adamantium|wang posted:

quote:

Peter Moore: January 26 is the birth of modern Australia — deal with it
Peter Moore, Geelong Advertiser
January 26, 2017 12:00am
Subscriber only

IT’S that time of the year again. Yup it’s Australia Day today.

As per the norm, I was alerted to this significant and hugely symbolic occasion by the entirely predictable bleatings of discord from indigenous representatives.

At the local level, Wathaurong Aboriginal Co-operative chair Annette Xiberras said the date should be changed to a day during National Aborigines and Islanders Day Observance Committee (NAIDOC) Week.

“It was the start of our genocide,” Ms Xiberras said of January 26. “To us, it’s a day of mourning.”

Not a new slant on the matter, so let’s put it into perspective

In the last census, 3 per cent of Australians described themselves as of Aboriginal or Torres Straight Islander descent. For the mathematically challenged, this means that 97 per cent of Australia’s population is not and quite naturally don’t view the landing of the First Fleet in the same way.

Whether we like what was done or not, the Australia of today was shaped and formed by the landing of the First Fleet way back in 1788. To most, January 26 doesn’t represent an invasion, a war or the start of a systematic annihilation of a race of people; it is merely an easily recognisable historic event on which we can say with some certainty that modern Australia was born.

There is nothing to be ashamed about this historic fact.

Suggestions that a more suitable day would be May 27 — recognising the constitutional equality given to indigenous people on that day in 1967 — is absolute rubbish.

While a significant day in the country’s social history, it has no bearing on the why, how and when of modern history.

On this basis we might just as well hold Australia Day on the day when the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902 was passed, allowing women to vote in the 1903 Federal election; at least this celebrates a day that 50 per cent of the population can identify with.

A quick glance at what is available in terms of memorable days in Aboriginal history that are officially recognised by all reveals:

MARCH 21 — Harmony Day. This date coincides with United Nations International Day for the Elimination of Racial Discrimination and began to be commemorated in 1999 as a day to encourage tolerance and understanding between Australians of all races and cultural backgrounds;

JUNE 3 — Mabo Day. Commemorates the anniversary of the 1992 High Court decision in the case brought by Eddie Mabo and others that recognised the existence in Australia of native title rights.

On the 10th anniversary of this day in 2002 there were many calls for the day to become a public holiday, an official national Mabo Day; and

ABORIGINAL and Torres Strait Islander Sunday on the first Sunday in July helps kick off NAIDOC Week with some prayer and reflection. It is a chance for all to celebrate the life of Australia’s indigenous peoples.

So you see by and large it would be nice if the other 97 per cent of the population could have a day to celebrate the birth of modern Australia on a day that we all find appropriate.

Being a fair man and aware of England’s dastardly role in Australia Day, I’ve drafted an apology letter for the Queen to be read out tonight:

“Her Majesty’s Government would like to apologise to all Australians. We apologise for endowing your country with the most sustainable form of democracy on the planet.

“We, in England, can barely sleep at night worrying over the imposition of the British legal system on an unsuspecting population when so many of your neighbouring countries offer such viable and desirable alternatives.

“We sincerely regret America getting involved in England’s World War II and removing the opportunity for Australia to unite as one under the Japanese flag.”

There you go, England’s really, really sorry but facts are facts. Australia Day marks the birth of the nation.

And to the indigenous peoples, the more you concentrate on the past the less you will connect with the future.

quote:

Suggestions that a more suitable day would be May 27 — recognising the constitutional equality given to indigenous people on that day in 1967 — is absolute rubbish.

While a significant day in the country’s social history, it has no bearing on the why, how and when of modern history.

On this basis we might just as well hold Australia Day on the day when the Commonwealth Franchise Act of 1902 was passed, allowing women to vote in the 1903 Federal election; at least this celebrates a day that 50 per cent of the population can identify with.

ModernMajorGeneral posted:

I read the Bill Leak cartoon more like "the acknowledgement to country is meaningless window dressing if you are simultaneously involved in imperialist repression"

quote:

A quick glance at what is available in terms of memorable days in Aboriginal history that are officially recognised by all reveals:

quote:

Yay, Happy good to be whatever we are day! But oh no those aboriginals are complaining again. Pay no attention to them, hahaha, they're indigenous. They want to change the day again. Booooring. Something about "boohoo our genoicide", pfft. Same old thing, but Imma fix it!

There's more of us than there is of them. AND WE ALL AGREE BECAUSE I AM PSYCHIC. Therefore we're right! Therefore aborigines = wrong. So maybe we don't like what was done, and maybe we admit we are affected by what was done. But it's totally not what they said, its just an event guys.

It's a fact, so you're supposed to just agree, right. Another date would be stupid. Look at this dumb date they want, some day in the 1960's when they got the vote! That date is rubbish, because aborigines are not modern history. Hahaha speaking of people we ignore, why not celebrate giving women the vote, that's 50% right hahaha.

Let's see what other dumb dates they like:

* Some UN holiday.
* That irrelevant Mabo thing, they even wanted a public holiday for it!
* Some July thing that indigenous people do.

So there, totally irrelevant to the 97% who totally all agree because maths. Hahaha you'll like this, what if, right, what if THE QUEEN APOLOGIZED FOR EVERYTHING! Hahaha!

* Like DEMOCRACY hahaha
* Or LAWS hahaha
* or or or, being so totally useless we had to get the Yanks to save us because otherwise WE'D BE JAPANESE!!!

See, don't you feel better and totally 97% right? Of course you do, because you're not indigenous! IT'S JUST A FACT.

WHY DON'T YOU INDIGENOUS PEOPLE JUST GET OVER IT.

BBJoey posted:

three days, oh the humanity

adamantium|wang posted:

ewe2 posted:

Peter Moron explained:


I felt the need to spell it out because morons like this don't actually admit to the meaning behind their arguments. And what arguments they have!

starkebn posted:

Isn't 70% migrants or who's parents migrated?

Mr Chips posted:

2012 census had it at ~25% born overseas and ~44% with at least 1 parent born overseas.

Anidav posted:

There about 2k people here at the Brisbane invasion day rally

hawaiian_robot posted:

STRAYA DAY

starkebn posted:

It felt like 1 / 10 police presence

Anidav posted:

There about 2k people here at the Brisbane invasion day rally

Recoome posted:

Anime Dave I am sure I saw you

starkebn posted:

I'm sure I saw you Recoome with your little red shorts on, pretty sure you've posted a photo of yourself before and you might have been wearing the same stuff

I would blow Dane Cook posted:

who is EM and why was he demodded?

I would blow Dane Cook posted:

who is EM and why was he demodded?

hawaiian_robot posted:

STRAYA DAY

ewe2 posted:

Nazi Punch #2

Rough animation 100ms. Beatbox your favourite technobeat:

You Am I posted:

Nice triple flag.


SALUTE!

You Am I posted:

Barnaby is wanting those who want to change the date of Australia Day to go climb under a rock. Thanks Barnaby.