Should We Change The Date of Australia Day?

[Kramania]

Don't change it. Celebrate Australia coming out of the stone age.

Harsh, but true.

[The Derpy Democratic Republic Of Herp]

I never said anything about a unified Australia, but why exactly where they not countries? What did they do differently than the Aztecs or the Native North Americans?

You cannot be a society of nomadic hunter-gatherers and be a country.

Why not?

[Arlenton]

You cannot be a society of nomadic hunter-gatherers and be a country.

Why not?

I guess you could.

But how would such a country defend itself?

[Salandriagado]

Why not?

I guess you could.

But how would such a country defend itself?

A fucking ocean?

[Kramania]

I guess you could.

But how would such a country defend itself?

A fucking ocean?

Didn't do much to stop the Brits.

[Kramania]

You cannot be a society of nomadic hunter-gatherers and be a country.

Why not?

A country has to occupy a territory, whereas hunter-gatherers are always moving.

[Arlenton]

I guess you could.

But how would such a country defend itself?

A fucking ocean?

Uhhhh

Boats exist.

[New Edom]

Every year, as the event draws nearer and nearer, we are reminded of the "Invasion Day" argument about celebrating our nation. For those of you who don't know, 26 January is the date that celebrates Captain James Cook's landing in Australia. Some claim that celebrating Australia Day on Jan 26 is racist and celebrates the begining of the genocide against Aboriginal Australians. Some claim that 26 Jan should see the flags fly at half mast to symbolise mourning. Others claim that 26 Jan celebrates the modern nation of Australia, and we should put the atrocities of the past behind us, and celebrate what's goid about our modern, united Australia

Where do you stand on the issue? Should we change the date? Should it be a day of mourning? I'm pretty undecided on the issue. I can see the merits of both sides of the debate, and am yet to form my own opinion. Where do you stand?

If Australia celebrating Captain Cook's arrival was MEANT to celebrate genocide, then maybe. But I think not. Australia has adopted policies that are intended to bring about peaceful removal of racist past policies. This is the reality: there would be no nation of Australia without Captain Cook. No great nation has been formed without war, violence and at ties atrocities by the standards of the present day. I've never seen any depiction of Australian history that does not admit that Aboriginal people were treated really badly before. If people want to expunge their sense of national guilt, they ought to go and volunteer in ways that improve the lives of Aboriginal people.

[Australian rePublic]

Australia, as we know it today, didn't exist as a single country until 1 Jan 1901. Before then it was 6 individual colonises (Western Australia, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, South Australia and Victoria) which were their own individual countries) and before that it was hundreds of individual, indipendant Aboriginal countries

[The Conez Imperium]

Why not?

A country has to occupy a territory, whereas hunter-gatherers are always moving.

Yeah sorry, you can't use the terra nullis argument. The "aboriginal people" lived on Australia for thousands of years.

"It's the constitution, it's the vibe, its Mabo"

[Dazchan]

For those of you who don't know, 26 January is the date that celebrates Captain James Cook's landing in Australia.

Australia Day celebrates Captain Cook finding Australia on the 26th. He didnt find it on the 25th, nor the 27th.

No, it doesn't. January 26 was the arrival of the First Fleet at Sydney Cove, beginning the colony of New South Wales. It's also only been a public holiday since 1994, as the date holds no historical significance in other states; prior to that, they celebrated their own foundation days.

I would have expected Australia Day to be when Australia became a country, not when Europeans first found the place.

That would be January 1, which is already a public holiday.

I personally favour May 27, which is the date of the referendum that allowed Aboriginals to be recognised as Australian citizens, as the date for Australia Day.

EDIT: Corrected an incorrect date.

[The Conez Imperium]

Every year, as the event draws nearer and nearer, we are reminded of the "Invasion Day" argument about celebrating our nation. For those of you who don't know, 26 January is the date that celebrates Captain James Cook's landing in Australia. Some claim that celebrating Australia Day on Jan 26 is racist and celebrates the begining of the genocide against Aboriginal Australians. Some claim that 26 Jan should see the flags fly at half mast to symbolise mourning. Others claim that 26 Jan celebrates the modern nation of Australia, and we should put the atrocities of the past behind us, and celebrate what's goid about our modern, united Australia

Where do you stand on the issue? Should we change the date? Should it be a day of mourning? I'm pretty undecided on the issue. I can see the merits of both sides of the debate, and am yet to form my own opinion. Where do you stand?

