Rik E Boy wrote:Not sure what you're getting at here Wedgie. On January 26, 1788 European settlement began in this country. While this was a disastorous turn of events for the indigenous people was the beginning of what we are today and thus should be celebrated.
The 'Anglo-Saxons' bit is what I find confusing. Are you saying that Asian or other Europeans who came to Australia have the right to call it 'Invasion Day' or is the right strictly reserved for the Indigenous Australians. I can cop it from the Black man but not from fellow Europeans such as Italians, Greeks, etc or the Asians.
Rightly or wrongly depending on your point of view, the Poms put in the hard yards first. The French had a shot and Holland had a crack but we are still predominantly an Anglo Saxon nation. Your point about the day 'we became a nation' is a good one but as yet we aren't an independent republic so I would argue that this date has yet to occur in our history.
While most of us accept that Australia has a black history, this Invasion day stuff might tend to suggest, 'OK, f*** it. We'll all piss off back to Asia and Europe and give it back to the Indigenous Aussies'. What would happen to our 'great country' then?
A very emotive issue.
regards,
REB
Yes REB I am talking from an Aboriginal perspective.
The beginning of what we are today in my view commenced tens of thousands of years ago.
We have a unique identity and a unique culture and its the culmination of many things not just what the white folk brought to New South Wales 1788.
It may have been a glorious day for the Poms when they invaded Australia and killed a few black fellas as well as starting their opression of the black folk for many, many years but Im certainly not going to bask in it, it would be unAustralian if I did as I respect all cultures that make this great country.
It'd actually be more appropriate celebrating Australia Day on the day the first Greeks, Italians or others entered this country, as the only difference between them and the poms was they were invited and didn't go on a mission of murder and opression like the Poms did nor dump their convicts here.
Celebrating the day that the race with the least amount of respect for those already here claimed this country as it own would be the last day any true Australian would celebrate.