topic Re: Flag Waving. in Community Spirit

Flag Waving.

the_great_she_elephant — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:22:52 GMT

Is jingoistic flag-waving a just another crass Americanism we have adopted, or has it always been a facet of Australian Culture?

Today I found this little gem on my FB newsfeed:

I DON'T CARE IF I DO OFFEND ANYONE BY THIS!!! I PLEDGE ALLEGIANCE TO THE FLAG OF AUSTRALIA AND TO THE COMMONWEALTH FOR WHICH IT STANDS, ONE NATION INDIVISIBLE, AND JUSTICE FOR ALL! MY GENERATION GREW UP RECITING THE AUSTRALIAN ANTHEM EVERY MORNING IN SCHOOL WITH MY HAND ON MY HEART. THEY NO LONGER DO THAT FOR FEAR OF OFFENDING SOMEONE! ... ...... LET'S SEE HOW MANY AUSSIES WILL RE-POST THIS AND NOT CARE ABOUT OFFENDING SOMEONE

Well it offended me! What a load of codswallop! Mr. Elephant, who is his 70s says he never had to recite anything with his hand on his heart when he was at school, my kids, who are in their 40s say they didn’t either and , as far as I know, neither did any of my Grandchildren. The most any of them have ever done was sing the National Anthem at assemblies and I’m pretty sure most schoolkids do the same today.

This is a stupid piece of xenophobia disguised as patriotism that obviously started in America – and even there it is a big fat lie, an overwhelming majority of American schools still go through the pledge to the flag ritual every day.

I suspect whoever it was that said “Patriotism is the last refuge of the scoundrel” must have been thinking of this type of offensive hogwash when he made that comment.

Re: Flag Waving.

spotweldersfriend — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:26:43 GMT

AND JUSTICE FOR ALL*

*Refugees excepted.

Re: Flag Waving.

icyfroth — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:33:40 GMT

Hand on the heart is an American thing.

Someone has done a bit of editing to adapt it to the Australian way trying to stir things up.

Doesn't mean Aussies don't have patriotism.

Just not sooky la la like the americans. But it's there and valid.

Re: Flag Waving.

azureline** — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:34:52 GMT

Lol
We said prayers no anthem for us

Re: Flag Waving.

patchoo78 — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:44:02 GMT

We used to sing the national anthem at assemblys, but I don't recall ever having to pledge alegiance to the flag. I thought that was an American thing...

It will only be a matter of time before it appears on my news feed..

Re: Flag Waving.

purple_haize — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:50:10 GMT

In America they are flag mad...........I couldnt believe that just about every house had a flag out the front, some had two.

Everywhere we went in the USA, there were flags.......they are very patriotic.

Doesnt mean we have to go down the same road, though.

We can be patriotic here in Aust, with out all the flag waving and there is no way I would have the flag flying on a pole outside my home, it make me feel as I lived in America.

Australia as it is is becoming very much like USA in many ways, why cant we just be who we are..........Australians.

Re: Flag Waving.

para-sights — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:50:55 GMT

i'd say it's probably an old viral message that was original American but changed to Australia and now been recycled and edited for Australia Day.

Re: Flag Waving.

izabsmiling — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:51:58 GMT

do they perhaps mean this version ?

The original lyrics to Advance Australia Fair as written by Peter Dodds McCormick and first performed in 1878 are as follows:

Verse One
Australia's sons let us rejoice,
For we are young and free;
We've golden soil and wealth for toil,
Our home is girt by sea;
Our land abounds in Nature's gifts
Of beauty rich and rare;
In history's page, let every stage
Advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing,
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Two
When gallant Cook from Albion sail'd,
To trace wide oceans o'er,
True British courage bore him on,
Till he landed on our shore.
Then here he raised Old England's flag,
The standard of the brave;
With all her faults we love her still,
"Brittannia rules the wave!"
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Three
While other nations of the globe
Behold us from afar,
We'll rise to high renown and shine
Like our glorious southern star;
From England, Scotia, Erin's Isle,
Who come our lot to share,
Let all combine with heart and hand
To advance Australia fair!
In joyful strains then let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"

Verse Four
Shou'd foreign foe e'er sight our coast,
Or dare a foot to land,
We'll rouse to arms like sires of yore
To guard our native strand;
Brittannia then shall surely know,
Beyond wide ocean's roll,
Her sons in fair Australia's land
Still keep a British soul.
In joyful strains the let us sing
"Advance Australia fair!"
http://twf.com.au/showthread.php?t=19227

they changed from Singing God Save The Queen (maybe hands on hearts for that one ? ) to Advance Australia Fair while I was at school

My Father did not let us attend that part of assembly in the later years 'before' the change over to Advance Australia Fair

Re: Flag Waving.

purple_haize — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 06:57:39 GMT

@patchoo78 wrote:
We used to sing the national anthem at assemblys, but I don't recall ever having to pledge alegiance to the flag. I thought that was an American thing...

