Flag Waving.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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. 

[izabsmiling]

We are one but we are many

Some Australian were and are bought up either in England and/or in Australia with English traditions.

TGSE is Australian and she was perhaps bought up as you say English ?

My DD was born in Australia and is Australian....her Father (my husband) is English by Birth and citizenship ,her Mother (me) is Australian by birth and citizenship .

My DD is Australian regardless of the traditions we raise her with 

Should my OH wish to become an Australian citizen...he will be an Australian too 

[spotweldersfriend]

Basically it's jingoism and I don't have time for it.

[nevynreally]

Right over your head. Again.

[izabsmiling]

Could you please tell me what exactly you consider an Australian to be and do ?

[azureline**]

Wave your flag

Dont wave your flag

[nevynreally]

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@azureline** wrote:
Wave your flag

Dont wave your flag

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Yes. Do whatever, it's the Australian way.

[the_great_she_elephant]

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@spotweldersfriend wrote:
Basically it's jingoism and I don't have time for it.

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Even that great British Imperialist, Rudyard Kipling,  poured scorn on it.

This is an excerpt from his novel, Stalky And Co, where a politician visits Stalky's boarding school to lecture the boys on "Patriotism."

After many, many words, he reached for the cloth-wrapped stick and thrust one hand in his bosom. This — this was the concrete symbol of their land — worthy of all honour and reverence! Let no boy look on this flag who did not purpose to worthily add to its imperishable lustre. He shook it before them — a large calico Union Jack, staring in all three colors, and waited for the thunder of applause that should crown his effort.

They looked in silence. They had certainly seen the thing before — down at the coastguard station, or through a telescope, half-mast high when a brig went ashore on Braunton Sands; above the roof of the Golf-club, and in Keyte’s window, where a certain kind of striped sweetmeat bore it in paper on each box. But the College never displayed it; it was no part of the scheme of their lives; the Head had never alluded to it; their fathers had not declared it unto them. It was a matter shut up, sacred and apart. What, in the name of everything caddish, was he driving at, who waved that horror before their eyes? Happy thought! Perhaps he was drunk.

In the book the MP is referred to ever afterwards by the boys as "The jelly-bellied flag flapper.

[aftanas]

Yes, this pledge of allegiance is offensive because it is an American pledge.  The actual pledge, which is recited at the opening session of Congress and in some schools runs:

I pledge allegiance to the Flag of the United States of America, and to the republic for which it stands, one Nation under God, indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

It does not become an Australian tradition by changing a few words.  As an Australian (who has served in the armed forces) I find it an odd concept to pledge allegiance to a flag.  It is an American thing.  I can understand that some Australians admire the patriotism displayed by certain Americans, and I can understand that some Australians would like to emulate Americans and would like Australia to become more like America.  However, I am not one of them and I would prefer Australia to remain Australian.

[darksideofthemoon]

I'd be more impressed if their hands were over their hearts, usually they are lost over the left side of their chest... not their heart 

Beware of propaganda... it's rife at present.

[ca04]

Pledging allegiance  to flag and/or person was in use long before the USA. It goes back into the dark ages of history.

There were so many small, kings, lords, even churches and all had their own flags.

In the days of knights ect their were even household flags.