Recently a controversy was being raised about changing the date of Australian Day, as it is considered the day when aboriginal lost their land and freedom. The issue is being discussed by the Yarra Council Mayor Cr Amanda Stone, who took the initiative to not only commemorate the British invasion of Aboriginal and Torres Straits Islanders land. Her main point in that article is to basically identify the Australian Day as a date which symbolizes loss of culture, language and the identity of ingenious people. This makes sense to us that the people affected by this issue are mainly Australian citizens (Aboriginals). Following this response, another article was published called, ‘Changing the date of Australian Day won’t change our past’ by Joe
The Australian public now commemorate the sacrifice made for them by having ANZAC day every year. Today we commemorate the sacrifice by tending to their graves on foreign shores there are prayers said and wreaths laid on ANZAC day when we remember their sacrifice. There are walks across ANZAC cove with memorial scattered throughout. Though we commemorate Gallipoli more than the western front this is unjust to the 10’s of thousands of men who died on the western front as some of Australia’s most respected battles were fought on the western front
In recent years, the issue of Australia Day marking the ‘invasion’ of ‘white man’ has sparked controversy between the Indigenous and non-indigenous populations of Australia. In his article titled “January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it”, Peter Moore advocates that the date of Australia Day should not be changed and he provides humour and solidarity for those who share his perspective. He does this through heavy use of attacks and generalisations with an informal, aggressive tone. Conversely, Natalie Cromb, with her article titled ‘Australia Day/ Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – but not right now”, criticizes the idea of the date changing at present time as she attempts to rally supportive readers to stand up to the
After Clague’s contribution during the 1967 referendum, many ATSI peoples were more socially accepted due to the government recognising them as part of the population. The government accepting Aborigines as humans meant that they were politically acknowledged and able to be citizens of Australia, earning themselves passports and the ability to fly overseas. Before being politically accepted ATSI peoples weren’t allowed to be given passports if they identified as being Aboriginal (Australian Screen, 2017). Culturally speaking, after white settlement, almost all native land belonging to aboriginal peoples was ripped away from them, wounding connections between Aborigines and their ancestors. Joyce Clague’s rescue of ATSI people’s native lands, political acceptance toward Aborigines and social approval of being human all contributed largely to the livelihoods of ATSI
Scott Sawyer’s opinion piece published in the Gladstone Observer on the 25th of January 2014, employs an informal tone to argue against the unnecessary racism often exhibited on Australia Day. The piece follows a train of thought as it transitions from an impartial positive tone to stern and disgusted. The article “Ditch the racism and enjoy Australia Day as it should be” states it’s contention in it’s title, clearly and concisely, continuing on to position the Australian population to agree to it’s contention using rhetorical questions, emotive and inclusive language and appeal to patriotism. The article displays a cartoon image of a cave man looking puzzled at a stone wheel, contemplating its existence and use. The image acts as a metaphor
Speeches made within the past are still relevant to today’s society as the issues they have faced are significant to the values of the present. The statement: "Any significant and valued speech is able to transcend its immediate context", is exemplified within Paul Keating 's Redfern Address (1992) and Noel Pearson 's An Australian History for Us All (1996). Within these speeches, the themes of taking responsibility for actions and the importance of reconciliation resonate as they have influenced change in present-day Australia through new laws and forming the basis of Australian society. Conducted in a predominantly Aboriginal community, the former Prime Minister of Australia, Paul Keating addresses a controversial topic in celebration of
The date of Australia day has been a large community discussion for many Australians. This day is a happy and positive day for many Australians and very important to some people. This is because it brings different people from different cultures that exist in our country together to celebrate the history that Australia has made. On both sides of this argument, if you want Australia Day to change, or stay the same, there is good evidence for this argument. Australia Day should most definitely stay the same for the following reasons.
Some people want it to happen, some wish it would happen and others make it happen. Australia Day, commemorated on January 26, is a national celebration honouring the First Fleet's settlement in 1788 and the unity of our country. While many Australians reap the benefits of the holiday, for many Indigenous Australians, January 26 marks the start of the barbaric displacement from their lands and the eradication of their traditions and dialects. This date must be modified as it is one of many days that can be Australia Day, it establishes acceptance to the plight of the Indigenous community and it is a reminder rather than a celebration. Refusing to change the date of Australia day is unwise as it is one of many days that can be Australia Day.