If Australia celebrating Captain Cook's arrival was MEANT to celebrate genocide, then maybe. But I think not. Australia has adopted policies that are intended to bring about peaceful removal of racist past policies. This is the reality: there would be no nation of Australia without Captain Cook. No great nation has been formed without war, violence and at ties atrocities by the standards of the present day. I've never seen any depiction of Australian history that does not admit that Aboriginal people were treated really badly before. If people want to expunge their sense of national guilt, they ought to go and volunteer in ways that improve the lives of Aboriginal people.

I would be in favour of moving Australia day to the 27th May. This was the date in 1967 where a referendum was called to recognise Aboriginals as citizens. It's the keystone of Australia as a country growing in maturity and one worthy to be celebrated. Obviously, it's important to recognise the founding of Australia's first colony - the birth of Modern Australia but I think it's more important to recognise the growing maturity and reconciliation of a nation. The 26th of January is a rather arbitrary achievement but the 27th of May, an effort and wisdom worth commemorating.

We could have also celebrate the 2 dates (more holidays!!!) but the title of Australia day seems more appropriate for the 27th of May rather than the 26th of January.

[Donut section]

Leave it where it is. Celebrate 27th of may separately.

While all people should be treated equally by the state, aboriginals achieved nothing before and very little after that has contributed to the idea of Australia.

[The Conez Imperium]

Leave it where it is. Celebrate 27th of may separately.

While all people should be treated equally by the state, aboriginals achieved nothing before and very little after that has contributed to the idea of Australia.

The idea of Australia at that time was a "white country". I don't see how Aboriginals could contribute to that idea.

[Donut section]

Leave it where it is. Celebrate 27th of may separately.

While all people should be treated equally by the state, aboriginals achieved nothing before and very little after that has contributed to the idea of Australia.

The idea of Australia at that time was a "white country". I don't see how Aboriginals could contribute to that idea.

Writing would have been nice. They got some cool stories, would have been great to read them.

[New Edom]

If Australia celebrating Captain Cook's arrival was MEANT to celebrate genocide, then maybe. But I think not. Australia has adopted policies that are intended to bring about peaceful removal of racist past policies. This is the reality: there would be no nation of Australia without Captain Cook. No great nation has been formed without war, violence and at ties atrocities by the standards of the present day. I've never seen any depiction of Australian history that does not admit that Aboriginal people were treated really badly before. If people want to expunge their sense of national guilt, they ought to go and volunteer in ways that improve the lives of Aboriginal people.

I would be in favour of moving Australia day to the 27th May. This was the date in 1967 where a referendum was called to recognise Aboriginals as citizens. It's the keystone of Australia as a country growing in maturity and one worthy to be celebrated. Obviously, it's important to recognise the founding of Australia's first colony - the birth of Modern Australia but I think it's more important to recognise the growing maturity and reconciliation of a nation. The 26th of January is a rather arbitrary achievement but the 27th of May, an effort and wisdom worth commemorating.

We could have also celebrate the 2 dates (more holidays!!!) but the title of Australia day seems more appropriate for the 27th of May rather than the 26th of January.

Why not celebrate both days then, as you say, and just put more emphasis on the May date to make it more recognizable?

[The Conez Imperium]

I would be in favour of moving Australia day to the 27th May. This was the date in 1967 where a referendum was called to recognise Aboriginals as citizens. It's the keystone of Australia as a country growing in maturity and one worthy to be celebrated. Obviously, it's important to recognise the founding of Australia's first colony - the birth of Modern Australia but I think it's more important to recognise the growing maturity and reconciliation of a nation. The 26th of January is a rather arbitrary achievement but the 27th of May, an effort and wisdom worth commemorating.

