Aussie Flag banned at BDO!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[camsmith]

OK, who gives a ********? People drape this thing over themselves and run it up their flagpoles as if it actually means something.

It's a former British Navy flag with white stars.

It is so non-distinctive and so steeped in nothing in paticular that I can't believe intelligent people get ra-ra about it. I can understand the rednecks of Cronulla and West Sydney (who drove to Cronulla) getting ra-ra about it - they're morons.

Australia is a beautiful part of the world and not because of some 2nd-hand piece of cloth. Men and women fought and died for the people of this country - not for some 2nd-hand peice of cloth.

That 'piece of cloth' represents Australia. Whatever you think of it is besides the point, its our flag, we should be proud of it.

 

[camsmith]

And what glorious advances in human society have been brought about by nationalism? How many diseases have been cured by devotion to national flags? How many lives have been saved by nationalistic fervor?

WWII was won because of nationalism.

 

[Scratcher Gillespie]

WWII was won because of nationalism.

And started.

 

[Docker_Brat]

That 'piece of cloth' represents Australia. Whatever you think of it is besides the point, its our flag, we should be proud of it.

Why be proud of it? Did you make it?

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

I think the saddest thing about this is it indicates something the represents us all is being turned into something it does not represent.

There's nothing evil about being proud to wave ya nations flag.

Mainly because anyone of any race, religion etc. can wave it whenever they like.

This guy makes it seem like the only people that would wave an Aussie flag are white Anglos and that's obviously not the case.

 

[The Old Dark Navy's]

Obviously some people misuse these things but I suggest to you that a thug is a thug whether he has a flag with him or not. If he is going to BDO to cause trouble, do you think he won't do it if he doesn't have the flag with him?

It's a silly point anyway. In the wake of the Cronulla riots, didn't we here endlessly how we are all Australians? Are there not muslim Australians? Doesn't the flag represent them too?

Another case of people going overboard to appease/hamper the minority.

 

[AndSmithMustScore]

The great irony of this for me is i know of only a few people who fly an aussie flag in their yard/house and they are all italian/greek immigrants.

So to those who question what does it mean to people, it obviuosly is a great source of pride to these people who chose to make Australia their home.

 

[Scratcher Gillespie]

It's a tough one. It's almost as if they have some intelligence that select groups will use it to casue trouble.

If not, it seems an over-reaction, as does the over-reaction to the banning. It's a flag for christs sake.

 

[footyfreak]

Why be proud of it? Did you make it?

Because it represents our country FFS!!!!!! If you can't be proud of your nation then you should go live somewhere that you can. I'm not a flag weilding bogan who can't think for himself, and i don't think Australia is perfect but i'm extremely proud to be an Australian and the Aussie flag is representative of my country and i'll defend it wholeheartedly. It's not about the bit of cloth and who actually made it, it's what it represents.

 

[Scratcher Gillespie]

Because it represents our country FFS!!!!!! If you can't be proud of your nation then you should go live somewhere that you can. I'm not a flag weilding bogan who can't think for himself, and i don't think Australia is perfect but i'm extremely proud to be an Australian and the Aussie flag is representative of my country and i'll defend it wholeheartedly. It's not about the bit of cloth and who actually made it, it's what it represents.

Exactly, it's not about the bit of cloth, it's about the country - it shouldn't matter whether you can take the flag in or not. However...

On further investigation, I'm undecided about this. If the organisers have gone off their own backs, without any evidence that there will be problems, its a very silly move. If on the other hand they have been warned by police or other parties to prepare security for racial trouble, it's a fair enough move.

 

[barista]

Because it represents our country FFS!!!!!!

No it doesn’t, it represents an outdated notion of our country. This nation has undergone a radical cultural transformation over the last 40 years and now it’s time for its symbols to reflect this change and be brought into line with Australia’s modern multi-culture. Furthermore, for indigenous folk, the flag remains a symbol of dispossession, Anglo incursion and injustice.

