PPRuNe Forums - View Single Post - Kangaroos and First Nation Peoples Flags
View Single Post
Old 28th Jan 2022, 13:51
  #114 (permalink)  
dr dre
 
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: The World
Posts: 2,269
Received 322 Likes on 175 Posts
Originally Posted by Keg
A new Aussie flag isn’t going to see the retirement of either the Aboriginal or Torres Strait Islander flags irrespective of how much of those designs are incorporated into the new flag.

So thinking a new flag will ‘unite’ the nation behind a new symbol is foolish given both those other flags are likely to remain cherished and in use by those who feel they best represent them.
I don't think anyone advocating for changing the flag has a desire to end use of the Aboriginal or TSI flags completely. Those flags will always be around.

At the end of the day it isn't so much "uniting" people behind a flag. In an increasingly globalised world (well once borders open again fully) the notions of nationalism and patriotism and the symbols behind them are becoming irrelevant for a lot of people. Australia has never been a culture where people are quite openly patriotic. And in some ways the current flag has taken on a divisive tone in recent years, a symbol of that far right "patriot" movement.

But countries do have flags, and in the modern, multicultural Australia a flag with a Union Jack in the canton to signify dominance of the UK over Australia is hardly appropriate or relevant outside of the 1788-1901 timeframe, let alone 2022. When governments tend to be slow acting corporations sometimes take the lead on social change. We saw this with the SSM campaign, and we're seeing it now with Indigenous Recognition. Airlines not mentioning "Australia Day" on January 26th, airlines making Acknowledgment of Country announcements, airlines using Indigenous place names alongside European ones. Would not adding Indigenous and TSI flags to aircraft, or removing the national flag from aircraft (just like BA, AF and Air NZ) be a continuation of this trend?
dr dre is offline