Australians are united in anger over a ban on their own flag because of fears it might incite race riots.
The latest piece of politically correct lunacy to strike these fair shores has organisers of an Australia Day rock concert placing a ban on the Australian Flag because it might be regarded as a "gang colour" - and, get this, a symbol of hate to boot.…
Article comments
26 - Zedd
Thank you for the additional information. I am learning.
27 - W.B.
Have you seen the video that the Lebanese gang made? What do you think about muslim now? Why are you still being tolerant? It is clear what some of them thinks about Australia... why still let them live here?
Deport them back to Lebanon? Sure and then they'll join some terrorist organisation and start suicide bombing innocent people... should we tolerate these youths further?
28 - Ruvy in Jerusalem
W.B.
Do you have a link to "that video" you refer to in comment #27?
Lebanon is not too far north from where I live, so I do have a dog in this race...
29 - Nancy
STM, most Americans don't object to immigrants, per se - we object to ILLEGAL immigrants. There's a BIG difference.
30 - STM
Not saying you object Nancy, just saying that a lot of Americans have struggled with the influx.
And as to the high school boys from south-western Sydney who made that video, yes it's disgraceful - but it's not endorsed by 99 per cent of Muslim Australians.
Like I say, the police believe there is a hard-core of about 1000 gang members who are causing trouble. Their actions are criminal, rather than religion-inspired.
31 - RJ Elliott
SUPERB article. Thanks for it!
Sometimes I think the only three semi-sane people left in the world are Americans, Australians, and Japanese. (And then I read about what they sell in vending machines in Japan, and round that number down to two...) :-/
32 - STM
Beer helps ...
33 - RJ Elliott
"We are very different to the US in that regard in terms of the acceptance of migrants (but of course there are always some who don't like it)."
Uh, the US has been the most welcoming nation to immigrants in the history of the world. All we request is that they learn the language, follow our "secular" laws, get a job, pay their taxes, and assimilate to extent they are able to. By the third generation, most are usually fully assimilated.
You'll notice there is a lot more racial/ethnic diversity in the US than pretty much any other Western country in the world. 12% Black, 14% Hispanic, 6% Asian, 1% Native American (though millions of Americans have at least some percentage of Native American ancestry in their blood), etc.
The idea that Americans are a bunch of isolationist nativists is a bogus media creation.
34 - STM
RJ wrote: "Uh, the US has been the most welcoming nation to immigrants in the history of the world. All we request is that they learn the language, follow our "secular" laws, get a job, pay their taxes, and assimilate to extent they are able to. By the third generation, most are usually fully assimilated.''
That's the case here as well, but for the US, I'm talking about lately RJ - issues such as Spanish becoming the main language in some areas of the southern and south-western United States.
Don't read too much into it, and I'm obviously not talking about everyone in the US. My understanding, however, is that recently, there have been real problems. However, as Nancy points out, much of that is about illegal immigrants.
I understand the US has been built on immigration and is very racially diverse. Per capita, however, immigration here has been on a much larger scale in recent years even than the US - a big percentage of them from the middle east. And the way things are in the US at the moment, I suspect immigration from that region on that kind of scale might have been an issue.
Forgive me if I'm wrong. I don't live there and can only go on what I read in the papers, hear from American friends over there or pick up on this site.
35 - STM
As an aside, nearly 25 per cent of Australians currently living here were not born in Australia.
While a fair proportion of those are from Europe, that gives you some idea. I think we've handled it all pretty well, all things considered.
36 - Clavos
Our proportion of foreign-born is approximately 12%, according to this article on CNN:
According to the Census Bureau, there were 9.7 million foreign-born people in the country in 1967. By 2004, that number had mushroomed to 34.3 million -- 12 percent of the total population.
So, while you do have a higher ratio of immigrant to native population, you are apparently also receiving a higher socioeconomic class of immigrant than we, according to this interesting report from the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas:
In Australia, 57 percent of the foreign-born population has an upper-level education, compared with 44 percent of the native population.
I DO know that in some areas of the US, a majority of the population are foreign born. In South Florida, about 65%.
37 - Clavos
Correction: There's an incorrect datum in my #36:
The South Florida percentage of foreign-born is only 51%. The 65% figure refers to the proportion of Latinos (foreign and native) in SF.
