Australian Flag "Banned" ?

[Dissident]

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,23599,21095538-2,00.html

Thoughts?

[Punk Rooster]

absolutely f**king disgraceful.
It's our right wave our flag.
Yes, ban serbian/croatian flags, & any other country for that matter, but not the Ausie flag.

[Dutchy]

geez they are jumping at shadows these days...

[Leaping Lindner]

From the official Big Day Out website

Clarification on the Flag Issue

The Big Day Out would like to offer the following to clarify its position on “flag banning” at the Sydney show.

Contrary to the reports in the media, it was never our intention to disrespect the symbolism of the Australian or any other flag.

In recent times, there has been an increased incidence of flags brandished inconsiderately and this has led to increased tension. Our only goal in discouraging this activity at the Big Day Out is to ensure that our patrons are not subjected to or inconvenienced by this behaviour.

We have no problem with people being patriotic, and we certainly do not have a problem with people wearing or displaying what they feel is important. Regardless of how it has been interpreted, this is about audience safety and enjoyment.

With all this in mind and the aim to create a happy, peaceful MUSICAL event, organisers would like to request that fans please leave large flags at home. The substantial increase of flags brought to large public events such as the Big Day Out is becoming excessive and has created complex issues including but not limited to sight line problems.

This is simply a request, not a command.

The Big Day Out is not an Australia Day event, but a music festival showcasing music artists from around the world and aspires to unify people through music.

On the whole, Big Day Out audiences have been extremely well behaved and we hope that this has clarified this situation.

Unfortunately the media reports yesterday were not quoted accurately and we must thank the participating media for wasting everybody’s time including the Prime Minister John Howard, Premier Morris Iemma, NSW RSL President Don Rowe, Keysar Trad (a confidant of the Mufti Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly) and Burt Lane of the Australian National Flag Association….

Hard to believe that the Australian Media would blow something out of proportion isn't it?

[Punk Rooster]

or some spin-doctoring by the organisers of the BDO as a result of the backlash?

[JK]

Big opportunity for some dude to stand at the gate with piles of Australian Flag T-Shirts

[Rik E Boy]

Sydney...stick it up your arse. Try putting some police on the beat.

regards,

REB

[Snaggletooth Tiger]

Doesn't matter folks!
Fly 'The Southern Cross' flag instead!
If some politically correct, pretentious, condescending lefty wanker accuses you of being a racist...
Then tell that unwashed, tree-huggin, vego hypocrite to read a f'n history book!
The flag refers to the 1854 Ballarat gold miner's revolt against the government (Eureka Stockade)
due to grievances of harsh treatment, overpriced equipment & mining licenses.
The local militia crushed the uprising much to the public's disgust leading to radical change in
Australian politics & pretty much the birth of democracy in this country.
I know in recent times bigotted halfwits like Michael Brander & National Action tried to lay claim to the banner
for their narrow minded cause, but that's NOT what it stands for at all!
It's the symbol of our Nation's Union Movement but those superficial hippy tossers probably don't know that
coz the useless bastards have never worked a day in their pathetic little lives!

[Wedgie]

I think the fact that they're requested it and not banned it is even more ridiculous.
Now many youngsters will purposely take them where they wouldn't have before, I know if I was going I'd take one now.
The Sydney BDO used to be on Australia Day, and some stupidos are saying its not an appropriate place to take a flag, in my eyes anywhere on Australia day is an appropriate place for our flag.
Having said that I think we're a bit sheltered over here as to some of the happenings in Sydney in recent times, completely different atmosphere over there compared to here IMHO.

[Punk Rooster]

Having said that I think we're a bit sheltered over here as to some of the happenings in Sydney in recent times, completely different atmosphere over there compared to here IMHO.

Yeah, well if any of those c**** have a problem with the Australian Flag, they can F*** right off back to the war torn lands, or wherever they come from.

[stan]

Well this should really spell out how F******* up things actually are getting.

[noone]

Having said that I think we're a bit sheltered over here as to some of the happenings in Sydney in recent times, completely different atmosphere over there compared to here IMHO.

Yeah, well if any of those c**** have a problem with the Australian Flag, they can F*** right off back to the war torn lands, or
wherever they come from.

wearing an Australian flag as a cape doesn't give you free reign to be a racist f**kwit. Do you really think the BDO organisers would of done this if it wasn't a problem?

[McAlmanac]

Having said that I think we're a bit sheltered over here as to some of the happenings in Sydney in recent times, completely different atmosphere over there compared to here IMHO.

Yes, it needs to be remembered that last year's BDO in Sydney was soon after the Cronulla riots. I can't imagine it would have been a good place to have a five o'clock shadow.

[topsywaldron]

wearing an Australian flag as a cape doesn't give you free reign to be a racist f**kwit.

Better let Lil' Johny know this as well.

[dinglinga]

r we the only country where we cant show our flag.....

im getting sick and tired of not being able to play christmas songs and stuff like that cos of the other religons we have

NEWS FLASH

we live in australia we will display our flag with pride

if ya dont like F%^K OFF

[Punk Rooster]

r we the only country where we cant show our flag.....

im getting sick and tired of not being able to play christmas songs and stuff like that cos of the other religons we have

NEWS FLASH

we live in australia we will display our flag with pride

if ya dont like F%^K OFF

careful, you'll be branded A RACIST by the PC Police!

[dinglinga]

punk since when has a newcastle united( EPL) been a racist

[Leaping Lindner]

Having said that I think we're a bit sheltered over here as to some of the happenings in Sydney in recent times, completely different atmosphere over there compared to here IMHO.

Yeah, well if any of those c**** have a problem with the Australian Flag, they can F*** right off back to the war torn lands, or wherever they come from.

All of my great grandparents were all born in Australia (South Australia to be specific) and two of my great great grandparents were born here. I believe that makes me a 5th generation Australian (being the 4th generation born here).
Now I have a problem with our flag more specifically the top left corner of it which isn't "our" flag at all. So if I am to go back to the country of my ancestors this raises the question where do I go back to? Do I get a choice? I have the option of Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Prussia or Ireland. Now this also proves troublesome as if I choose Prussia the part of Prussia that that lot of ancestors came from is now Poland. Food for thought.

[Punk Rooster]

LL, debate for which flag we should have aside, this is (right or wrong) our current flag-

the flag is sacrosant, & it is our right to display our country's symbol at anytime, day or place.
It is the flag that you & I grew up under, I probably have silmilar heritage to you (German, English(Conwall)), but I do not have any problems personally with the flag- we cannot deny our history as an English Colony.

[Punk Rooster]

Now I have a problem with our flag more specifically the top left corner of it which isn't "our" flag at all. So if I am to go back to the country of my ancestors this raises the question where do I go back to? Do I get a choice? I have the option of Germany, England, Wales, Scotland, Prussia or Ireland. Now this also proves troublesome as if I choose Prussia the part of Prussia that that lot of ancestors came from is now Poland. Food for thought.

LL- you have a problem with the Union Jack, yet you mention your heritage is Welsh, Scottish & English.
Those 3 country's flag form the Union Jack, one would've thought that it would kill 3 birds with 1 stone...