FinestTigers
Well-known member
That’s a very fair question (pardon the pun).
It's a great angle to explore. To address those valid concerns, it helps to look at how national symbols evolve over time, moving from their original 19th-century context to a modern expression of unity and shared community.
1. Acknowledging the Original 19th-Century. Context. It is historically accurate to acknowledge that when Peter Dodds McCormick wrote the song in 1878, the lyrics reflected the social norms and colonial mindset of the Victorian era. The Colonial Perspective: Terms like "young" and references to British allegiance in the original four-verse version reflected a 19th-century view focused primarily on European settlement, The Evolution of "Fair": While early usage carried multiple layers, including poetic terms for beauty ("a fair land"), fairness, and 19th-century cultural descriptors, it was tied to the colonial context of its day.
2. How the Anthem Evolved to Include Everyone. Rather than remaining frozen in 1878, Advance Australia Fair has been deliberately updated over time so that it reflects the entire nation, not just its colonial origins. Inclusive Language (1984): When officially adopted as the national anthem in 1984, gender-exclusive lines were updated (e.g., changing "Australia's sons" to "Australians all" to embrace every member of society. Recognising Ancient History (2021): The official change from "for we are young and free" to "for we are one and free" was a significant step toward unity. It explicitly acknowledges over 60,000 years of Indigenous heritage while affirming that all Australians share a single, united present and future.
3. What "Fair" and the Anthem Mean Today?
Symbols gain their true strength from what they mean to the people singing them today. In modern Australia, the anthem stands as a call for unity, mutual respect, and shared opportunity. The "Fair Go": Today, "fair" is inextricably linked to the iconic Australian value of a "fair go", the principle of fairness, equality, compassion, and equal opportunity for everyone, regardless of background or origin. A Bridge for Unity: The core message of the anthem today, "for we are one and free", is fundamentally about togetherness. It doesn't ask people to erase their unique cultural, Indigenous, or ethnic heritages, instead, it provides a shared platform where all Australians can stand together as one community.
