As I sit here on Survival Day, or what's traditionally known as Australia Day, the usual arguments fill news feeds and articles about this date. It's a odd and divisive day, marked by very contrasting perspectives. For some, it's a time to celebrate in the good bloody luck of living in this beautiful southern land, perhaps enjoying a a long weekend with friends down the coast or in the bush. But for others, particularly Indigenous Australians, it's a day of sorrow.
Australia day isn't just a date; it's a loaded symbol. It marks the the arrival of the First Fleet in 1788 at Port Jackson in New South Wales, leading to over two centuries of oppression, genocide, massacres, stolen generations, and an enduring intergenerational trauma that continues to disadvantage many to this day, despite some saying 'it's over' and Indigenous Australians 'should get over it'. Many of us do acknowledging the historical pain, horrified at others who dismiss discussions around it, calling for unity without understanding the very uneven playing field of Australia cultural experiences.
There's also the plea to change the date, at least. No harm done, right? It'd just nod to the need for Indigenous people to mark the day as one of sorrow at what's happened (just like we do with World War One and Gallipoli, for example) whilst still giving us all the chance to celebrate the good things about this nation. There's never any move to shift the date, though. I find myself leaning towards the idea that a good compromise might be to shift the celebration to a at least the following day so we still mark the long weekend tradition while also being mindful of the historical significance attached to the 26th.
In a seemingly new tradition of challenging historical symbols, statues of figures like Captain Cook and Queen Victoria have faced vandalism. Personally, I've never been one to venerate historic figures, especially when their deeds are questionable. Captain Cook's interactions with Indigenous people were fraught with misunderstandings, cultural clashes, and conflicts—not just on Australian soil. Monuments that serve as overt symbols of European colonization seem outdated to me, reflecting our resistance to change and evolve as a nation. Just because a monument has stood for a hundred years doesn't mean it should stand for another hundred. Vandalism might not be the ideal solution, but there's a part of me that feels a subtle joy when statues like these topple. After all, history isn't always worth celebrating; it's worth remembering, but not necessarily putting on a pedestal.
How important is the colony, after all? Is it worth immortalising in stone?
I was also viewing a recent incident in a Facebook group where a woman faced backlash for flying an Indigenous flag from her van awning. The incident exposes the double standards around Australia Day discussions, where we can be free to express support for Australia Day whilst supressing those who disagree with this celebration - and again underlining the need for respectful dialogue and acknowledgment of diverse perspectives.
A call by Peter Dutton to boycott Woolworths for not selling enough Australia Day merchandise can also be criticized for diverting attention from more pressing issues. Why is it that we can't see such antagonistic rallying cries for what they are - diversions from real challenges like housing crisis, cost of living, the rich getting richer, and so on? Why on earth do we care about a supermarket selling merch or not? Go to the supermarket that does if you want it that badly. End of. Whatever.
Despite the divisive debates, there are moments of mroe positive action, like the admin of said Facebook group promptly removing overtly racist members not afraid to show their true colours. The call for kindness and understanding is becoming a real rallying cry, urging everyone to reflect on what it truly means to live in Australia and to consider the experiences of others on this day of all days.
As this country continues to grapple with its identity, it should consider what it really means to be "the lucky country" for everyone, not just for ourselves, and try not to get distracted by those who'd have us believe we are more divided than we actually are.
Just be fucking nice to each other. That's what it means to live on the earth, never mind the country you live in. You'd be forgiven for thinking that's not what it means to be human, given events of late. Maybe it's just about flag waving, and eviscerating people with the flagpole that don't agree with you.
Except you can't buy those from Woolies anymore. Allegedly.
I’ve learnt a lot about this particular day from your post. As a Brit I hate the way we’ve been with other countries and to a certain extent still are a bit up our arses when it comes to colonialism. Many of us hate that identity. Then again the many are just ordinary folk, carving a living versus the elitist lot who’ve been screwing us over for centuries. We too are having multiple identity crises here in the UK.
You may recall there was a case of statue toppling here in England not that many years ago. Many people were angry because they were of the opinion that people were trying to cancel history and I like your view that taking monuments down is not a bad thing, we still remember the events that happened, they’re still written down in our history books, etched into our collective memories. We don’t have to ram these things into people’s faces every corner they turn.
Also Woolworths still exists?? Wow!! Do they still have pick n mix? I miss that old shop!
I was there actually when they pulled the slaver statue down in Bristol and threw him in the canal. I don't think it serves us well to cling to the old. We forget that we are just seconds within a larger history anyway. I think the identity crisis is absolutely what a lot of the world is facing. Who are we, going forward as the world whimpers?
Haha Woolies - it's just a big supermarket here like Tesco. I can't recall why we still have it and you don't.
I woke up this morning swimming in images of the horrors committed world wide for centuries on end, horrors in the name of colonization, horrors in the name of prosperity, horrors in the name of democracy, horrors in the name of peace, horrors going on today in many countries. This was one of the first posts I read today, in keeping. Just be nice, yes. But we also have to just say no.
It's hard I think because you get so much push back, and people start to define and identify themselves more staunchly on either side of particular lines instead of seeing common humanity. I'm a real believer in finding common humanity rather than doubling down and refusing to listen to the 'enemy'. I like the 'I see why that worries you, and I understand where you're coming from - what about this angle?' approach - it feels better for me. And then under my breath, or in private to Jamie, I rant and rave about their wankerhood.
This divide has been artificially, and systematically, imposed on us by our political parties, which are in service to corporations and dark lords. We can see this is the repeated 50-50 splits in elections world-wide - this has obviously been manipulated! It is extremely important to try to understand where your fellow human beings are coming from! Love thy neighbor, even if they voted for Trump. I need that as a bumper sticker or T-shirt.
I was once a rabid Democrat from NYC. I thought conservatives were all racist, homophobic, self-serving wankers. I would rant and rave against them! But when Trump won, I had the presence of mind to try to understand how on earth half of the US would vote for him. I started listening to him, conservative comics, conservative pundits, and most importantly, conservative friends. Lo and behold, their positions started to make sense! Not that I agreed, but I no longer saw them as racist, homophobic self-serving wankers. They were just like me.
When I try to explain this to rabid democrats, they attack me, shun me, hate me. It is so easy to see why the world is a mess when I consider this. We must love each other, and hate the politicians of the world.
I also need a T shirt or bumper sticker that says "the only thing I am allergic to is politicians."
Beautifully said. I too have friends who are more right wing but I totally understand them because we make the effort to understand each other. Now if they were actually racist, that's a different story.
But they're not. No more racist than so-called liberals. They disagree with liberal policies, which are predicated on the belief that POC are underserved educationally, medically so that they don't know what is good for themselves and need help from white people. In other words, liberals believe POC are stupid and unhealthy, so they need to be told what to do, which is as racist a belief as racist beliefs come.
I still think it is Australia Day because we are more divided than ever and losing our identity.