Don’t stand for the anthem!’

[stryker]

**If it was "I come from a land down under " and the flag was the boxing kangaroo I would feel more obliged.**

But I'm dammed if I'm gonna happily **sing along adoringly to British colonial bull crap** just so I can fit in with daily telegraph types.

And jftr I love Australia, I won't be going anywhere and my friends would miss me if I left.

You should do a bit of history - 'Down Under' was written by Scottish immigrant as a bit of fun.
Its references to boozing , getting stoned and spewing are all good fun (one of my favourite songs) but not necessarily national anthem material (unless you're name is Barry McKenzie).
'Advance Australia Fair' was also written by a Scottish immigrant only because he was proud of Australia and believed we deserved our own anthem.
As for the boxing kangaroo flag - although around in various forms for many years it was popularised by a Pommie immigrant and crook named Alan Bond who owned the rights to it (now owned by Australia's Olympic committee).

Hope that makes you feel more Aussie and less beholdin' to our British colonial bull crap past.

PS. Nobody asks you to sing along 'adoringly' or even sing at all.
Standing up while it is played to honour your country, and the people who fought and died to let you voice your opinion, will do just fine.

Well done Cktiger…that was an ignorant post and you treated it as such.

 

[stryker]

Those who take the side of Williams, Mundine etc are every bit as divisive and racist as they are. Simple as that.

Why do the likes of Williams and Mundine have to conform to a Australia that they do not agree with, that is a country that was stolen from that their people, that there is no treaty or peace or any other agreement?

Who said they had to conform to anything? They had no problem taking advantage of this country during their careers where they were handsomely paid and given every opportunity to succeed. Once they achieved and got what they wanted they moved on to activism to find a new revenue stream. They are hypocritical morons taking advantage of past wrongs to push their racist agenda TO MAKE MONEY and the lefties like you are falling hook line and sinker for it.

 

[cktiger]

Whether you like the Anthem or the flag is irrelevant. What makes you think your opinion outweighs the majority? Stop being so selfish and have a bit of pride in your country. Not all of its history is bad.

Those who take the side of Williams, Mundine etc are every bit as divisive and racist as they are. Simple as that.

Why do the likes of Williams and Mundine have to conform to a Australia that they do not agree with, that is a country that was stolen from that their people, that there is no treaty or peace or any other agreement?

Yes they may be against the majority but **what if the Japanese had taken over OZ 70 years ago, should the Aussies have to salute the Rising Sun and sing their anthem??? Should be they forced to concede Japanese ownership and occupation just because the Japanese had brutally and illegally taken over the place.**

I will never have pride in a flag that contains the Union Jack - because of what it stands for: exploitation, robbery etc. etc.

If the Germans and Japanese had have won you (and them) wouldn't have a choice - you'd be singing and saluting away right now - and the Rising Sun would be pride of place, not taking up only the corner of the flag.
If you look into the past of just about every country on earth you'll find it has been conquered or occupied at one time - and, unfortunately, it's still happening.
How far back in time do you think civilised nations should go in regards to 'making things right' in relation to its past'?
200 years, 500 years, a 1000 years?

 

[simonthetigerrrr]

Don't have an opinion hat differs anyone or u are treated as a fool. What a bunch of right wing patriots we have here.

May I suggest a trip to the US where u sing the national anthem everyday and proclaim u are the best on earth…...or get out!

 

[innsaneink]

Don't have an opinion hat differs anyone or u are treated as a fool. What a bunch of right wing patriots we have here.

**May I suggest a trip to the US where u sing the national anthem everyday and proclaim u are the best on earth…...or get out**!

THAT is chest beating
Doesn't happen here as you whinged about before.

Most that can't give a bit of respect have little self respect

 

[Born_tiger]

I dont rate the flag or the anthem. I don't feel represented by either.

And I don't like all the chest beating that goes with them.

You dont have to like it but you should respect it. Alot of people have bled and died for your right to make that statement never forget that. The reason you get your opinion is because of the people that fought for that flag. It has always pained me that people knock the flag but forget the people that gave their heart, soul and lives to make this country great. It has nothing to do with chest beating for the people that define it as a symbol whether you agree with that symbol or not.

You are completely incorrect, Advance Australia Fair was instated as our national anthem in 1974 after a plebiscite, and very few drops of blood were shed, nor bodies dropped, in the process.

Show some respect for the fallen soldiers mate.. Maybe no one died after the Anthem was written but show the decency to not use facts and appreciate that we are in the best country in the world because so many people fought under the flag.

 

[GoldXR50Leroy]

Mundine's pathetic attempt to draw attention to himself isn't endearing himself to our indigenous fans.

