January 26th 2025

[SBD Gonzalez]

No one is trying to rewrite history we acknowledge that what happened in the past was unfathomable and abhorrent. But current day Australians bare no responsibility to past happenings.

Thoughts on Anzac Day?

None of us waded ashore at Gallipoli. Why do we honour what happened in the past?

 

[Roylion]

And not just commemoration of an invasion, an invasion of a nation at the behest of the British empire against a people that had never threatened Australia, and then Australia was defeated so badly they retreated and abandoned the battlefield in the middle of the night.

Australia had plenty of reasons to become involved in World War I.

Australia was a part of the British Empire and regarded its’ interests as being as one with Britain. There’s no question that Britain was Australia’s most important trading partner and any German attempt to isolate Britain economically, via a larger navy, that might rival Britain's own navy was going to have a very large negative impact on Australia.

As Australia’s security in East Asia and the Pacific at that time was also tied up with Britain’s naval dominance, the Australian government was keen not to see British naval power diminished. That meant that the Australian government wanted to limit Germany’s naval influence and to ensure that Britain remained the world’s dominant naval power and indeed one of the world’s leading powers.

The Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century and the first years of the twentieth century had been drawing close to Germany both militarily and financially. When World War I broke out, the Ottomans saw an opportunity to:
1) win back territories lost in the Balkan and Libyan wars,
2) reduce the influence of the Triple Entente (of which their main rival Russia was a member and
3) equalize its friendly relationship with Germany by entering the war as a partner and ally.

The Ottomans hoped that a victorious Germany would see fit to restore some of their territorial losses and give them financial concessions from the beaten Entente.

On 27th September 1914, Turkey closed the Straits of the Dardanelles to British, French and Russian shipping. On 29th October, German warships with Turkish support bombarded Russian Black Sea ports. Turkey was now drawn further into the German sphere of influence, and on 5 November 1914 Britain and France officially declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

The main reasons the Gallipoli peninsula was attacked were to:

1) Strike a blow at Germany by defeating one of their two main allies.
2) Establish a sea route to Russia's warm-water ports to help Britain's ally Russia with arms and supplies for the war on the Eastern Front and the Southern Front against the Austro-Hungarians and the Turks (both of which were tying up Russian troops that Britain felt would be better served fighting the Germans and helping British efforts on the Western Front)
3) relieve/remove the Ottoman threat upon the British controlled Suez Canal, the loss of which would have been a significant strategic disaster, both for Britain and Australia.

 

[Goroyals22]

No, a lot of us also want to celebrate what’s good about country.

But we don’t want to do it on such an offensive date.

Let me guess.. you dont celebrate it on any other date do you?? so you actually don’t…

 

[Kram]

I wasn’t complaining. I was proud the citizens of our great multicultural urban areas have dispensed with silly Union Jack flag waving. It’s awesome to see.

If rural areas continue waving the silly Union Jack - alright, there’s a reason house prices are lower in the bush. No one wants to live among people like that and would rather in more multicultural less “patriot” areas of the country.

You sound like the exact sort of wallaby I wouldn't want living anywhere near me.

Also there is a high % of Indigenous Australians here, you know the people that the vast majority of those in the city, especially on the east coast are to totally clueless about.

 

[Frank Bunn]

There’s a perfect example why “passionate nationalism” is a silly concept.

That day (WC semi final 2014) Brazilians snag their anthem with fervour and gusto. The Germans were motionless and bored and most of them (especially the non ethnic Germans who didn’t sing at all).

Then we watched as the “proud patriotic” Brazilian were totally demolished by the “unpatriotic” Germans. Completely annihilated on the field.

“Passion” is meaningless - “competence” rules supreme.

Having a rousing national anthem doesn't guarantee victory but it can fire up the players and crowd. Passion does count in sport. For the record, Brazil have won the world cup more than any other country and have a head to head over Germany of 13 wins, 5 draws and 5 defeats.

France v New Zealand is fun before the game. You get God Defend New Zealand with a verse in Maori then one in English. The French belt out La Marseillaise. Then there's the haka.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

It is the rent a crowd.. the professional protest groups you see at so called invasion day, Palestine, and climate change rallies…,

Can you furnish any evidence that these protestors are “professional”, and who is paying them?

I don’t think you know the first thing about the activist community.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

Let me guess.. you dont celebrate it on any other date do you?? so you actually don’t…

What a weird question. No I don’t “celebrate” Australia Day on any other day.

I give thanks more than you could ever understand how lucky I am to live in this country, and I’m very keen for Australians to recognise what an offensive date the current one is, and have a mature discussion about the options for a different date.

If that doesn’t answer your question then perhaps you can clarify?

 

[Goroyals22]

Can you furnish any evidence that these protestors are “professional”, and who is paying them?

I don’t think you know the first thing about the activist community.

I’m sure you can obtain footage from any protest and the same subjects will be on tv..