We could have also celebrate the 2 dates (more holidays!!!) but the title of Australia day seems more appropriate for the 27th of May rather than the 26th of January.

Why not celebrate both days then, as you say, and just put more emphasis on the May date to make it more recognizable?

If I was prime minister, I would happily forward that. Alas, there is no real political willpower (except the greens) to make that a reality. Most of the current argument is really derisive with people telling each other what to think rather than listening to each other and compromising.

[Donut section]

Why not celebrate both days then, as you say, and just put more emphasis on the May date to make it more recognizable?

If I was prime minister, I would happily forward that. Alas, there is no real political willpower (except the greens) to make that a reality. Most of the current argument is really derisive with people telling each other what to think rather than listening to each other and compromising.

I would support this, if it was platformed by anyone but the greens.

[The Conez Imperium]

The idea of Australia at that time was a "white country". I don't see how Aboriginals could contribute to that idea.

Writing would have been nice. They got some cool stories, would have been great to read them.

Although I'm being hypocritical, I caution you in judging whole cultures by your own standards. Otherwise, we'd all be saying our civilisation is the best and that's not an objective measure. Real life isn't a game of civilisation where since Aboriginals didn't discover pottery they're uncivilised or worthless.

Moreover, various articles online highlight how the conditions for agriculture were not present in Australia thereby making it difficult for writing/established communities to thrive. Australian soil is incredibly poor, we lack any native domestic animal and we have no staple crop like corn/rice or wheat.

[Dazchan]

Some background reading for the uninformed: http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/ ... 0j0w9.html

Some interesting statistics, particularly around people not actually knowing what they're "celebrating" on Australia Day.

[Donut section]

Writing would have been nice. They got some cool stories, would have been great to read them.

Although I'm being hypocritical, I caution you in judging whole cultures by your own standards. Otherwise, we'd all be saying our civilisation is the best and that's not an objective measure. Real life isn't a game of civilisation where since Aboriginals didn't discover pottery they're uncivilised or worthless.

Moreover, various articles online highlight how the conditions for agriculture were not present in Australia thereby making it difficult for writing/established communities to thrive. Australian soil is incredibly poor, we lack any native domestic animal and we have no staple crop like corn/rice or wheat.

At this stage I'm more of the mind that choice is more important than tradition when it comes to culture. And not choosing the most successful parts of the most successful culture is around the westboro baptist church's choice on religion.

I'm not saying that they are worthless, my DNA test would make me a massive hypocrite since I have some heritage there. I am saying that it would be nice if they had achieved more. Not only for the stories but because progress has a sort of weight.

They might have achieved more if they hadn't hunted the mega fauna to extinction and domesticated it instead.

[Kannadrickium]

Australia Day should be on 16 February.

It's the birthday of Cyril Percy Callister, who is the inventor of Vegemite, which is the most Australian thing ever.

[Sovaal]

Every year, as the event draws nearer and nearer, we are reminded of the "Invasion Day" argument about celebrating our nation. For those of you who don't know, 26 January is the date that celebrates Captain James Cook's landing in Australia. Some claim that celebrating Australia Day on Jan 26 is racist and celebrates the begining of the genocide against Aboriginal Australians. Some claim that 26 Jan should see the flags fly at half mast to symbolise mourning. Others claim that 26 Jan celebrates the modern nation of Australia, and we should put the atrocities of the past behind us, and celebrate what's goid about our modern, united Australia

Where do you stand on the issue? Should we change the date? Should it be a day of mourning? I'm pretty undecided on the issue. I can see the merits of both sides of the debate, and am yet to form my own opinion. Where do you stand?

In regards to the people object to it in regards to it’s connection to the genocide of the aboriginals, I don’t see how changing the date makes it better.

[Sovaal]

Australia Day should be on 16 February.

It's the birthday of Cyril Percy Callister, who is the inventor of Vegemite, which is the most Australian thing ever.

I can think of one better.
“Kangaroo Boxing”

[Wansul]

I wish my country had the same fucking problems as Australia if this is considered front page priority.

The other issue there is wildlife and heat so...