 

[Harvey]

Can show what you think of Mundine by ignoring his next cash grab. Isn't he supposed to fight on Australia day?

 

[Bird is the Word]

The people promoting this need to get over it and stop living in the past. Life is not meant to be fair, so it would probably be in their best interests to stop wasting their time striving for fairness…

Seems like every week nowadays there is a new bandwagon about righting something that is wrong...

 

[Flippedy]

The people promoting this need to get over it and stop living in the past. Life is not meant to be fair, so it would probably be in their best interests to stop wasting their time striving for fairness…

Seems like every week nowadays there is a new bandwagon about righting something that is wrong...

Spoken by a true bigot!

 

[stryker]

Assuming you understand the meaning of the word bigot Flippedy you'll realise the irony of you using it to describe others.

 

[Newtown]

Mundine grand final protest calls 'stupid': Franklin

By AAP
8 hours ago

Sydney Swans superstar Lance "Buddy" Franklin has dismissed boxer Anthony Mundine's calls to boycott the national anthem at tomorrow's AFL grand final as "stupid". The outspoken boxing champion called on players from both the AFL and NRL to boycott the anthem this weekend at a press conference today, where he also floated his future political aspirations. "I just want to educate the people, the Australian anthem was written at a time where Aboriginal people weren't even considered human beings," Mundine said.

Franklin, who is indigenous, said he thought the idea was stupid and there was "no chance" he would do it. "Personally I think it's pretty stupid really. It's the Australian national anthem, it's a part of our sport, our history," he said.

Mundine's plan was inspired by San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick, who kneels during the US national anthem before NFL games to protest against racism and police brutality.

Mundine said he didn't want to pressure any players involved in either grand final, but said Franklin was thinking about the AFL, not his people. "I'm a militant brother, I can't speak for Lance, I can't speak for anyone else."

The 41-year-old professional boxer and former rugby league player said he was not trying to incite violence or division, but wanted to educate the Australian public about indigenous recognition.

Mundine said he was considering a move into politics as an independent after his boxing career was over. "Yeah maybe I think I will," Mundine said from the Redfern Gym in inner Sydney. "In order to make change you need powerful people with big-arse kahunas to step in and not be persuaded by the system."

 

[Tim Sheens]

I dont rate the flag or the anthem. I don't feel represented by either.

And I don't like all the chest beating that goes with them.

You dont have to like it but you should respect it. Alot of people have bled and died for your right to make that statement never forget that. The reason you get your opinion is because of the people that fought for that flag. It has always pained me that people knock the flag but forget the people that gave their heart, soul and lives to make this country great. It has nothing to do with chest beating for the people that define it as a symbol whether you agree with that symbol or not.

You are completely incorrect, Advance Australia Fair was instated as our national anthem in 1974 after a plebiscite, and very few drops of blood were shed, nor bodies dropped, in the process.

Show some respect for the fallen soldiers mate.. Maybe no one died after the Anthem was written but show the decency to not use facts and appreciate that we are in the best country in the world because so many people fought under the flag.

I stand and sing proudly and respect all of our soldiers when carrying out their duties, particularly those who volunteered during times of conflict. The flag though, or at least one corner of it, has little or nothing to do with what they fought and continue to fight for.

 

[Bird is the Word]

The people promoting this need to get over it and stop living in the past. Life is not meant to be fair, so it would probably be in their best interests to stop wasting their time striving for fairness…

Seems like every week nowadays there is a new bandwagon about righting something that is wrong...

Spoken by a true bigot!

Coming up with me being a bigot is a pretty good effort based on the above. It is the observation of the kind of a person who gets worked up about things on A Current Affair, Today Tonight and the news… The kind of ignorant person who forms an opinion on something without knowing all the facts, when the 'facts' being presented are generally from a source that does not have an impartial agenda...

My observation was not a criticism of peoples beliefs as you have suggested, my point is that people are happy to go along with the 'wrong' views about things until it is popular to believe otherwise. Look at ANZ recently starting to advertise about women's pay equality, they have had decades to get up on their high horse about this, but haven't, it is only at a time when there is an opportunity for self promotion do they get on the bandwagon. Their marketing dept would have sat around thinking, "What can we do differently to gain a competitive advantage?", "I know, let's advertise that we agree with women's pay equality". It is this same reason that makes me question the motives of those promoting the anthem boycott...

There is always going to be a person or a group of people who are disadvantaged, it is not possible to make life fair for everyone. Focusing on changes that are about acknowledging historical unfairness seems ridiculous, when there are more pressing current community issues around domestic violence, gambling addiction and alcohol abuse among many others, that could do with a bit more promotion. You aren't going to see those items get much airplay now though are you as it might impact profits...

