The Aussie Flag?

[Falchoon]

It's just a bit of coloured canvas on a pole. Who cares. How many billion dollars would it cost to research and decide what the replacement should or shouldn't be. This money would be far better off being spent on public health, education or roads (just think how many $peed cameras could be bought for a billion dollars....).

[phantomchic]

the flag burning kits being sold in Universitys ...

absolutely disgusting....

"The flag-burning kit contains an Australian flag, a lighter and a fire-lighting cube, as well as information about the Howard government’s racist policies towards Indigenous Australians and refugees, and its participation in the US-led war on Iraq."

shazzy

[phantomchic]

this is what the flag is all about

Following Federation as a new nation (the Commonwealth of Australia) on 1st January, 1901 the Commonwealth Government announced a Federal Flag design competition on 29th April, 1901.

The Australian National Flag features the five stars of the constellation of the Southern Cross and the Commonwealth Star, and the combined crosses of St George, St Andrew and St Patrick. The union of crosses represents Australia’s early settlers. The Commonwealth Star with its seven points represents the unity of the six Australian states and the seventh point stands for all Australian Territories. Under the Flags Act of 1953, passed unanimously by parliament, it was confirmed that our "Stars and Crosses" design be the chief national symbol by law, custom and tradition and that it be honoured with the title "Australian National Flag". The new status of the national flag was emphasized when the act of parliament received royal assent from Queen Elizabeth II, on Her Majesty’s visit to Australia in 1954. The Australian rules of flag etiquette are designed to ensure that the national flag is displayed with the dignity befitting its status.

The Australian National Flag identifies a free and democratic people in a nation united in purpose. Our national flag belongs equally to all Australians whatever their origins. Each of the symbols on the flag has a special meaning for Australians. The stars of the Southern Cross represent our geographic position in the Southern Hemisphere; the Commonwealth star stands for our federation of States and Territories; the Crosses represent the principles on which our nation is based, namely, parliamentary democracy, rule of law and freedom of speech.

In 1996 the Governor-General, Sir William Deane, proclaimed 3rd September as Australian National Flag Day, to commemorate the day in 1901 on which our national flag of "Stars and Crosses" was first flown. It is the right and privilege of every Australian to fly the Australian National Flag.

Shaz

[Cashie]

  Falchoon said:

It's just a bit of coloured canvas on a pole. Who cares. How many billion dollars would it cost to research and decide what the replacement should or shouldn't be. This money would be far better off being spent on public health, education or roads (just think how many $peed cameras could be bought for a billion dollars....).

The flag means different things to different people.

After over 20 years in the defence force to me it is so much more than "a bit of coloured canvas on a pole"

Your point about better spending the money is very valid.

[TurboDewd]

If money needs to be spent on one thing I say its income tax reform.

The combination of low interest rates, high marginal tax rates and very generous tax deductions means ppl are compelled to buy property. This is making housing unaffordable and I will go as far to say its hurting the birthrate.

Negative gearing is farking us in the posterior in my opinion.

[geea]

Besides the tax system needing an overhaul, the next priority should be to implementing a work for the dole scheme or similar. One of the things I hate the most is our welfare system. Why do we give money to fit and healthy adults that choose not to work? Make them earn their dole by doing work for the council or similar. They could also assist the elderly too. If they don't want to earn their dole they can go without.

Another is single mothers pensions. I can understand a girl getting pregnant by mistake once, sh*t happens. When the same girl has 4,5 or more kids, that's bullsh*t. After the first one temporarily sterilize them so they can't have more until they can afford to raise them.

If we can address these 2 issues we'll be much better off.

Geea.

[ducatijb]

Too many diggers were killed/wounded under the Aussie flag to even think about changing it...very unaustralian but that's the way the countries going

IMO if your caught burning the flag I would have no qualms lining you up against a wall...just my opinion

[sixfan]

  Lumpen Proletariat said:

  sixfan said:

Yeah!

Bl00dy rich B@stards! Someone should stop them from working so hard so they don't earn as much money! It's not dumb lazy peoples fault that they're dum and lazy!

Equal rights for the dumb and lazy!

(as sixfan toddles off to ebay looking for a 5.25 quintrex topender....)

edit, not meant as a personal slur lumpy!

...I'm not dumb and lazy

I'm just lazy

Lumpy

kissy kissy,

all's sweet then

P.S green and gold are South Africa's national colour, ours are blue and gold.....

[Macktheknife]

This one has got me torn apart.

On one hand I've got the Union Jack and all that has been terribly bad about English history and the terrible things that have gone on in the name of a then, very divided class driven society. Included in this are all the lives of many nations, that were lost in WW1 and other conflicts , in the name of individual Pig-headedness and missplaced English pride and the same class driven ignorance.

I cannot recall reading hardly a chapter of Gallipolli without tears running down my cheeks for the totally useless desperate loss of human life, especially our own forebears. For those reasons, my feelings drive me to want to erase the Union jack from our flag forever.

On the other hand, I cry for the feelings that those who have died, and those that they left, whilst they were fighting for our country and all it stands for. At those times, these people would have only had thoughts of their family, mate, country and flag. For these reasons I would find it near impossible to tarnish their memory by changing the flag.

A conundrum I cannot solve myself. that's the of it.

[phantomchic]

  geea said:

Besides the tax system needing an overhaul, the next priority should be to implementing a work for the dole scheme or similar. One of the things I hate the most is our welfare system. Why do we give money to fit and healthy adults that choose not to work? Make them earn their dole by doing work for the council or similar. They could also assist the elderly too. If they don't want to earn their dole they can go without.

Another is single mothers pensions. I can understand a girl getting pregnant by mistake once, sh*t happens. When the same girl has 4,5 or more kids, that's bullsh*t. After the first one temporarily sterilize them so they can't have more until they can afford to raise them.

If we can address these 2 issues we'll be much better off.

Geea.

<{POST_SNAPBACK}>

as with a lot of things.

the minority who abuse the system make it hard for the genuine cases.!!!!

and for that matter every case is different and most have their merits!!!

shaz