Australia Day is a national holiday that commemorates the arrival of the First Fleet on January 26, 1788. The celebration of this date has been a debated issue between the Indigenous community and conservative Australians, though the debate is not exclusively limited to the two groups. For many Indigenous Australians, January 26 marks the beginning of a long history of colonization, frontier violence, and the removal of children from their families, known as the Stolen Generation. The traumas from the past still affect Indigenous communities today. Celebrating the day as a national holiday shows a lack of respect for the struggles of the Indigenous people.
As patriotic Australians we pride ourselves to be a nation that accepts and respects the beliefs of all cultures, but on this historical day majority of Australians tend to forget the true meaning behind the celebration. If you ask today’s society, what they did this Australia day mass numbers would respond with “binged on alcohol” and “indulged in a barbecue.” Consequently, this day cannot be called a national celebration when some of our fellow Australians are grieving while others are out celebrating an occasion they know little about. Giving due regard to the indigenous people and their mostly negative perspective on this issue should be a priority. A new date, not the 26th of January should be established, as rather than unite, it seems to divide Australians into different viewpoints.
Change the date of Australia Day issue – Language Analysis Controversy surrounds the issue of whether Australia Day’s date should be changed to a day with historical value that also includes Indigenous people. As Australia day is on the 26th of January, it is associated with the day that Captain Cook landed in 1788, which to those of Indigenous origin, can be known as Invasion Day. Two articles published on the 26th of January 2017, with opposing views ‘January 26th is the birth of modern Australia – deal with it’ written by Peter Moore and ‘Australia Day/Invasion Day debate: #ChangeTheDate – But not right now’ by Natalie Cromb, express their views on the date of Australia Day potentially being changed. In Peter Moore’s opinion piece, published
Anzac Day – Secular ritual Anzac Day marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. Australians recognise 25 April as a day of national remembrance, which takes two forms. Commemorative services are held across the nation at dawn which was the time of the original landing, while later in the day, former servicemen and servicewomen meet to take part in marches through the country’s major cities and in many smaller centres. Commemorative ceremonies are more formal, and are held at war memorials around the country.
This article discusses the speech given by an Indigenous journalist, Stan Grant who participated in a debate where he spoke for the motion “Racism is destroying the Australian Dream’’. Hence, the main points of this article are mostly evidence given by Grant in his debate to support his idea that the Australian Dream is indeed rooted in racism. One of the main points is that the indigenous Australians are often excluded and disregarded as non-Australians simply due to their race and skin colour. Grant pointed out the incident where AFL player Adam Goodes was publicly jeered and told that he did not belong to his country as he was not an Australian despite the fact that Australia indeed is the land of his ancestors.
Since colonisation in 1788 Europeans believed the Aboriginal peoples to be a primitive race with no societal structures in place because their system did not resemble one that was recognizable or fit within it did not resemble a system that was recognizable by white settlers. National identity is believed to be a general concept that referred to a broad set of codes with a shared understanding within a nation, and the sense of belonging that is reinforced through myths, symbols, media activities, and everyday practices (Carter, 2006, p. 7; Van Krieken et al., 2017, pp. 234-244). Australia is now regarded as a diverse country with an identity that has evolved over time and will continue to do so. For Indigenous Australians to conform to this national identity, they had to assimilate and give up their values, beliefs, and cultural rights to become more like white Australia.
Should Australia change the date of Australia Day? Some of you may be wondering why this is such a controversial issue and some of you might already know. If you don’t know why I’ll tell you. The date that we celebrate Australia Day is not the date we became our own country, you may be thinking “so what?” well I’ll tell you, the day we are celebrating is the day Great Britain invaded Australia and the start of when they tortured and killed thousands of the Australian indigenous people, there are multiple dates available that were important to Australia or represent Australia and this date has no monument recognizing the day