Politics Fiji change flag...when will we follow?

[RandB]

Less than 3% of the population

Of which only approximately 24% live in remote or very remote locations within Australia as defined by the ABS. The majority living in regional or metropolitan centres.

As time goes on that flag stereotypes aboriginal/indigenous Australians by their skin colour and location more and more. But, if it is simply a unifying emblem to separate themselves from other Australians then I won't begrudge Aboriginal people that preference given its history. I'm not sure of the value in it though in a modern context but I'm not aboriginal so I won't judge.

 

[jackn]

I could Godwin the shit out this thread at this point.

Maybe, I don't think it's a fair comparison but the world would be a boring place if we all agreed on everything.

Pretty sure theyd still be here.

They survived the prior 40,000 years OK.

Sorry, poorly written sentence. I was referring to the 'original Australians' of this century, most of whom live lives not dissimilar to any anglo Aussie. I have no doubt the Aboriginal people of the late 1700's would have lived on quite successfully on their own.

 

[MrCharisma]

I'd be happy with the boxing kangaroo flag tbqh. How could you not like it?

 

[Malifice]

I'd be happy with the boxing kangaroo flag tbqh. How could you not like it?

Its a bit tacky for an ANF.

Back on topic, Fiji have ditched the Monarchy and gotten turfed out of the Commonwealth anyways havent they?

Might be appropriate to ditch the Union Flag.

 

[Malifice]

This is going to be the Union flag soon anyways once (if) Scotland leaves the UK:

Would be a good time to change our flag at the same time.

Even the Monarchists couldnt really argue.

 

[Dont be a lemon]

Back on topic, Fiji have ditched the Monarchy and gotten turfed out of the Commonwealth anyways havent they?

Republic since 1987.

Suspended from the Commonwealth of Nations since 2006.

Funny how usually the Commonwealth of Nations only makes the news if somebody is suspended or their shitty games are on.

 

[Malifice]

Funny how usually the Commonwealth of Nations only makes the news if somebody is suspended or their shitty games are on.

Indeed.

The Commonwealth is nothing to sneeze at either:

The Commonwealth comprises 54 countries (including one currently suspended member), across all six inhabited continents. The members have a combined population of 2.1 billion people, almost a third of the world population, of which 1.17 billion live in India and 94% live in Asia and Africa combined.[33] After India, the next-largest Commonwealth countries by population are Pakistan (176 million), Bangladesh (156 million), Nigeria (154 million), the United Kingdom (61 million) and South Africa (49 million). Tuvalu is the smallest member, with about 10,000 people.[34]

The land area of the Commonwealth nations is about 31,500,000 km2 (12,200,000 sq mi), or about 21% of the total world land area. The three largest Commonwealth nations by area are Canada at 10,000,000 km2 (3,900,000 sq mi), Australia at 7,700,000 km2 (3,000,000 sq mi), and India at 3,300,000 km2 (1,300,000 sq mi).[35] The Commonwealth members have a combined gross domestic product of over $10 trillion, 65% of which is accounted for by the four largest economies: the United Kingdom ($2.2 trillion), India ($1.7 trillion), Canada ($1.5 trillion) and Australia ($1.4 trillion).

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Commonwealth_of_Nations

 

[Pessimistic]

It's breathtaking the measures Australians have voted down in Referendums.

Fair Elections - carried in no states.
Democratic Elections - carried in one state
Rights and Freedoms - carried in no states

The Republican movement have a big hill to climb. First step is to accept 1999 was a failing of their making, and not a result of anything John Howard did.

Because the libs never waste money, right ?

Eddie and malcolm, say no more

 

[Pessimistic]

On topic, the boxing kangaroo is the next most popular flag and will never be a national flag.

The alternatives dont stack up

Anyway rhe union flag does represent union and is a pleasing design

 

[Slax]

When someone actually comes up with an alternative flag that is less offensive than the one we currently have I will consider it. Personally to me I find changing our flag to incorporate some aboriginal flag or theme repulsive, yes they were the original occupants of the land, but they have less to do with the way our society is strucured than the influx of mediterraenian migrants in the 50s & 60s. We pander to them enough so they can go and get f****d when it comes to the flag.