38 - STM
Clav: Globalism is changing countries everywhere, and we must all accept it with good grace. There is certainly no room for racism in any discussion of this, which I notice you fired up about yesterday debating the guy from Denver, who quite obviously was having a bit of a racist tirade.
The one thing I do love about multiculturalism in Sydney (much like you in Miami) is that is makes the place very cosmopolitan: you can dine out anywhere in the world without leaving town. Good stuff.
Cheers mate ... keep sailing (or at least floating)! BTW, I watched an interesting show on the History Channel last night about the Long Tan battle at Nui Dat involving the Australians/New Zealanders and the Viet Cong.
Fascinating stuff, as they had recordings of all the radio traffic between the Aussies on the front line, the NZ artillery and their HQ. They were in danger of being overrun a number of times and had to call for fire on their own position before the Cavalry arrived (literally). Very sad and poignant, too, particularly on Australia Day, especially the interview with the sisters of one of the conscripts (the Nashos, or National Service men) from 6RAR who was killed, aged just 19.
39 - Clavos
Clav: Globalism is changing countries everywhere, and we must all accept it with good grace
Dead on, STM.
I especially get all bent out of shape because at some point in our personal histories we are ALL immigrants, just as you are in Australia.
One of the principal reasons both countries are world leaders is that fact.
40 - Zedd
STM
Has the discussion on this matter been elevated to discuss the discomfort that comes with the introduction of a new culture into an already established society.
I say this to suggest that it may be wise for Australia to use this experience as a way to get a sense of what the Aboriginal population must have felt. Off course the invasion was much more devastation but the feeling of being disrespected, the lack of gratitude, the abrupt change without consideration of the norms....
Every experience provides an opportunity for growth, this may be a wonderful chance for Australia to mature and gain a larger perspective of its history.
41 - STM
Zedd, I love your comments and your thoughts ... but I wish you'd really read what we write sometimes. Clav and I are talking about how much we love the input of other cultures, not the opposite. I know here that is the feeling the majority have - but obviously, there are those who don't like it just like everywhere.
As for the Aborigines, if you read my other piece on Australia Day in the politics section, you'll see that there was plenty of aboriginal input into Australia Day yesterday and things are not always how they are presented in the newspapers, although one of my mates DID send me an SMS wishing me a happy Invasion Day.
Clav and I are not racist Zedd .. we are comfortable enough with who we are not be racist. Yesterday, Clav refused to engage in a on-line debate with a guy who was using some pretty racist arguments to support his point of view.
42 - Clavos
although one of my mates DID send me an SMS wishing me a happy Invasion Day.
That's funny, Stan.
I hope you had a good smart-aleck retort for him?
43 - STM
I asked him if he'd caught anything for the barbecue ....
44 - Clavos
Well, had he?
45 - STM
Yeah, and he'd obviously mixed a bit of fennel and herbs into them before he put skins on them and turned them into gourmet sausages.
However, they tasted suspiciously like the lamb ones he bought from an upmarket butcher's shop down the road from his place last time we got on the piss there.
46 - Clavos
LOL!
While we're on the subject, and forgive my ignorance, but is kangaroo edible? What about wallaby?
47 - STM
Mate, Kangaroo is actually delicious ... if it's cooked properly. It's got to be pinky rare inside or it just gets really tough. It doesn't taste that different to a nice steak, but slightly more gamey. It's a really good meat for us to eat, because there are so many kangaroos now they have to cull them out in the bush. I really like 'roo - it's good eating. Wallabies are just small 'roos, so they count too. Some of 'em are protected though, so you can't just out in the bush and bag a few wallabies to eat.
Because we also eat emu (which I don't like. Yuk - flavour's too strong), we are the only country that puts its official national coat of arms on the barbecue.
48 - Clavos
We have a few emu farms here. Don't know much about it, but my understanding is people are losing their investments in them, because the meat's a tough sell here.
What we do eat here, especially in Florida and the southeast, is 'gator.
I remember when they were actually protected; now they keep increasing the bag limit and the season because we're getting overrun with the wild ones, even in the cities from time to time.
They're also farmed. It's pretty good, too. Tastes a lot like chicken--Just like cats do. :>)
49 - STM
Having eaten emu, had anyone suggested I invest my hard-earned in it I think I would have told them where to stick it.
I have eaten croc, which I assume is very similar to alligator.
