The flags are out. The clichés are flowing. Obnoxious, witless (yet rhythmic) chants dominating the first two rounds of the Australian Open. The lamb ads are set to intolerant. Just like End Times, Australia Day will be here shortly.
People with a sense of history will understand why nationalism can be bad, and there's probably no need to go into what seemingly innocent national pride can turn into. That doesn't mean that all nationalism is systematic of something darker, just that it can be disturbing to some people who have seen it in other contexts. Of course there are many ways in which people express nationalism, some of them harmless (demurely supporting your national sports team), some of them harmful (wearing your nation's flag as a cape and walking the streets in groups of 5 or more), and some of them creepy (waking your children up at 12.01am on Australia Day to sing Waltzing Matilda in hushed tones while worshipping a plastic idol of David Boon). Look you get the idea, you can like your country, just don't be an arsehole about it.
Many people like Australia Day, and well yeah…that's fine. I don't begrudge people a national day, but I just can't help but feel that this particular national day (i.e. January 26th) is somewhat tainted.
Now I know what you're thinking: "He's going to crank out the phrase 'Invasion Day', I'm going to roll my eyes and head over to Cracked or Failblog or somewhere else where funny stuff happens, not preachy leftist bullshit . I don't need this, what did I do? I don't even put flags on my car, who does that? I'm not the fucking Prime Minister. Yes, yes, yes colonialism, very bad, many indigenous people killed/dispossessed/disenfranchised/forgotten etc. I've been to uni and I've drunk that particular brand of Coolaid before."
Before that series of thoughts play out to completion, please take note: for once I'm not attacking anyone. All I'm saying is that if we're going to have a national day (and why not I suppose), why don't we have one which is inclusive and that does not actively alienate large swaths of the population. Let's have a day to mark the birth of a modern western democracy which still trying (well, some of us are trying) to right the wrongs of the past, present and future, instead of marking the arrival of English colonists with a bunch of rapists and murderers in tow who would later claim to have only been convicted of stealing bread. Many would have us believe that there was an epidemic of bread-stealing in that late 1700s, as opposed to the stuff that was actually happening.
Anyway, I for one think that the main reason that Australia Day has not been moved is that Federation (you know: the actually significant date for Australia's nationhood) occurred on New Years Day 1901 and there is no way in hell we are going to let them double-dip on a public holiday. Social awareness is good, but work days sure do suck a whole lot of arse.
The only solution appears to be to become a republic, and then to not be so stupid as to do so on any existing state or federal holiday. That day will become whatever we decide to make it, based on a date without historical baggage. Will it get rid of the flags? Will it rid us of the vile insular nationalism that has been creeping into the Australian consciousness? Will it finally make all your progressive friends shut their pie holes and have fun for once? Well, maybe not, but it would be something right?
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