Australia should change their flag
Should Australia change their national flag?
The current on-going Australian debate is one that I wholeheartedly agree with. Should Australia change their national flag? Yes, yes we should. As an Australian citizen I believe we need to acknowledge the ancestors of our land, the aborigines who were here long before European settlers. We need to also acknowledge the fact that we are an independent nation, the Union Jack in the top corners suggests Australia to be a British colony. The current flag is anachronistic, and doesn’t reflect the change to our multicultural, pluralist society. Australia should definitely change their flag.
The current Australian flag doesn’t represent all Australians, in particular, Aborigines. As a nation, Australia is heading towards Aboriginal reconciliation. By changing our flag to include Aboriginal elements, we would take reconciliation a major step further. By publicly acknowledging the Aborigines are a part of our nation, not only are we making it clear that we want to reconcile, but we’re also sending a message to other countries that we are proud to be a multicultural society. Our current flag suggests that we value Great Britain more highly than our own native people. Many aboriginal people see the Union Jack as a symbol of colonial repression, and it’s now more important than ever that Australia change their flag.
The top left hand corner of a flag is called a canton, and is known as the position of honour. Having the union jack in that position implies dependency on Britain. The British Empire no longer exists; Australia now is an equal member of the Commonwealth of Nations, not as a colony. In 1900, the Australian Constitution and Statute of Westminster act made is quite plain that the British Parliament has no control of Australia. However, the current Australia flag suggests Australia to be a colony, protectorate, or dominion of Great Britain. The flags colours of red, white and blue are neither Australia’s
The current on-going Australian debate is one that I wholeheartedly agree with. Should Australia change their national flag? Yes, yes we should. As an Australian citizen I believe we need to acknowledge the ancestors of our land, the aborigines who were here long before European settlers. We need to also acknowledge the fact that we are an independent nation, the Union Jack in the top corners suggests Australia to be a British colony. The current flag is anachronistic, and doesn’t reflect the change to our multicultural, pluralist society. Australia should definitely change their flag.
The current Australian flag doesn’t represent all Australians, in particular, Aborigines. As a nation, Australia is heading towards Aboriginal reconciliation. By changing our flag to include Aboriginal elements, we would take reconciliation a major step further. By publicly acknowledging the Aborigines are a part of our nation, not only are we making it clear that we want to reconcile, but we’re also sending a message to other countries that we are proud to be a multicultural society. Our current flag suggests that we value Great Britain more highly than our own native people. Many aboriginal people see the Union Jack as a symbol of colonial repression, and it’s now more important than ever that Australia change their flag.
The top left hand corner of a flag is called a canton, and is known as the position of honour. Having the union jack in that position implies dependency on Britain. The British Empire no longer exists; Australia now is an equal member of the Commonwealth of Nations, not as a colony. In 1900, the Australian Constitution and Statute of Westminster act made is quite plain that the British Parliament has no control of Australia. However, the current Australia flag suggests Australia to be a colony, protectorate, or dominion of Great Britain. The flags colours of red, white and blue are neither Australia’s