Welcome To Australia... Not

[minus clover]

well, at australia's biggest mobile music festival (the big day out), the stupid organisers of the sydney event have decided to ban the aussie flag because it "incites racial violence"!!!! considering its not a crime to burn our flag, this decision is the most stupid thing i have ever heard.
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Flags allowed, but discouraged, at BDO
Monday Jan 22 18:50 AEDT

Music fans will be able to take Australian flags into the Big Day Out festival despite an attempt from organisers to lock out the "gang colours" they claim incited racial hatred last year.

Prime Minister John Howard said on Monday it was "stupid and offensive" for Big Day Out promoter Ken West to attempt to stop fans taking Australian flags to Thursday's concert at the Sydney Showground.

But BDO organisers insisted their plea to the expected crowd of 60,000 not to bring flags was "simply a request, not a command".

"If people show up with a flag they will not be refused entry if they have a valid ticket," a spokeswoman said.

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Mr West said the display of nationalism under the flag at the Sydney leg of BDO last year, a month after the Cronulla riots, was intolerable.

"The Australian flag was being used as gang colours. It was racism disguised as patriotism and I'm not going to tolerate it," Mr West was quoted as saying in News Ltd papers.

Mr Howard was joined by Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd, NSW Premier Morris Iemma, the RSL and the Australian National Flag Association in condemning Mr West's comments.

"The proposition that the display of the Australian flag should ever be banned anywhere in Australia is offensive and it will be to millions of Australians," Mr Howard said.

"The reason given at the time was quite unacceptable. They're running their own political agenda but because of public pressure, they're now backing down."

Mr Howard rejected Mr West's claim that flags created the nationalistic fervour which sparked the Cronulla riots and generated a similar atmosphere at last year's Big Day Out in Sydney.

"Flags don't have legs and arms, if anyone was breaking the law at Cronulla, or breaks the law at any time in the future, they should be dealt with by the authorities," he said.

Mr West refused to comment, other than through statements on the Big Day Out website, which said: "We are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes at the Big Day Out."

One teenage fan, Kate Hall, said she understood why the organisers wanted to stop flags at Thursday's concert after witnessing the "horrible mentality" of flag-waving racists last year.

"People were wearing the Australian flag and were a bit racist," said the Canberra 19-year-old.

"There was a group of Middle Eastern people sitting down and they went up to them and said `you're not Australians'.

"They were really, really drunk. There was this real yob mentality."

Ms Hall said the flag was not to blame for the anti-social behaviour, suggesting the event could have been better controlled.

"I don't blame the flag. There were a lot of drunk people and it was hot and it wasn't controlled particularly well," she said.

Harold Scruby, executive director of Ausflag, the organisation that wants to change the Australian flag, says the national flag has imperialistic and racist overtones because of the presence of the Union Jack.

"I've no doubt that in the Cronulla riots, those waving it at the opposition were saying `I'm Australian and you're not because I'm of British descent' and it would be similar in this case (BDO)," he said.

John Vaughan from the Australian National Flag Association was offended the flag was referred to as "gang colours" but said Mr West's bid may backfire on him.

"Calling it gang colours and a symbol of hate is just total garbage," Mr Vaughan said.

"Is it a gang to be a western democracy?

"I think there'll be Australian flags everywhere on Thursday, I wouldn't be surprised if you see 99 per cent of people there with a flag."

Mr Vaughan said the best way to ensure no conflict was caused by the flag was to issue one to every BDO fan.

©AAP 2007

[Leighton]

I can't blame the BDO organisers after hearing of last years' stories and when you read quotes from the man who is really responsible for divisiveness from "our" side.

ELLEN FANNING: Prime Minister, part of what was chilling yesterday was seeing a lot of people in between the violence doing things that you’d see at the cricket, singing “Aussie, Aussie, Aussie, Oi, Oi, Oi”, wrapping themselves in the Australian flag. What do you say to people who use the Australian flag in that way?

