poetry in commotion...

Australia Day Not So Australian

I hate everybody on Australia Day.  It's true - and while I wouldn't go as far as to say I hate the day itself, I merely find myself apathetic to the whole concept of the day.

How can this be?!  Is it the the annoying concept of being Un-australian? A word bandied about so much that I have little idea of what it is to be Australian any more?  Is it the "love-Australia-or-else" nationalistic thuggery of hoodlums who abuse and attack others in the name of our country?  Is it the sudden fashion trend of wearing flags and waving them around when those very same people abstain from saluting the flag or singing the national anthem on any other occasion?  Or perhaps the city's preoccupation with seeing some pretty lights in the sky while young couples drunkenly suck face like some college piss up?

I guess it just boggles me how our National Day is so at odds with our real national identity - the anglocentric outlook, the sudden emphasis on a flag in what is essentially a non flag oriented nation (unlike say, the US), which by the way still remains a point of contention in Australia.  Ditto with the anthem - 'Waltzing Matilda' is practically our unofficial national anthem and much much more popular than 'Advance Australia Fair'.

I'm a patriot with right wing leanings -but oh god do I dislike Australia Day.

posted by jaseypoo! @ 7:52 PM