Is the Australian flag racist and divisive? According to one town council it is:
PLANS to fly Australian flags over the famous Bondi Beach pavilion were vetoed because of fears the symbols could incite more racial violence on Sydney's beaches.
In a decision met with outrage from locals, returned servicemen and ethnic groups, Waverley Council voted 6-5 against the proposal, declaring the popular beach should remain clear of flags to "remove provocation".
I hope their fellow Australians show them the error of their ways. Too many good men died for that flag for some yahoos to say it can't be flown on its own soil.
I'll fly it here if they can't fly it there.
(Via FR.)
UPDATE:
FEELING THE HEAT
There's been some reconsidering of the Bondi flag ban, with the town council backtracking so fast they're tripping. Despite being on the record with their justification for going with the "no-flag option" as being for fear of inciting racial tension and wishing to "remove provocation," they now say they weren't worried about that at all; but merely, who would foot the bill for the permit.
Nothing like getting a fire lit under your ass to make you rethink things.
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Check out Suzy's awesome display.
Technochitlins is flying a flag for the flagless too.
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More info and reactions over at Tim Blair's.
UPDATE II:
The mayor, Mora Main, is stalling. She wants to meet and consult with government officials on what should be a simple task: putting up a flag. The Premier of New South Wales, Morris Iemma, has her number:
"There's no need for a meeting and there's no need for consultation," he told reporters.
"If they are short a flag we'll give them a flag, if they're short a flag pole I'll have the Department of Commerce send them a flag pole with the bolts so that the flag and the flag pole can go up at the pavilion immediately.
"If you're short the work people to do it we'll send you the people from commerce to do it and just get the flag up.
"They don't need to have a heritage study, or consultation, or any meetings."
Sounds like "Get 'er done" to me.
Posted by floridacracker at January 1, 2006 08:30 PMThis is so nuts. Nuts. I'm going to write about it in my own blog and thanks for the link, will Trackback.
Outrageous, just completely nuts.
Posted by: -S- at January 1, 2006 10:39 PMIt's disgusting and disgraceful behavior on the part of that council. They should be proud to fly that flag.
Posted by: Donnah at January 1, 2006 10:44 PMHey, Donnah... that's Sydney for you. Full of appeasers and apologisers!
Karen
Melbourne, Australia
They can appease on their own dime. They're responsible to the citizens of that town, and I hope those townsfolk raise holy hell.
Posted by: Donnah at January 2, 2006 12:04 AM What a STUPID flap! More liberal, "Giving in to the minority", in a "Majority Rules" society. And, FC, I must take you to task for your grammer. It isn't "Get 'er done"; it is, correctly spoken, "Git 'er done", and usually with "dude" added for effect. Sometimes I use Dudette, or pluralize it with Dudes. Durn, I thought you were cool enough to know that, girl! Really enjoy your news, though
nuf sed
Nope, nothing cool about me, Frank.
Posted by: Donnah at January 4, 2006 11:40 AM