How can we step off the Australia Day behaviour carousel?
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting different results, explains Nic Hayes, managing director of Media Stable.
Australia Day is a hot potato. A day of immense pride, celebration, and joy for some Aussies and a day of guilt, sadness, and embarrassment for our First Nation’s people and many others.
Great article Nic and very balanced.
A plebiscite is a good start but it won’t happen because we all know through the tsunami of research that most Aussies want Jan 26. All the politicians on both sides are eunuchs on this issue. Those who speak out either way are either racist or left wing terrorists.
It’s a bind. I was brought up to believe that in a democracy the majority wins … even 50%+1
I think it’s time for Democracy to fight back as opposed to Jan 26 and once again underwrite what made Australia great.. This could then trickle down and make people accept that for example Jan 26 is what the majority of Australians want. Paul Ramsden
Nic, Australia doesn’t need a consensus going forward about Australia Day on the 26th of January. All Australia needs is a majority of its population in favour of the status quo and we already have that. All the polling done every year by the same apologist groups gets the same result and that is around 80% of Australians want Australia Day to remain as it is. The real definition of insanity with regard to Australia Day is that these same groups try the same thing every year somehow expecting a different result and they never get it.
My thoughts are we should change the day. No other countries celebrate their national day on date if colonisation. It is insensitive and disrespectful. There are better dates. However if the date is not to change it should be more inclusive of Aboriginal storytelling and acknowledgment of their history as custodians of the land for many thousands of years. The answer to all that divides us is acknowledgment, understanding, and respect. Australia Day is not the problem..it’s the divide it currently symbolises.
The First Fleet landed in Botany Bay on on 18 January 1788.
Australia Day marks the founding of Australia in Port Jackson eight days later.
I agree with your statement, Australians need to instill a lot more pride .
The date we celebrate us needs to be clarified as to what exactly happened on that day !
There are too many stories, the true one needs to be stated in every medium to make people understand and not follow like sherp .
I’ve heard the argument for both sides and still cant see why we need to change the day. Far to much bluster if you ask me.