Unfortunately, many people still view this country through the prism of Anglo-Saxonism and continue to cling to outdated & unrepresentative symbols. These are myopic and repressed individuals that have yet to come to terms with Australia’s changed cultural landscape. John Howard is one of these people.

As others have already noted, this is a private event and organizers have every right to set the terms and conditions of entry as they see fit. It’s pretty simple, if people don’t like the rules then they shouldn’t attend.

If you can't be proud of your nation then you should go live somewhere that you can.

Typical bigoted response. No I will not go and live somewhere else, I will remain in this country and continue to agitate until change is brought about and Australia’s nationhood and identity are rebuilt on more substantial foundations.

 

[- PC -]

No it doesn’t, it represents an outdated notion of our country. This nation has undergone a radical cultural transformation over the last 40 years and now it’s time for its symbols to reflect this change and be brought into line with Australia’s modern multi-culture.

Thats all well and good. But what happens in another 40 years when our population changes and we desire another flag?

Symbols hold greater meaning the longer they are kept imo

The aborigines do have ther own flag... and it has caused more angst than it solves. There is now this separation that will slowly become a chasm. We should be embracing all Australians under 1 flag...not 2

 

[dansi]

You know what folks, us non bogans (yes there are a lot of non bogans in this country) are really feed up with boganism and its rise in the past decade (funny enough its all happened during the cruel and nasty howard years). We are fed up with bogans attacking and believing, word for word, everything the media tells. We are sick and tired of Bogans being used to represent what Australia is all about. These stupid bogans do not understand that the media are using them as pawns to sell papers.

Did anyone go to last years BDO? Did anyone have to encounter groups of drunken yobbos (the ones you see at one day cricket games) walking around antagonising people and forcing them to kiss the flag or else there would be dire consequences? Did anyone see the group of anglo guys abuse an ethnic looking girl for refusing to kiss the flag?

Thats what the issue is here people, not Political Correctness gone wrong. People in this country HAVE to start to think first before they make an opinion, this is a legacy of the Howard government and the way the media has been able to manipulate the common folk and feed their prejudices. The media have a lot to answer for especially the editors of various newspapers. I know Johnny and Co are rubbing their hands with glee at todays over reaction, they have trained the media well.

Bogans should not be allowed to have much say in anything. They are current making life impossible for normal Australians and eroding a lot of hard work people have done through the years.

 

[Total_Juddshanks]

No it doesn’t, it represents an outdated notion of our country. This nation has undergone a radical cultural transformation over the last 40 years and now it’s time for its symbols to reflect this change and be brought into line with Australia’s modern multi-culture. Furthermore, for indigenous folk, the flag remains a symbol of dispossession, Anglo incursion and injustice.

Unfortunately, many people still view this country through the prism of Anglo-Saxonism and continue to cling to outdated & unrepresentative symbols. These are myopic and repressed individuals that have yet to come to terms with Australia’s changed cultural landscape. John Howard is one of these people.

Mate, you're kidding yourself.

Ethnically and culturally Australia is absolutely still an Anglo Saxon country- that's not far right nationalism, its just reality. 92% of Australians are of European descent, 74% are Anglo-Celtic. By comparison, in China, roughly 92% of the population is Han Chinese, and I don't see the PRC suggesting that they are anything other than a Chinese nation. More amusingly still, England is only around 88-90% white european- arguably, we're actually less ethnically diverse than they are.

Australia has a very British identity, similar to most other British settled commonwealth countries. Like other commonwealth countries (Canada, South Africa), it has a distinct flavour due to its minority groups, but we are who we are.

All of that has bugger all to do with this particular flag issue, and now it appears in this instance, the media is massively culpable and has misreported what has actually happened.

 

[Qsaint]

I must be getting old

Who takes a flag to a festival?

