Two Flags Don't Make One People
What's being done in the name of respect will only end in unceasing division
NSW Labor Premier Chris Minns proudly announced at the weekend that the Indigenous flag would be flying at all Women’s World Cup soccer stadiums.
Alongside a photo of the Indigenous flag he tweeted breathlessly …
“When the Matildas play their first match of the Women's World Cup in Sydney - it will be historic. For the first time in history, they'll (Indigenous flags) be flying at Women's World Cup stadiums. Right alongside our national flag. A proud moment for The Matildas, our state and our country.”
Well sure, but where’s the Pride flag? Bigot!
And what about the Torres Strait Islander flag? Where’s their representation?
I’m so confused. Does flying the Indigenous flag when our national team plays mean it is an indigenous team ? Or are we finally ALL being recognised as indigenous? Are Aboriginal people not Australian?
When does the Australian team play?
Either the indigenous folks invented soccer, or this is cultural appropriation and therefore very, very naughty.
I had hoped Chris Minns - a seemingly decent man - might bring something new to the table, beyond the divisive identity politics most of our elites specialise in. He could have, for instance, made trains run on time.
Sigh. So many instagram influencers. So few leaders.
The Indigenous flag represents a race. The Australian flag represents a nation.
Attempting to create parity between the two does not unite Australians. It undermines the nation - of which we are all a part - while elevating one particular race to special status.
And don’t think for a moment that this ‘special status’ is merely symbolic. Knowingly or not, our elites are rapidly creating two nations within one.
It’s all being done in the name of respect, but the end result can only be unceasing conflict.
What country, other than one with an identity crisis, has three flags?
Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison woke up one morning and decided to change the lyrics of our national anthem from “we are young and free” to “we are one and free”.
To say that we were “young” was to ignore 60,000 years of Indigenous culture, he said.
Naivety, thy name is Scomo.
The irony is that even as our elites insist we sing that we are “one” they are continually dividing us.
No sooner had the World Cup flag announcement been made than activist and Australian Republic Movement chair Craig Foster was demanding more.
Faster than you can say ‘welcome to country’, Foster tweeted:
Very welcome recognition for the Indigenous peoples of the World Cup host nations. Which raises the question as to, what is FIFA’s obligation to Indigenous peoples under their statutory human rights policy, beyond armbands and flags?
FIFA’s obligation? Their only obligation should be to stage a soccer tournament.
Should FIFA be advocating for Constitutional change? For reparations? For Indigenous sovereignty?
Divide, divide, divide.
Sorry, but flying the Indigenous flag is not promoting harmony. It’s about pushing something quite sinister, and all under the guise of ‘respect’. Always was, always will be.
BEFORE YOU GO …
As the activists repeatedly overstep the mark, their actions continually give us reasons to vote NO to the race-based Voice. ‘The Indigenous flag represents a race. The Australian flag represents a nation,’ oh so true James. 👏👏
All together under ONE flag. I am so over this divisive crap.