PRIME MINISTER: Look, I would never condemn people for being proud of the Australian flag. I don’t care – I would never condemn people for being proud….

Might as well call him Shiek Johnnie.

I have no affinity with the Australian flag at all. Change it to something a bit less British and maybe I can get excited for it.

[Fadingtoblack]

It's a joke banning our national symbol. That's the point.
The cricket reference is irrelevant because they're not trying to ban it there.


Anyway I'm sure the BDO is just trying to stir up some publicity for themselves, that's been a sinking ship for years now.

[Danallica]

Just because some people want to cause trouble and hide behind the flag while doing it doesnt mean that it should be banned, thats just stupid.

What Howard says is right anyway, why wouldnt you be proud to live in one od the greatest countries on earth, move to some scum country where the Gov's really dont care about the people and see how you cope, I'm sure you would be begging Jonny to bring you back.

[Leighton]

Australia is going through a huge redefining period, and it's a great chance for us all to engage with one another on where the country is headed. Sadly, it seems Howard, the RSL, violent gangs and nazi-like surfers want us to head back to the 40s and fight over what we think of ourselves. It's also unfortunate that the Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy are again out in force today when their own website actually displayed the New Zealand flag during the Republican debate.

Thankfully most of us have outgrown that juvenile thought process and we're willing to make a more concerted effort to make this great country as good as it could be and for everyone and not just the narrow minded. BTW, Dan, John Howard was hiding behind the flag when he not-so-subtely endorsed the Cronulla rioters.

[Danallica]

Australia is going through a huge redefining period, and it's a great chance for us all to engage with one another on where the country is headed. Sadly, it seems Howard, the RSL, violent gangs and nazi-like surfers want us to head back to the 40s and fight over what we think of ourselves. It's also unfortunate that the Australians for a Constitutional Monarchy are again out in force today when their own website actually displayed the New Zealand flag during the Republican debate.

Thankfully most of us have outgrown that juvenile thought process and we're willing to make a more concerted effort to make this great country as good as it could be and for everyone and not just the narrow minded. BTW, Dan, John Howard was hiding behind the flag when he not-so-subtely endorsed the Cronulla rioters.

Thats riddled with half truths and inaccuricies.

The part I liked about the Cronulla rios was the chasing away of those who rape school girls and bash life guards, the part I dont like is claiming it to be Australian.

Since the riots how many have gone around rapping girls and bashing life guards in that area, none, I think they may have learnt a lesson.

FTB, why was my comment removed, it's fact, they want Australia day to be known as 'Invasion day'.


[FTB edit] See your PM's for why, it explains this one too.

[Leighton]

When was there one rape at Cronulla? You're not from the area at all, so I'm willing to let that slide through ignorance, but the revenge attacks from the gangs were that night. Where'd you pull the "none" from? The riots did nothing to stop any violence. It's worse than ever. Your idiotic notion that the people harrassed that afternoon were raping girls and bashing life-gaurds in the area is pathetic.

And before you go off again, there's plenty of anglo-rapes going on in Australia that we don't feel the need to riot over. Hiding behind these bullshit issues does your arguement no good. It's pure racism coming to the surface, fueled by alcohol and excused by these fake issues that works on both sides. Only difference is one side has the government's backing.

[Danallica]

Going to another country and raping girls based on the fact that they are of the origin of that country, ie white anglo, is deplorable and you deserved to be bashed.

Same goes for that Muslim Shiek knob condemming the way we live, if you dont like it fuck off back to Mecca and do us all a favour.

[Leighton]

Bilal Skaf was born in the same country as you, Dan. He also had nothing to do with Cronulla.

[Danallica]

Bilal Skaf was born in the same country as you, Dan. He also had nothing to do with Cronulla.

Doesnt negate the fact that he and his kind are the ones who insight hate and violence, and when they cop it they cry, until they get more of their cousins in on it.