Does it help to:

1 Bring Booze or not so legal other drugs in

2 Pick up

If not whats the point

 

[footyfreak]

No it doesn’t, it represents an outdated notion of our country. This nation has undergone a radical cultural transformation over the last 40 years and now it’s time for its symbols to reflect this change and be brought into line with Australia’s modern multi-culture. Furthermore, for indigenous folk, the flag remains a symbol of dispossession, Anglo incursion and injustice.

Unfortunately, many people still view this country through the prism of Anglo-Saxonism and continue to cling to outdated & unrepresentative symbols. These are myopic and repressed individuals that have yet to come to terms with Australia’s changed cultural landscape. John Howard is one of these people.

As others have already noted, this is a private event and organizers have every right to set the terms and conditions of entry as they see fit. It’s pretty simple, if people don’t like the rules then they shouldn’t attend.


Typical bigoted response. No I will not go and live somewhere else, I will remain in this country and continue to agitate until change is brought about and Australia’s nationhood and identity are rebuilt on more substantial foundations.

We don't have to change our symbols, flags, our history or our view points on anything FFS! ******** off with that left wing crap! If people don't like it go! And that's not bigotry, i'm not intolerant of others or their view points but i'm damned if i'll stand here and let people like you force us to change things coz we were nice enough as a country to let a whole bunch of people come and enjoy our country when if it wasn't for us they would not have had the opportunity.

When people come here they accept our country good and bad or they piss off somewhere else. I'm all for improving the country in any way possible but there is no way we should have to change anything to appease anyone!

And if you think the Aboriginals give a toss about the aussie flag or have a problem with it then you have no idea. It's a tiny minority like those that camp on the grounds of parliment house. Most Aboriginals are embarrased by the minority of their people that carry on with all this stuff.

 

[dansi]

We don't have to change our symbols, flags, our history or our view points on anything FFS! ******** off with that left wing crap! If people don't like it go! And that's not bigotry, i'm not intolerant of others or their view points but i'm damned if i'll stand here and let people like you force us to change things coz we were nice enough as a country to let a whole bunch of people come and enjoy our country when if it wasn't for us they would not have had the opportunity.

When people come here they accept our country good and bad or they piss off somewhere else. I'm all for improving the country in any way possible but there is no way we should have to change anything to appease anyone!

And if you think the Aboriginals give a toss about the aussie flag or have a problem with it then you have no idea. It's a tiny minority like those that camp on the grounds of parliment house. Most Aboriginals are embarrased by the minority of their people that carry on with all this stuff.

You are one ignorant guy. You're the kind of bogan i speak about. You are so mis-informed (sounds like the herald sun is your source of reliable and objective news reporting) it makes me cringe and dislike being australian.

Your comment about aboriginals is just pathetic. The majority of Aboriginals consider australia day as invasion day and refuse to fly the union jack which BTW does not REPRESENT ME and i was born here.

 

[barista]

Thats all well and good. But what happens in another 40 years when our population changes and we desire another flag?

Symbols hold greater meaning the longer they are kept imo

I don’t think that’s true across the board. If anything this flag has become increasingly irrelevant. It was designed for an imperial Anglo-sphere that no longer has any significance. The next design should be a truly ecumenical symbol for the ages.

Australia is a nation of change and evolution. If people in a hundred years time feel it’s time for another then so be it. Historical precedent should not be imposed on any generation.

The aborigines do have ther own flag... and it has caused more angst than it solves. There is now this separation that will slowly become a chasm. We should be embracing all Australians under 1 flag...not 2

Really, it hasn’t caused any angst or division on my part. Given that it’s offended your sensibilities it probably say’s more about you.

 

[footyfreak]

You know what folks, us non bogans (yes there are a lot of non bogans in this country) are really feed up with boganism and its rise in the past decade ](funny enough its all happened during the cruel and nasty howard years).We are fed up with bogans attacking and believing, word for word, everything the media tells. We are sick and tired of Bogans being used to represent what Australia is all about. These stupid bogans do not understand that the media are using them as pawns to sell papers.

