Peter Adamis 15 July 2014. The view from our bedroom window. Flying the flag at home. It may be tattered, old and tired. Yet it never stops to rest when the wind blows. (See below for an explanation). A copy of the article may be downloaded by clicking on: AUSTRALIAN FLAG IS IT TIME FOR A CHANGE
States seceding. In light of Scotland breaking away from the United Kingdom, is it time for the Australian flag to be reviewed and changed to reflect modern Australia. Are we mature enough and emboldened with wisdom to take our rightful place amongst the countries that for so long look upon Australia as the youngest in the family of nations. When the Queen of the Commonwealth decides to step down from her responsibilities and hands it down to one of her kin, will that be the trigger for change.
Fabric of Australia. Will Australia reach a point in time where the cultural and community fabric of Australian society no longer reflects the European family of nations and instead is replaced by a new race of Australians that is a conglomeration of all nations under one flag. Will Australian States take the step of Scotland and decide that they no longer feel akin to being a part of Australia and secede from the Australian Commonwealth despite all of the safeguards that in place that makes it virtually impossible to do so.
Retention of cultural threads. When the fabric of Australia is such that it that the cements that binds its society is not based on the Australian flag but rather on how an Australian feels about this country we call home. An Australian home that provides its people with an economic stability, a democratic and political platform, religious and cultural tolerance and a law abiding environment. The flag is merely a rallying pint of old, a symbol of our origins and once Scotland decides to secede from the United Kingdom will we change our flag. I think not for the simple reason is that The white diagonal St Andrew’s Cross of Scotland represents the Scots.
Questions and challenges that Australians of today and of the future will we faced with. Australians will be required to address such matters rather than placing their heads into the sand and hoping that these matters will just disappear from the face of society. One method of overcoming such diversity is to abolish outdated multicultural policies that divide our nation and replace them policies that equitable across the board and a create a level playing field.
Vehicle for change. In doing so, the proposed changes will not and should not be designed to affect the funding or release of grants to new and diverse communities but rather aim at strengthen them towards a society that creates an Australian national environment while at the same time retaining the cultural aspects of the older cultures. In other words let Multiculralism stand for a vehicle that creates an environment towards becoming an Australian citizen first and foremost without losing the cultural origins of old.
Fear of change and the unknown. Some may argue that we are a tolerant lot and yet we often hear of racism occurring on public transport, our indigenous first peoples being treated as second class citizens, cultural battles like those at Cronulla in NSW, ignorance of Islam in the Western world, and changing views regarding marriage and gender issues. All our fears are based on the unknown and our natural fear of change, a change that some members of society do not want to occur. This is spite of the fact that we recognise we need to populate this island (continent to the purists) or be overwhelmed by others over whom we will have no control.
True blue Aussies. I remember my father retelling a story when he was a young man going into the pub to have a few ales after work and of his apprehension in going into a pub whose patrons were Australian of Anglo/Saxon origins. He ordered two double whiskies at the bar and waited relaxed looking around to see if he recognised anyone from his work. (He worked with Carlton Breweries at the time. A couple of blokes came over to him and began to gave him bit of a hard time telling to go back where he came from and so forth.
Well the old man was ready for a bit of fisticuffs, when all of a sudden one patron jumped onto the bar and addressed the other patrons. This bloke had recognised the old man and told the other blokes that we have to stop heckling and giving abuse to the new comers when after all they fought alongside us in Europe and that e should not be afraid of these new cultures coming into Australia. Well all that I can repeats is my old man’s relief when he heard these words and he was able to relax somewhat.
Moral of the story. Suffice to say, within a few years Dad and the whole family had become fully fledged Australian citizens. This is only but one small yarn that can probably be repeated across Australia in the small towns in the outback to the large cities in each state. This yarn had nothing to do with the Australian flag, but rather on the calibre and tolerance of its people, the simple Aussie bloke in the street. The Australian flag up to this point has served this nation and its people well and should not be changed unless there are extenuating circumstances that create an environment to challenge the status quo. Moral of the story is simple and I leave to the reader to make his own mind up.
The Aussie Flag in the backyard. I may live across from the Watsonia RSL in Victoria, but I have the Aussie flag flying in my back yard every day as a reminder that I live in a country that is free. I do not take it for granted for it has provided me with the opportunity to live a life free of oppression and intimidation. An environment to create my own lifestyle and free from religious coercion. An environment where I know that I can walk freely down the road greeting my neighbours and friends, an environment where I can partake in all of this country’s natural resources and enjoy the glorious sunrises, sunsets and the beauty of its rivers, lakes, mountains and beaches. I think that flying the flag is a perpetual reminder of how blessed lucky we truly are and we should never take it for granted. Any way as long as we keep our current flag it will keep the bloody “mozzies” at bay.
The Voice from the Pavement – Peter Adamis is a Journalist/Commentator and writer. He is a retired Australian military serviceman and an Industry organisational & Occupational (OHS) & Training Consultant whose interests are within the parameters of domestic and international political spectrum. He is an avid blogger and contributes to domestic and international community news media outlets as well as to local and Ethnic News. He holds a Bachelor of Adult Learning & Development (Monash), Grad Dip Occupational Health & Safety, (Monash), Dip. Training & Assessment, Dip Public Administration, and Dip Frontline Management. Contact via Email: [email protected] or via Mobile: 0409965538