Just the once though ... it tasted nice, a bit like a delicate-flavoured chicken, but I don't like the idea of eating something that would also like to eat me. Same goes for shark.
50 - Clavos
Far as I know, only the fin of shark is eaten? True?
51 - STM
No, it's cut up into fillets here and eaten as a fish, usually battered and deep fried and eaten with chips (fries). Some of the smaller ones are nice - no bones - but it still doesn't feel right.
I surf regularly at a reef break, and sitting on your board with your legs dangling over the side does give you pause for thought about many things, especially when dark shapes and shadows appear to be moving underneath.
I never go surfing these days unless at least one other person is in the water, as that cuts the risk of shark attack by 50 per cent. I wouldn't go anywhere near the water up in the far north though, as the place is full of saltwater crocs.
Salties are maneaters, and attacks are not uncommon at all. You don't even have to be in the water to be taken ... they will go you near the water's edge too. And not THAT near, either.
There are also plenty of other dangerous critters floating around that will kill or seriously injure you.
52 - Zedd
STM #41
I was not talking about you and Clavos Goofy. I was talking about the discussion in Australia about the flag and immigrants. You know, the topic of the thread??????
I didn't read what you and Clavos were on about accept for the on entry about you eating a Kangaroo and eating it while its pink. I almost threw up.
53 - Zedd
Clavos
At some point Jack In The Box used Kangaroo meat
54 - Dave Nalle
No, they didn't, Zedd.
Kangaroo meat is a specialty product even in Australia and is more expensive than beef there, so if it was shipped to the US it would be even more expensive, and therefore completely impractical for commercial use in place of much cheaper beef.
Like most urban legends, when examined closely the roo taco rumor makes no sense.
dave
55 - Jonathan Scanlan
Just thought I'd add a note on immigration and racism. There is an interesting theory around that the White Australia Policy might be responsible for why there aren't the racial tensions you find in other countries.
The suggestion is based on the WAP preventing the establishment of ethnic stereotypes because race was did not become linked with crime or economics. Had it not been in place, employers would have used immigration to bring in cheep labor and form an underclass.
56 - Zedd
#55
Sound like a utopia in that respect.
I think the whole slavery thing threw the potential of that ever happening in the US, out.
57 - Zedd
Dave the rumor was that it was in their hamburgers. It was exciting to be grossed out in high school about it.
58 - S.T.M
First, I'd like to say to Jonathan that that is a fairly nicely reasoned piece of thought on the WAP. I think it's true. We know indigenous Australians have had a tough time - but not everywhere in Australia - but to a large extent compared to some places I've been around the world, many Aussies seem to be "colour-blind". I've always wondered why that is, and always just put it down to the laid-back attitude. It's interesting to think that it could have come from our racism in the first place. What a paradox if true.
Secondly, Zedd, you could do a lot worse than have hamburgers made out of roo meat ... it's not that different to beef, but is a lot leaner, so is far healthier, and is almost pure protein.
59 - Zedd
STM
I am sure its perfectly fine and quite tasty. I hope I didn't sound offensive. They are just so cute. I'm touchy about such things. And them standing up on two feet makes them seem almost human like. I cant even eat deer or rabbit.
Actually if I didn't love meat so much I'd be a vegan. It's just so dad-gum good!!! But I couldn't kill anything that I raised and looked in the eye. I truly love animals.
However, I'm sure if I were starving, the half Zulu in me would rear her practical head up and have a roast to be rivaled.
What is the name of that Easter animal? My Australian friend told me that he's eaten it. I saw the picture and nearly fainted. He's proudly stereo typically gay, and he eats it with a gourmet marinade and an apricot glaze and mint sauce. I tease him and tell him that he wouldn't last an hour in The Outback. It looked like a giant rodent like the nutria (I think that's the name) that they eat in Louisiana.
Speaking about gays in The Outback, do you know the name of that movie with the drag queens and the Abba songs? I'm a huge Abba fan and I loved the cinematography as well? I want to order it but the name escapes me.
60 - Jonathan Scanlan
The Adventures of Priscilla, Queen of the Desert
61 - STM
Ah yes, group of drag queens leaves The Albury Hotel/or some other pub in Oxford St, Paddington, in a bus and heads into the outback for even more fun and laughter than usual ... happens all the time.
Great movie though.