Australia Day/ Invasion Day... thoughts

[cherish]

Hi all,

I think about this most years on Australia Day.. what are your thoughts about Australia Day..

Personally- I think we live in a pretty amazing and well resourced country... though I have this conflict around the way this country was founded/invaded by the English- and have pretty much destroyed the Aboriginal heritage..

so while I do celebrate that I live here, I also feel sad for the first Australians..

thoughts..

[Phoenix]

Mine thoughts are exactly the same. Took the Children Away, Archie Roach. (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zLXzKYP1uCw)
I celebrate living in an amazing country that is blessed and remember the hardships of our indigenous.

[Mercurious]

I think we should celebrate being lucky enough to be born in, or resourceful enough to immigrate to, one of the countries which is relatively peaceful, full of beauty, fertile soil and good weather (except that inconvient droughts and flooding rains thing). But I don't think we should celebrate it on 26th January.

To me 26th of January is more like Anzac Day, is should be thoughtful and respectful to those who lost their lives, or a lot of their culture in the battle.

Surely there are other things that we could celebrate that have made Australia great? How about we pick a random day that's not near any other public holidays. If the queen can have her birthday celebrations in June rather than April, why can't we pick a day purely to celebrate what Australia is today...not how it was inhabited by a relatively small percentage 200 odd years ago, but about all the people who have come since, and the people who have strived to make it great.

I'm not keen on celebrating the bogan/alcoholic/elitist mindset that seems to come out this time each year.

[marmee]

Oh Merc - so true. I'm with you - lets picj a new day. That will solve all of my mind struggles around this day. Love it.

[lucylu]

yep - that's exactly how I feel about it Merc. We need a new day, rather than invasion day. I like to celebrate the blessings of living in this beautiful country, but to do so on that day seems so disrespectful.

I am full of admiration for Aboriginal people who can overcome the date and celebrate the nation today.

[Astra]

I agree Merc:great

[cherish]

that song was very touching.. have to watch that movie again..

[jodiemiller]

I'm with you all. Nothing wrong with a bit of mob-patriotism I suppose but Jan 26th 1770 WAS an invasion day so ...

[Clover]

Mercurious, my thoughts exactly. Another day would be better.

The actual date right now is more of a reflection day for me, and I find it quite a sad day knowing what happened to Aboriginal people throughout our history and the memory of riots a few years ago. Sometimes I am ashamed of my countries past and to be honest, some things in the present. I guess no country is perfect though :)

We do have a lot to celebrate for sure - but I don't really feel like it on that particular date.

[emd]

That Archie Roach song plays in a rusted metal artwork memorial to the Stolen Generations behind Questacon in Canberra. It's a popular family BBQ area, and it's the place we take our kids sometimes for bike riding practice. My other half has a little video of Miss Seven's first ever ride without training wheels, and you can hear that song in the background. I really like that this happens in a family space, as a way of prompting conversations with kids about history. It's an example of how I think we're starting to work it out as a nation.

I would be quite happy to change the Australia Day date. There's a lot of important dates in our national history that are suitable for a public holiday. There's a lot for us to be proud of, and perhaps moving the date would be a sign of national maturity and respect.

[Stardust]

Agree that the date should be changed. It makes no sense to me to 'celebrate' such a thing on that date.