The topics that get air play nowadays are those that are likely to get more hits to sell more advertising without having a negative impact on the profits of your advertisers, not those that are necessarily the most pressing...

Aside from that there is nothing to be gained by living in the past. Accept and acknowledge the past, then move on...

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

Whether you like the Anthem or the flag is irrelevant. What makes you think your opinion outweighs the majority? Stop being so selfish and have a bit of pride in your country. Not all of its history is bad.

Those who take the side of Williams, Mundine etc are every bit as divisive and racist as they are. Simple as that.

Why do the likes of Williams and Mundine have to conform to a Australia that they do not agree with, that is a country that was stolen from that their people, that there is no treaty or peace or any other agreement?

Yes they may be against the majority but **what if the Japanese had taken over OZ 70 years ago, should the Aussies have to salute the Rising Sun and sing their anthem??? Should be they forced to concede Japanese ownership and occupation just because the Japanese had brutally and illegally taken over the place.**

I will never have pride in a flag that contains the Union Jack - because of what it stands for: exploitation, robbery etc. etc.

If the Germans and Japanese had have won you (and them) wouldn't have a choice - you'd be singing and saluting away right now - and the Rising Sun would be pride of place, not taking up only the corner of the flag.
If you look into the past of just about every country on earth you'll find it has been conquered or occupied at one time - and, unfortunately, it's still happening.
How far back in time do you think civilised nations should go in regards to 'making things right' in relation to its past'?
200 years, 500 years, a 1000 years?

But you are attempting to intimidate people to conform to your appeasing and submitting view. Because these sportsmen tried and succeeded in the (white Aussie) system you think they should shut up that their country was stolen. Why can't they be leaders on and off the field. for their people. I possess a feeling of injustice and dispossession for the Indigenous people and I am not even of their blood so imagine how the thinkers among them feel, especially if they have suffered racism.

Speak for yourself about sing and saluting the Rising Sun - you are the appeaser in this argument on this site. There are some people who prefer to die standing up than live on their knees.

You ask should we go back 200 to 1,000 years - as I have pointed out in the Politics Super Thread, Australia was heavily involved in the creation of the State of Israel in 1948 that recognised land rights that go back 2,000 years. According to the ancient Hebrews "holy books" they only obtained that land by a genocide well recorded in the Book of Joshua. So Israel was rewarded for a previous genocide, this resulted in millions of Palestinian refugees. The Palestinians who remain in Israel did not even have language rights in schools till recently (just like Oz), many have submitted to Israel's dominance because not much choice, but many also are still fighting for their own homeland. They did not bend their knee like you accuse posters here of though you don't even know them. Israel still steals more Palestinian land every day yet they are flavour of the month in the west, only last week USA promised them another $50 billion for military purposes.

My answer to the problem is that the invaders and their descendants are bred out over many generations and the land returned to their indigenous peoples.

 

[innsaneink]

You should leave then BBF… Don't you feel guilt every day trespassing on someone else's land. You feel injustice... Give your bed to a koori &
Go back to where ever it is you think you should be

 

[TrueTiger]

Mundine and Williams can do what they like, I have always respected our anthem,country and multicultural people in it….I don't know any different than to stand for the anthem and think about the people who have died for this country and developed it...

Some people should embrace our wonderful multicultural society ....not try and divide it.....

 

[Fade_To_Black]

I find it strange that Mundine says he "knows more now about Australian history and the treatment of Indigenous people than he did in '96, '97 and '99". Did he acquire this new-found knowledge from Khoder Nasser? Or from his teachings when he converted to Islam?
I dare say Mundine was happy to play the role of " puppet" or "sheep" as he calls it when he was in the NRL so that he could further his career. The bloke is such a hypocrite it is laughable. I'm sure we will have the joy of hearing from him and his comical "statements" for many years to come when he feels the need to get his head in the media.

 

[greatodensraven]

Mundine must have another fight coming up. It's not that hard to stand up & show respect for the country that gave us the opportunity to do whatever it is we're doing. It's not perfect but it's home.

 

[Byron_Bay_Fan]

You can see how Manny Pacquiao, the Filipino fight champion, wold have not trouble standing up for this anthem and flag - there are no colonist overtones in either.

https://www.bing.com/videos/search?q=philipino+national+anthem+offical+english&view=detail∣=6DF7F9F9D0DF85F826D46DF7F9F9D0DF85F826D4&FORM=VIRE

Completely opposite what Mundine etc have to put up with - the British (colonist) flag and an anthem that has no mention of the Indigenous people and their struggles and suffering.

The words of the Filipino anthem actually mean something and is uplifting!