday, which is universally acknowledged as no more than an excuse for a day off, falls very close to the anniversary of the date the Mabo decision was handed down. That would be a great date to celebrate the fact that our nation isn’t just a smidge over two centuries old, but many tens of thousands of years old. We still have major issues of reconciliation and treaty to deal with, but this could be a good step in that direction.
Now, we still need a holiday towards the end of January. How else will we know it’s time to go back to school, or which songs are considered hot? If we move the King’s Birthday to the last Friday in January (and remember, the King’s Birthday isn’t held on his birthday and the timing is essentially arbitrary) we still get a chance to celebrate whatever it is we celebrate then. We can still pop a side of lamb on the barbie, we can still watch the cricket… heck, we can still celebrate our love for our great nation by putting on a pair of flag budgie smugglers and running up Glenelg Jetty otherwise naked.
Thoughts?
You’re right, all the vast improvements we have made as a nation, all the serviceman and woman who have died defending our country and intrests, all the people we have let into our country and provided better lives for.
None of this is worth stopping taking a day and celebrating, none of it is worthwhile.
A nation built on blood and genocide, wars fought with Aboriginal soldiers who came home to no thanks to be treated like dirt.
I won’t have pride in a country that won’t face its own racism, I won’t have pride in a country that won’t face it’s unjustifiable founding.
Always was, always will be aboriginal land.
Yeah my land, thank you but I’m also Australian so i will celebrate what i want.