Did anyone go to last years BDO? Did anyone have to encounter groups of drunken yobbos (the ones you see at one day cricket games) walking around antagonising people and forcing them to kiss the flag or else there would be dire consequences? Did anyone see the group of anglo guys abuse an ethnic looking girl for refusing to kiss the flag?

Thats what the issue is here people, not Political Correctness gone wrong. People in this country HAVE to start to think first before they make an opinion, this is a legacy of the Howard government and the way the media has been able to manipulate the common folk and feed their prejudices. The media have a lot to answer for especially the editors of various newspapers. I know Johnny and Co are rubbing their hands with glee at todays over reaction, they have trained the media well.

Bogans should not be allowed to have much say in anything. They are current making life impossible for normal Australians and eroding a lot of hard work people have done through the years.

OT but you dragged it there.

Yea the country has just done so poorly under the Howard government . And it's all the governments fault

Labour had their go and screwed things up big time. Ask people who had to endure 17.5 % interest rates about cruel and nasty years. They were like an apprentice jockey who couldn't stop the horse from bolting coz they didn't have the strength or the ability.

I don't agree with everything Liberal have done but locally they have done a fantastic job with this country and if you think things would have been better had we had an alternative gov then you are seriously fantasising.

 

[Qsaint]

I don’t think that’s true across the board. If anything this flag has become increasingly irrelevant. It was designed for an imperial Anglo-sphere that no longer has any significance. The next design should be a truly ecumenical symbol for the ages.

Such as what? The French of North African decent regularily burn the tri colour. A flag is a symbol of a country. A millitant minority who perceives its on the outside will always depise those Symbols. How about we change the flag every 5 years?

 

[dansi]

OT but you dragged it there.

Yea the country has just done so poorly under the Howard government . And it's all the governments fault

Labour had their go and screwed things up big time. Ask people who had to endure 17.5 % interest rates about cruel and nasty years. They were like an apprentice jockey who couldn't stop the horse from bolting coz they didn't have the strength or the ability.

Thats the problem with simple bogans. All they care about is a plasma screen and how to pay of there mortgage. Morals and bigger issues can go to buggery. They don't pay the bills do they.

Stop thinking with your hip pocketing for once and look at the bigger picture. Life is much more than just interest rates and credit cards!

 

[rick James]

I would never wear or kiss the australian flag because, well, i just wouldn't.

I consider myself very tolerant of other cultures and backgrounds, I also consider myself proud to be an Australian.

I can also see that the reason for this being banned is because a minority of anglo's last year went around physically forcing people to kiss the aussie flag and basically brought white nationalism into a music festival.

It's very sad, but if a gang of lebo's ran around with a lebanese flag asking people to kiss it "or else" last year, I weould expect lebanese flags would be banned this year.

Luckily, Melbourne isnt' as splintered as Sydney with this kind of thing and those people who do wish to wear teh aussie flag with pride will be able to.

 

[- PC -]

[[/FONT]
Really, it hasn’t caused any angst or division on my part. Given that it’s offended your sensibilities it probably say’s more about you.

It hasnt offended my sensibilities, I feel separating people into aboriginal and non-aboriginal causes more grief than it solves. Having separate flags is one of those separations

 

[Z_K]

Anyone who wears the flag as a cape etc etc should be banned from much more than a musical event, but that's my way out opinion and it involves violence so I'll leave it there.

 

[footyfreak]

You are one ignorant guy. You're the kind of bogan i speak about. You are so mis-informed (sounds like the herald sun is your source of reliable and objective news reporting) it makes me cringe and dislike being australian.

Your comment about aboriginals is just pathetic. The majority of Aboriginals consider australia day as invasion day and refuse to fly the union jack which BTW does not REPRESENT ME and i was born here.

Don't call me a bogan! Nor am i ignorant! I just have a different view point to you so ******** off with your labelling!

And i bet i have spoken to more Aboriginals about this kind of stuff than you have ever met in your entire life!

You'd be horrified to learn that some of them have also said that whilst it wasn't nice being taken from their families at a young age, it was the best thing that ever happened to them!