With Chrissy here, gone, the next ‘thing’ is New Years’, here, gone, and then the annual nausiation of Australia Day. The bigger gill-greening factor of the event now is not the blindness to notions of invasion day (it’s concievable that the day could be kept as a deliberately imperfect national day where we exhibit pride in achievement but reflect on the costs, losses and complexities of modern society) but the unquestioning acceptance of the flag-waver’s simplified method of markng it’s arrival that bodes poorly. ‘Who can wave their flag loudest ?’ seems to be the only question now. A non-question.
Why would a project like sixteensixteen that looks at australian ideas be down on Australia day ?
The old idea of ‘we need a day to celebrate ouselves’ gave way to a useful ‘we need to question ourselves’ then quickly backlashed into ‘we need to be patriots’ (which to a once proud underdog nation, no matter how notional, was anaethema). The laid back Australian character is at odds with the exertions of rampant patriotism. Flag waving and firecrackers are a simpleton’s glossy nationalism. The lessons of many thousands of Australians dying in international conflicts of the twentieth century for competing nationalisms sake should keep us honest about chanting smiley slogans in the street.
Newspapers and teleshows generate page space and airtime to flog sales and paraphenalia. But this empty noise that is devoid of reflection on national issues of nature, society and identity only serves to alienate potential customers.
Here’s cheers to the wry and sardonic Australian, who makes fun of nationalism, not by wrapping a flag around their neck and running through the street drunk like a tool, but who dismiss it as missing the point of a national day of self-awareness. Here’s to the champs who man services, rescuers, savers, carers and volunteer to assist the smooth running of events, raise funds for real charity or plant community gardens and restoration forests. Here’s to those that extend a hand to neighbours and invite them over to share a meal. Here’s cheers to the average Bloke and the average Sheila who boohiss jingoism and cheer mateship and community mindedness.
