John Birmingham in the Brisbane Times: Since when did dumb-arsed nationalism become compulsory?
But one of the things I really like about Australia, or I used to anyway, was our quiet reluctance to wave the flag in everyone’s face; a reluctance which has gradually given way to an uglier, brutish readiness to paint the flag on our arses and sit on the face of anyone who looks even remotely disinclined to play along.
I’m not doing anything for Australia Day today, because I don’t want to be even potentially confused with one of the flag-waving jingoists. If I was more of a crowds person maybe I’d go to a Survival Day event, but I’m more of a quiet family barbie person, and I just feel that if I went to any public park I’d see someone ostentatiously sporting a flag cape or a car flag, and I’d be nervous about what opinions they might express, and how my presence there could add to the perception that non-Anglo Aussies were not welcome in that space. And that sucks dingo kidneys, maaaate.
Although I do like crazybrave’s idea of a Mexican family feast – aussieaussieaussieoleoleole and I’m planning to pack the thickest permanent marker I can buy into my handbag so that I can copy this brilliant idea:
