Jan 26, 2009
The one about Australia Day [oi! oi! oi!]
John Saffron made an interesting observation about the attire of the crown in front of him during the broadcast of Triple J’s Hottest 100 Countdown — something about the flag-capes being one thing, but the “love it or leave it” t-shirts being a little creepy.
Now, I love Australia. I am eternally grateful for the opportunities I’ve had since my family moved here when I was four. So I have nothing to fear from the wearers of those t-shirts. But the flags have been totally pissing me off.
And as a friend of mine pointed out this morning, all the Aussie flags on the cars about town are rather reminiscent of the old General Lee from the Dukes of Hazzard that was painted with the Confederate flag: “because we all know that celebrating American slavery’s courageous last stand is a grand idea. ”
Similarly, idolising the flag that symbolises nothing much other than colonisation in honour of the day a bunch of Europe’s least-wanted were planted here, seems kinda lame to me.
It was only tongue-in-cheek when I asked if The West was giving the little car-flags away, but, as it turned out, people actually had to make the effort to cut out the voucher from the paper and pay $2 each for the things.
Which were probably made in the same factory as the Toohey’s New bucket hats the boys picked up at the bottle-shop yesterday.
I really think it’s time for a new flag and, honestly, a new Australia Day. But meh, who listens to me?
Update – better posts on the subject with like, Actual Arguments(™) and stuff:
- Andrew Bartlett @ Crikey
- paris-site
Actual arguments don’t seem to curry much favour with the flag-wavers. Though they do seem to be doing a sterling job of maintaining the Eurpoe’s-least-wanted tradition.
Thanks for linking :-)
theparissite’s last blog post…Invasion Day
hmmm… correct me if I’m wrong, but I think you mean “John Safran”, not “John Saffron”
Bobsey, you are absolutely right! Saffron would be Eddie’s daughter on Ab Fab, not hilarious Jewish nerd.