It will only be a matter of time before it appears on my news feed..

Same here, had the national anthem at assemblies but never had to pledge allegiance to the flag.

Americans do, all the time.

Re: Flag Waving.

izabsmiling — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:00:10 GMT

how could you have sung the Australian National Anthem ?

Advance Australia Fair was adopted as the national anthem (the 1st and a new 3rd verses, with modified lyrics) for the second time on 19 April 1984 by Bob Hawke's Labor government (after it was chosen by the Whitlam government in 1974, and later rejected by the Fraser government). Previous to this, the Australian national anthem was "God Save the Queen"

Re: Flag Waving.

para-sights — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:03:52 GMT

Like the Star Spangled Banner usually only the first stanza is sung (if I remember correctly lol)

oops sorry thought you meant how could you sing all of it.... I guess I'm too young lol

Re: Flag Waving.

purple_haize — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:03:44 GMT

@izabsmiling wrote:
how could you have sung the Australian National Anthem ?

Advance Australia Fair was adopted as the national anthem (the 1st and a new 3rd verses, with modified lyrics) for the second time on 19 April 1984 by Bob Hawke's Labor government (after it was chosen by the Whitlam government in 1974, and later rejected by the Fraser government). Previous to this, the Australian national anthem was "God Save the Queen"

The national athem when I went to school was God Save The Queen..................

This thread is not about that...........it is about flag waving.

Re: Flag Waving.

izabsmiling — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:09:05 GMT

I see Purple .Was thinking you meant Advance Australia Fair .

Re: Flag Waving.

spotweldersfriend — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:11:22 GMT

Do they sing Kumbaya at Nimbin Primary?

Re: Flag Waving.

**meep** — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:20:20 GMT

She ele, that message resurfaces from time to time. I have seen it in reference to banning halal food. I think you should have given it the attention it deserved - none.

As for flag waving......I usually associate that with May Day parades....

Re: Flag Waving.

the_hawk* — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:32:08 GMT

"Aussie Aussie Aussie, Oi Oi Oi"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VrjZi7WIAOw

Re: Flag Waving.

**meep** — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 07:35:57 GMT

@spotweldersfriend wrote:
AND JUSTICE FOR ALL*

*Refugees excepted.

That was the whole point.....

edit: typo

Re: Flag Waving.

ajarnjenny — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:07:13 GMT

I agree. I spent the month of October with a friend near Washington and it seemed to me that every home and building had a flag.

Some houses decals in the front window saying 'A Patriot Lives Here' and 'God Bless America'.

Re: Flag Waving.

ajarnjenny — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:11:11 GMT

When I was at school, many, many moons ago we sang the second verse, but when we would get to 'Till he landed on our shore', we would sing 'Till 'e landed on our shore' and our teacher would go nuts and yell at us, 'Tilly didn't land on our shore, Cook did!'

Re: Flag Waving.

k0llectable5 — Sat, 25 Jan 2014 08:38:34 GMT

Honestly I dont see what the big deal is. If you want to wave your flag and pledge alegience to it thats great if you prefer to be "quietly" patriotic then thats great too. So long as there is love in you for this great country thats all that matters IMO.

Although, as an Australian if you are "offended" by our flag or those that wave it proudly in their front yards then chances are you are probably offended a tad too easily.

Not directed at you she ele becuase I can understand what you are saying in the OP. I have seen the Americanisation of Australia over the years and I dont like it but a FB post like that is just trying to stir the pot, minus the hand on the heart bit ( admitedly I never had my hand on my heart but I definately remember the acknowledgement of the flag on rememberance and Anzac day though, because it was always at half mast) I'm a bit perplexed at what is so offensive. I tjhink xenophobia is a mild exaggeration. I'm just wondering where the "intense or irrational dislike or fear of people from other countries" applies to this post? Is it because of the "dont care if I offend anyone" rhetoric? I think that is probably the most Australian sounding part of the whole post. Austrailians used to call spades, spades before the age of PC. We should be able to be equally as patriotic as we are misanthropic IMO. If we dont show love for the place what kind of example are we making to all the newcomers?