If it is good enough for Hawaii to still have the union jack incorporated inside its flag then it should well be good enough for us.

 

[Hard_to_Beat]

I think we should go with a choice that is a true representation of contemporary Australia:

 

[Troubadour]

I was unaware of the fights and furore (particularly between states) that the current flag caused for being too Victorian, and the ongoing refusal of some states, military branches and even schools to acknowledge the current flag went on until the 70's, and was only settled by JH in 1996.

The Federation Flag involved a cross with the southern cross and the union in the LH corner.

I was also unaware that the civil version that citizens were to fly was on a red background rather than the current blue, and there was also a white background version.

Maybe we aren't as attached to the current one as I thought

 

[Howard Littlejohn]

I was unaware of the fights and furore (particularly between states) that the current flag caused for being too Victorian, and the ongoing refusal of some states, military branches and even schools to acknowledge the current flag went on until the 70's, and was only settled by JH in 1996.

The Federation Flag involved a cross with the southern cross and the union in the LH corner.

I was also unaware that the civil version that citizens were to fly was on a red background rather than the current blue, and there was also a white background version.

Maybe we aren't as attached to the current one as I thought

The white ensign is a navy flag I think. I thought the red ensign was used for merchant shipping.

 

[tandino]

Because the libs never waste money, right ?

I don't understand the relevance

 

[Troubadour]

The white ensign is a navy flag I think. I thought the red ensign was used for merchant shipping.

From what I read

Blue was for the government and members of the public weren't allowed to fly it
Red was the only colour members of the public could fly over land (mercantile shipping used from 1953)

White was used by the Navy from 1967 (prior to this the used the white Union flag)

 

[The_Reaper]

This is going to be the Union flag soon anyways once (if) Scotland leaves the UK:

Would be a good time to change our flag at the same time.

Even the Monarchists couldnt really argue.

Scotland won't end up going independent.

The Union Jack on the Australian flag has more to do with Australian history and tradition and not with the UK. If the UK does devolve than that does not mean that Australia would need to remove the union jack.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Scotland won't end up going independent.

The Union Jack on the Australian flag has more to do with Australian history and tradition and not with the UK. If the UK does devolve than that does not mean that Australia would need to remove the union jack.

It would be silly if we didn't though.

 

[The_Reaper]

It would be silly if we didn't though.

Why?
We're not a British colony any more.

If we've got the union jack on to reflect our past history and culture than that doesn't change if Scotland leaves the Union.

 

[Caesar]

It would be silly if we didn't though.

No it wouldn't. It represents a historical link; what the current Union Jack looks like is not really relevant.

I think there are a couple of flags around the world that feature pre-Ireland versions of the Union Flag in the canton, because their association with Britain ended before it was redesigned.

 

[Admiral Byng]

Why?
We're not a British colony any more.

If we've got the union jack on to reflect our past history and culture than that doesn't change if Scotland leaves the Union.

Because that's not the only reason why it's on the flag.

 

[The_Reaper]

Because that's not the only reason why it's on the flag.

It is now.

 

[mantis]

Why?
We're not a British colony any more.

If we've got the union jack on to reflect our past history and culture than that doesn't change if Scotland leaves the Union.

If a country which is actually in the British Isles declares independence, how stupid are we, a country thousands of miles away, still willing to be part of the British Commonwealth?

 

[Caesar]

What does independence or lack thereof have to do with membership of the Commonwealth?

 

[The_Reaper]

If a country which is actually in the British Isles declares independence, how stupid are we, a country thousands of miles away, still willing to be part of the British Commonwealth?

India is still part of the commonwealth of nations.
Scotland if they do go independent would be in the commonwealth and would have the Queen as their head of state.

 

[Illinois Nazi]

I think we need a new flag, that's like a bum with a fist coming out of it.