A Clarification from the Grumpy Old Biddy

I think I need to clarify the grumpy old biddy statements. I stand by them but perhaps I need to expand a little on my position.

No, I'm not a fan of Australia Day. To me, the 26th of January couldn't be a worse time to celebrate the achievements of this country, I can't forget that this date is recognised by Indigenous Australians as, at best, a Day of Survival and, at worst, a Day of Mourning. I won't forget this, nor should I. There are any number of other days representing splendid achievements that don't alienate a significant proportion of the population.

My other concern with Australia Day is the rise of knee-jerk nationalism in the last ten years, particularly among younger members of the population. I don't see that a national day should be about getting about in Australian flag underpants and thongs whilst sculling beers until falling down.

To make these criticisms may lead some people to consider me unAustralian, so be it. I believe I have a strong commitment to place and community even if I don't wear a flag on my cheek to prove it.

On a lighter note the one lovely thing about about Australia Day is reading all the awesome stories about ordinary people involved in extraordinary feats of selflessness, kindness, heroism, and inclusivity. If only Australia Day was just about these kind of things minus the underwear, I'd be a little less grumpy.

x

Comments

[alice]

Preach it, G.O.B. Very well put indeed.

[Penny]

I agree, very well put. To me, Australia Day should be a day of reflection on all the work we still have to do to make up for what happened on the first 'Australia Day' all those years ago... and absolutely not a day for prancing around in flag-festooned garb.

[Cindy]

I think that there are a lot of people that feel the same and I am hoping that the craziness will passs by. The vision of minus undies gave me a giggle

[Cindy]

I think that there are a lot of people that feel the same and I am hoping that the craziness will passs by. The vision of minus undies gave me a giggle

[Christina]

I agree too. I love the idea of celebrating that we live in a beautiful country with amazing people, but not at the expense of the indigenous community, and not as an excuse for bogans to cover their cars and selves in flags and fight, get drunk and make the flag a yobo symbol. I think that a change in the date would be a start.

I don't think you are a grumpy old biddy!

:)

[Tania]

There's another old biddy waving over here. Although she usually comes over sooky old biddy when it comes to ordinary people doing the extraordinary.

[Emma]

Oh you say it very well. I am writing from over in the west of Oz, and we were cracking up on Tuesday spotting the various sizes of flags on all the cars on the roads. One ute had such a big one shoved on the front bonnet we were sure it must have been a serious driving hazard from flapping in front of the windscreen. The fireworks in Fremantle here in the evening were just lovely, so that was a nice part of the day - do you have a firework show in the evening of Australia day in Canberra?

[Cassandra]

Look at what you did, see all us grumpy old biddies coming out of the woodwork! I'm with you. Well said. Hoorah!

[Happydacks]

Well said!!

[Rachel]

I agree wholeheartedly, whats wrong with being a G.O.B. anyway.....

[Liss]

very nicely put

[Michelle]

Well said! The sight if all the flags on cars etc just makes me think of the Cronulla riots which is very sad.

[Kate]

Perfectly said!

[alice]

p.s. http://www.flickr.com/photos/estelucy/4305268897/

that's not me, btw.

[Anna]

Hear, hear!

[Vanessa]

Perhaps we could invent an Australia Day for women who choose to marry overseas men who bake bread.

[Susan]

love it

[Mel Ainsworth]

You've articulated my similar thoughts perfectly!
I thought I was grumpy cos my hubby had to work....then I got to thinking how absurd it is that we,as a nation,celebrate our culture and our country on the anniversary of a day that marked the start of a such atrocities.
Oh and the thong thing,that really annoyed me off too.
Rant over :)
Mel.x

[SmitoniusAndSonata]

I'd prefer a Community Day , celebrating the richness of culture everyone can bring to where they live .

[karin maier]

I agree, and I worry about the ever increasing nationalism. It is one thing to be proud of your country, but it is another to voice this while particularly excluding members of the community who make such a positive contribution to making Australia the diverse and interesting country it is today.

[freefalling]

Wow - you've really struck a chord with folk.
It always feels a bit to me like "you WILL rejoice and you WILL like it".
But I feel that way about most public holidays.

On another note:
any experience with ridding the strawberry patch of strawberry sucking ants?

[Jess]

You said it. We prefer to celebrate it as "Hottest 100 Day" instead :)

[jacqui]

hear hear! I haven't read the other comments yet but as usual you eloquently put in words EXACTLY my thoughts and thank you for doing it. I just can't seem to get to that place with my own blog where I can write about the many things I'd like to. I feel a bit stuck in a rut. Yours, I find to be inspiring and beautiful to look at. Thanks and ditto to all you said in this post and if it means being labeled grumpy then I'm happy to be grumpy too.

[Cristy]

Chiming in late to say thank you. 26 January has become my least favourite day of the year lately (despite the public holiday) for the sheer horror of it all.

That said, we took the little one out to a concert in the park with considerable fear and trepidation and saw far far fewer displays of flag etc. than I had expected. Thank goodness!

(Still, it was midday and it was a Dorothy the Dinosaur concert...)

[Maggie]

I hadn't reallly thought about Australia Day as an anniversary of 'the day things turned bad' for the first Australians till a friend pointed it out last year. Now we 'don't celebrate' on the sly, afraid of the un-australian label I suppose. Good on you for saying it.