Forced transportation of the poor and invasion and subjugation of a people Day!

[Platypus]

AKA Australia Day. Hope everyone has a good one! Ideally one without brown people, vegans, lesbians, and vaguely effete inner city hipsterish men!

Here, have a chop

And of course, don't dare talk about Gonski when you have a chopski.

I love my country, but we really chose a sucky day as our national holiday.

[FEMA Camp Administrator]

If that's what your country's founded on, that's what it's founded on, man.

[Joe Republic]

If that's what your country's founded on, that's what it's founded on, man.

Just like ours.

[DC Al Fine]

On a side note; I hate how countries name "their" holiday after the country. Independence Day or Dominion Day sound much better.

[Snowstalker Mk. II]

'STRAYA

[The Dowager Mod]

Hey at least Australia wasn't built on the backs of slaves...

[Grumpier Than Uncle Joe]

I thought this was a thread about Texas.  Who knew?

[Platypus]

If that's what your country's founded on, that's what it's founded on, man.

Just like ours.

Hey now, give us some credit - as TexasGurl said, we largely avoided Slavery.

--------

My issue isn't the past, it is was it is, and it's good that it gets addressed. My issue is more that we choose this day out of the whole year to be our national celebration. There is almost no worse open in terms of causing divisiveness on a day that is supposed to be about unity. Plus what are white, Anglo-Celtic Australians like myself even meant to be celebrating? The arrival of ships full of convicts who largely starved for months and months before resorting to cannibalism? Or, more neutrally, 'The foundation of the Sydney colony'? Sydney's a sh**thole anyway.

Indigenous Australians see it as offensive, non-Anglo-Celtic Australians have no link to the history behind it, and Anglo-Celtic Australians only have a link through the convicts and their guards. And even then, most of us come from entirely free-settling stock.

I'm proud of the nation that Australia has become, especially after such a difficult start, but my pride doesn't extend to celebrating the anniversary of January 26 1788, and I don't understand why anyone would. As a political geek, my preference would be either the 9th of May (opening of parliament in 1901 in Melbourne, 1927 at Old Parliament House in Canberra, and 1988 at New Parliament House) or maybe the 3rd of December (Eureka Stockade and the birth of a true Australian identity), but even if we just went with the 25th of January I'd be happy.

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

On a side note; I hate how countries name "their" holiday after the country. Independence Day or Dominion Day sound much better.

Well some countries only rate a single day.  America's worthy of having a whole month named after it, so let's rename September as America!

[The Dowager Mod]

I thought this was a thread about Texas.  Who knew?

HEEHEE

[Atlas Has Shrugged]

More "I'm more enlightened because my country made mistakes just like every other nation so I'm going to fashionably hate it"-ness I see. At least it's a problem in other countries too.

[Hatman 🍁]

Should be January 1, no? That's when Australian federation occurred. Isn't that what typical countries do?

It's why it's always weird when Quebecers celebrate Saint-Jean as their "national birthday", when it is not a birthday, but a saint's day. At least Australia Day isn't as ridiculous as that.

On a side note; I hate how countries name "their" holiday after the country. Independence Day or Dominion Day sound much better.

I agree. Bring back Dominion Day!

[Hash]

At least you're not Spain, whose national day is October 12.

[Cassius]

Meh, 'invasion'. As I recall, the aboriginals did not live in an organized polity with clearly defined boundaries. Therefore, the term 'appropriation' is in my view a sounder one.

Anyways, happy Australia day

[Hatman 🍁]

At least you're not Spain, whose national day is October 12.

How ridiculous! Nov 20 would be more appropriate, I think.

[tik 🪀✨]

Like most holidays I think the actual meaning and subtext are lost to most of us ordinary folks. 'Straya day just means hot weather, snags, beer, cricket and tennis. Love it or leave it!

[Joe Republic]

Meh, 'invasion'. As I recall, the aboriginals did not live in an organized polity with clearly defined boundaries. Therefore, the term 'appropriation' is in my view a sounder one.

http://youtu.be/UTduy7Qkvk8

[Platypus]

More "I'm more enlightened because my country made mistakes just like every other nation so I'm going to fashionably hate it"-ness I see. At least it's a problem in other countries too.

Actually, I love my country very much. I genuinely believe it to be the best in the world.

But choosing possibly the most divisive possible day for the day that is meant to celebrate and promote national unity is not something I'm OK with, and it's *because* I love Australia that I hate this choice of day.

[Platypus]

Meh, 'invasion'. As I recall, the aboriginals did not live in an organized polity with clearly defined boundaries. Therefore, the term 'appropriation' is in my view a sounder one.

http://youtu.be/UTduy7Qkvk8

Give this a go if you have the time:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=S7QGPXEycNQ

[Sol]

I suppose that's one thing I like about July 4th- it doesn't usually cause any controversy, and it has the same assets Australia Day does- barbecues, summer fun, etc.

[Tetro Kornbluth]

Meh, 'invasion'. As I recall, the aboriginals did not live in an organized polity with clearly defined boundaries. Therefore, the term 'appropriation' is in my view a sounder one.

Anyways, happy Australia day

Oh sweet jesus. What is this idiocy?

[True Federalist (진정한 연방 주의자)]

At least you're not Spain, whose national day is October 12.

How ridiculous! Nov 20 would be more appropriate, I think.

I'd say October 19, when Ferdinand and Isabella married rather than the death of Franco.

[Hatman 🍁]

At least you're not Spain, whose national day is October 12.

How ridiculous! Nov 20 would be more appropriate, I think.

I'd say October 19, when Ferdinand and Isabella married rather than the death of Franco.

Perhaps. I suppose the death of Franco is a touchy matter still.

[Fmr President & Senator Polnut]

'straya c*#!... etc

I do find the frothing and hand-wringing from my fellow lefties about the nationalistic-ish fervour of the day a little kill-joyish. One thing I know about Australia Day from working in immigration, is Australia Day is the most popular day to become a citizen.

[Oldiesfreak1854]

Trolling.