The National Anthem

[Tigerstruck]

@cochise Yeah 100%, and I agree that we do eventually need to find an Anthem that is more inclusive our first peoples. However, from there stems the next problem, it is virtually impossible to create an Anthem which will reflect every Australian, there will always be a minority who disagrees with a section of, or all of the Anthem.

 

[cochise]

@cochise Yeah 100%, and I agree that we do eventually need to find an Anthem that is more inclusive our first peoples. However, from there stems the next problem, it is virtually impossible to create an Anthem which will reflect every Australian, there will always be a minority who disagrees with a section of, or all of the Anthem.

As a country we are at an age where we have to start making those decision though, and it is not just about the Anthem. Are we still happy to have another countries flag make up a portion of our flag? As a multicultural society, why are we singing an anthem that was written about pushing British values to the detriment of all others? Why are we celebrating our National Day in a way a portion of our society view as celebrating their loss of culture and identity? Why is a portion of our society still feeling insecure and fearful enough that these discussions are seen as an attack on their way of life, so they respond in that manner themselves.

These are grown up conversation we need to have, we should be at a point in our country that these conversations should be able to happen without the hate and fear.

I see it as similar, but on a much larger scale and importance, to the conversation we have had about our club and the Wests v Balmain rubbish we dealt with for a long time and the fear and insecurity that any change would be at the detriment of one side of the JV . We are growing past that now and more and more people are viewing us as one unified club. That is what I want for our country, to grow past the fear and insecurities and move forward. Not looking for equality but seeing equity as the way to unite our country!

 

[happy_tiger]

I can't put myself in the Indigenous of this countries shoes ....but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

 

[cochise]

but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

So they can't address more than one issue at once and don't get to decide which issues are important to them?

 

[Jock Koss]

but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

So they can't address more than one issue at once and don't get to decide which issues are important to them?

He’s got a point Happy! ;P

 

[happy_tiger]

but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

So they can't address more than one issue at once and don't get to decide which issues are important to them?

Of course you can ....but you as a teacher and myself running a business you set goals and prioritize those goals for the good of EVERYONE in every community

I spoke to a tradie about 18 months ago who has been working on and off at Woorabinda over the last 30 years and I mentioned my last time out their was 25 years ago ....he said some things had moved ahead in those years but many of the key issues still remained relatively unchanged

 

[cochise]

Of course you can …but you as a teacher and myself running a business you set goals and prioritize those goals for the good of EVERYONE in every community
I spoke to a tradie about 18 months ago who has been working on and off at Woorabinda over the last 30 years and I mentioned my last time out their was 25 years ago …he said some things had moved ahead in those years but many of the key issues still remained relatively unchanged

I agree mate, I've spent some time in various communities over the last 40 years and issues are very stagnant, but why are they spoken of as an indigenous problem and not a problem of our nation. Even this comment

I can’t put myself in the Indigenous of this countries shoes …but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

suggests that the indigenous issues are outside our responsibility as a nation, which I know wasn't your intent, byt THEY don't have bigger concerns, WE as a nation have bigger concerns. The plight of indigenous people in our country is something all Australians should be concerned about!

 

[TheDaBoss]

but they don’t need to take it to far

What would be taking it too far?

Taking it to the level where people start rioting

 

[cochise]

@TheDaBoss I think we are safe for the moment then! lol

 

[TheDaBoss]

@TheDaBoss I think we are safe for the moment then! lol

As long as it stays small im fine with it

 

[happy_tiger]

Of course you can …but you as a teacher and myself running a business you set goals and prioritize those goals for the good of EVERYONE in every community
I spoke to a tradie about 18 months ago who has been working on and off at Woorabinda over the last 30 years and I mentioned my last time out their was 25 years ago …he said some things had moved ahead in those years but many of the key issues still remained relatively unchanged

I agree mate, I've spent some time in various communities over the last 40 years and issues are very stagnant, but why are they spoken of as an indigenous problem and not a problem of our nation. Even this comment

I can’t put myself in the Indigenous of this countries shoes …but they have bigger concerns in the short term than to be worried about the National Anthem

suggests that the indigenous issues are outside our responsibility as a nation, which I know wasn't your intent, byt THEY don't have bigger concerns, WE as a nation have bigger concerns. The plight of indigenous people in our country is something all Australians should be concerned about!

My biggest concern for every community on this planet we live on is that the people with the least recognized voice have the right to go to bed every night and wake up the next morning without someone thinking they have the right to abuse these people's rights in any way

I totally agree ...but if I walked onto any Indigenous community and start suggesting to them what they should or shouldn't be doing

I hope this doesn't sound condescending (and is isn't meant to ) but it is very similar to parenting / teaching ......you lead you kids to the answer to a problem ....let them discover the answer and then help them implement the answer the best way they possibly can reach that answer

You or I telling our kids the answer doesn't really help .....some may understand ...many probably won't

I guess the biggest problem is some don't give a rats about the proper answer and others are so ingrained in what has happened in the past they actually think what is right is actually wrong when it comes to others human rights

The biggest problem every single one of us struggle with no matter what we do ..is doing the right thing every time , no matter what pressure you are under ...and realizing that short cuts aren't the answer

My favourite word in the English language is accountability .....what a far easier life we would all live in if we were all accountable

 

[Harvey]

Wasn't the current anthem the result of popular vote in a 1977 plebiscite? Is the suggestion that a culture who are offended by it get the outcome changed?

Does the same position apply if there is a particular cultural group that does not like the outcome of our most recent plebiscite?

 

[cochise]

Wasn’t the current anthem the result of popular vote in a 1977 plebiscite?

That was 40 years ago! I think it is ok to start the discussion about a new anthem!

 

[Harvey]

Wasn’t the current anthem the result of popular vote in a 1977 plebiscite?

That was 40 years ago! I think it is ok to start the discussion about a new anthem!

I don't think that we should start a discussion about the anthem in isolation. Indigenous people have been treated horrendously in the history of this country, but there have been more recent moves to turn it around.

I think we need to understand what can be done to overcome the past. I have heard the anthem discussed, the date of Australia day, the flag, however I think that even if all these are changed, there will still be a group of people that class themselves as the victims of the oppressive colonialists.

 

[Don Kershane]

Remember when the original version of "tie me kangaroo down sport " was played on the radio without much controversy? The young sportspeople have every right to stand up for themselves and have a voice if they consider a perceived slight in any important national issue.

 

[cochise]

@Harvey The problem is that there are many people alive who were victims of policies of the Australian Government that were designed to destroy the indigenous culture and can in themselves be considered an act of genocide!

I agree that the anthem in isolation will do little to fix the situation, it is however a complex issue with many parts and it appears that to some indigenous people it is part of the conversation!

 

[rustycage]

@Kev all those things you mention are valid, but monetary things. Australia day and a national anthem are distinctly different. It's a shame so many whites can't get a handle on the fact that the status quo is not all inclusive. Indigenous people are very much of the opposite opinion. Classic case of the vast white majority not willing to listen. I mean really listen. When in actual fact a change to both of these things wouldn't be an issue at all.

 

[Danny Blanco]

@Kev what I meant was WASPS (Western Anglo Saxon Protestents) have no right to judge on what is perceived as racist & what is not. We need a new thread on this alone.

 

[happy_tiger]

@Kev what I meant was WASPS (Western Anglo Saxon Protestents) have no right to judge on what is perceived as racist & what is not. We need a new thread on this alone.

As you could say of every ism ......

 

[Danny Blanco]

C'mon Hap...