A new debate about the flag has been instigated by Ray Martin. With 45 percent of people in favor of keeping the existing Australian flag and 27 percent against there is not much more to be said. Ray Martin claims to be Aboriginal. Just take a look at him. He is 95 percent white! Many Australians who have one Aboriginal ancestor wear Aboriginality "like a flag". That is exactly what Ray Martin is doing.
What is the alternative? It would be worth considering a change in flag design if there was a popular alternative. Apart from the Aboriginal flag which is tied up in legal argument by Tasmanian Aboriginals there isn't another choice. The only other flag that some would accept is the boxing kangaroo. But that is a silly comic like kangaroo, a caricature, not a well designed and poised animal. There are other Australian animals just as worthy, for example, the platypus, Tasmanian devil, or koala. What about a blow in? Somebody draw a camel! Seriously though, designs need to be created and put forward in a selection process.
The flag and republic issues will become relevant as years go by. At the moment Australia has other things to worry about, like immigration, the skills shortage and housing. Change is needed with the national anthem as well. "Advance Australia fair." What is that supposed to mean? Are we fair as in playing sport, or are we proud of our white skin? A survey would find that hardly anyone knows what it really means.
Australia has many problems. The flag, republic and anthem issues can wait.
What is the alternative? It would be worth considering a change in flag design if there was a popular alternative. Apart from the Aboriginal flag which is tied up in legal argument by Tasmanian Aboriginals there isn't another choice. The only other flag that some would accept is the boxing kangaroo. But that is a silly comic like kangaroo, a caricature, not a well designed and poised animal. There are other Australian animals just as worthy, for example, the platypus, Tasmanian devil, or koala. What about a blow in? Somebody draw a camel! Seriously though, designs need to be created and put forward in a selection process.
The flag and republic issues will become relevant as years go by. At the moment Australia has other things to worry about, like immigration, the skills shortage and housing. Change is needed with the national anthem as well. "Advance Australia fair." What is that supposed to mean? Are we fair as in playing sport, or are we proud of our white skin? A survey would find that hardly anyone knows what it really means.
Australia has many problems. The flag, republic and anthem issues can wait.
