The ongoing political debate about whether the 26th of January ought to be called ‘Australia Day’ or ‘Invasion Day’ has led us to an uncomfortable national stalemate.
Our perspectives are polarised. Those of us who recognise that this date is overwhelmingly offensive to our Indigenous population, given that we are literally “cheers-ing” to genocide, do not know what to do. We feel awkward. Between Violent Soho and Flume in the Triple J Hottest 100, we think “gull – I should probably stop having so much fun. Should I go and…reflect or something? Am I being a white supremacist? Should I be protesting? Is it inappropriate to turn up to an ‘Invasion Day’ protest drunk off ‘Australia Day’ drinks? This is so f**ked up.”
Those who are not plagued by such cognitive dissonance, argue: “Why can’t I just celebrate bein’ ‘Strayan?” showing off their Southern Cross tattoo which adorns their severely sun damaged skin; to which we want to reply “Why are you SO sunburnt? Oh that’s right…because your grandparents are Irish. Nevermind.”
But we do not say that. Because if someone is proud of being Australian, then they are entitled to express that. They even deserve the space to express that.
France has Bastille Day.
The USA has Independence Day.
There are things that we, as Australians, can be proud of. Our gun laws. Our beaches. Russell Coight. Our inspiring feminist history. The reality that our favourite form of justice is when a racist is interrupted on public transport. Bondi Rescue. The fact we’re the only country to use the word ‘c**t’ affectionately. That Qantas ad, with the singing. Red Dog. The Castle. Our expertise in humiliating news reporters live on air.
Top Comments
Couldn’t agree more with this article.
There are some really ignorant and disgusting comments on this thread. People saying it happened hundreds of years ago and to ‘move on’. There are still indigenous people alive today that lived through the stolen generations. Remember when the white people tried to BREED the black out of the indigenous? Remember when they stole their babies and raised them Christian in orphanages? There are people still alive suffering from these events today. So no, it is not something that we today are untouched by.
I heard people debating this issue on Australia Day saying that Indigenous people get enough benefits and help and that they need to stop complaining and enjoy their handouts because they would kill for the same benefits. There are so many people that are uneducated and just don’t understand the challenges that Indigenous communities still face today. It’s really sad.
It is shameful that we celebrate on a date that marks the genocide of a people. It’s terrible. Indigenous people are just as much a part of this land and deserve to wholeheartedly celebrate with us because they are the true Australians and the rightful custodians of this land.
Let's not celebrate on a day that marks the beginning of the massacre, rape and destruction of a people.
Change the date. Let’s celebrate together.
This fixation on 26 January is a distraction from the real needs of Aboriginal people in Australia: jobs, addressing domestic violence, Closing the Gap etc etc.