Recent Posts
Featured Posts
Australia/Survival/Invasion Day 2017
January 25, 2017
Â
The above image has been taken from a Guardian Australia article. Whilst they're a left-leaning organisation, I think it's fair to say that the call to change the way we mark January 26 and/or the date of our national day is growing.
The media is full of viewpoints - both knee-jerk and well argued. I don't feel the need to partake in the public debate. However, for those interested, I don't support changing the date of 'Australia Day' for a number of reasons.Â
Firstly, whilst I can fully understand the sentiment, I don't think the community is ready for it. If our national day is about unifying our people, changing the date at this point would further fracture our nation.
Â
Second, whether you view the beginning of British settlement as a positive or a negative, as Tony Abbott suggested in 2014 - 26/01/1788 was a 'defining moment in the history' of Australia.
I'd much prefer our nation 'mark' rather than 'celebrate' the day, but this is a cultural change that will occur over time.