As for who pays them… me ,from my taxes that go to welfare.


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[Goroyals22]

What a weird question. No I don’t “celebrate” Australia Day on any other day.

I give thanks more than you could ever understand how lucky I am to live in this country, and I’m very keen for Australians to recognise what an offensive date the current one is, and have a mature discussion about the options for a different date.

If that doesn’t answer your question then perhaps you can clarify?

It might be offensive to you. The majority think it isn’t.


Sent from my iPhone using BigFooty.com

 

[JackOutback]

Australia had plenty of reasons to become involved in World War I.

Australia was a part of the British Empire and regarded its’ interests as being as one with Britain. There’s no question that Britain was Australia’s most important trading partner and any German attempt to isolate Britain economically, via a larger navy, that might rival Britain's own navy was going to have a very large negative impact on Australia.

As Australia’s security in East Asia and the Pacific at that time was also tied up with Britain’s naval dominance, the Australian government was keen not to see British naval power diminished. That meant that the Australian government wanted to limit Germany’s naval influence and to ensure that Britain remained the world’s dominant naval power and indeed one of the world’s leading powers.

The Ottoman Empire in the late 19th century and the first years of the twentieth century had been drawing close to Germany both militarily and financially. When World War I broke out, the Ottomans saw an opportunity to:
1) win back territories lost in the Balkan and Libyan wars,
2) reduce the influence of the Triple Entente (of which their main rival Russia was a member and
3) equalize its friendly relationship with Germany by entering the war as a partner and ally.

The Ottomans hoped that a victorious Germany would see fit to restore some of their territorial losses and give them financial concessions from the beaten Entente.

On 27th September 1914, Turkey closed the Straits of the Dardanelles to British, French and Russian shipping. On 29th October, German warships with Turkish support bombarded Russian Black Sea ports. Turkey was now drawn further into the German sphere of influence, and on 5 November 1914 Britain and France officially declared war on the Ottoman Empire.

The main reasons the Gallipoli peninsula was attacked were to:

1) Strike a blow at Germany by defeating one of their two main allies.
2) Establish a sea route to Russia's warm-water ports to help Britain's ally Russia with arms and supplies for the war on the Eastern Front and the Southern Front against the Austro-Hungarians and the Turks (both of which were tying up Russian troops that Britain felt would be better served fighting the Germans and helping British efforts on the Western Front)
3) relieve/remove the Ottoman threat upon the British controlled Suez Canal, the loss of which would have been a significant strategic disaster, both for Britain and Australia.

Those glasses of yours are very rose coloured is the most generous thing I could say about this view.

 

[Gough]

Fighting in Turkey under the Brits to win territory for the Russians and over a hundred years later with AUKUS we continually prove ourselves to be a vassal state. Put that in your pipe and "celebrate" it tomorrow.

 

[Frank Bunn]

I give thanks more than you could ever understand how lucky I am to live in this country, and I’m very keen for Australians to recognise what an offensive date the current one is, and have a mature discussion about the options for a different date.

The discussion about an alternative date for Australia Day happens every year without any satisfactory resolution.

I continue to question why 26 Jan is considered an offensive date. As I have pointed out, only a small group of indigenous people were impacted on that day. A mythology has grown that there was one country that was invaded on 26 Jan.

A large % of people identifying as Aboriginal are mixed race with many having more European ancestors than indigenous. There are probably a number of reasons why someone with 3 European grandparents might identify as Aboriginal. Whatever the reason, it doesn't validate the idea that some of their ancestors invaded some of their other ancestors.

 

[Barrybran]

The discussion about an alternative date for Australia Day happens every year without any satisfactory resolution.

I continue to question why 26 Jan is considered an offensive date. As I have pointed out, only a small group of indigenous people were impacted on that day. A mythology has grown that there was one country that was invaded on 26 Jan.

A large % of people identifying as Aboriginal are mixed race with many having more European ancestors than indigenous. There are probably a number of reasons why someone with 3 European grandparents might identify as Aboriginal. Whatever the reason, it doesn't validate the idea that some of their ancestors invaded some of their other ancestors.

You do realise that many of the issues impacting indigenous people today in areas such as health, wealth, education and crime stem from the stolen generation years, policy created, implemented and benefiting European Australians, and that celebrating the arrival of European Australians might not be something indigenous people want to celebrate, right?

Similar to the comments about ANZAC Day, very few people today were directly affected by the events of the world wars yet we gather every year to remember what happened, why and to be grateful for the ability to come together. Yet people in this thread are ok with dismissing January 26 as an offensive date to a similarly small percentage of our population.

 

[Roylion]

Those glasses of yours are very rose coloured is the most generous thing I could say about this view.

Do tell. Which parts do you dispute? And why?

 

[Cmarsh]

“Wah wah wah the inner city elites hurt my feelings”

I never understood why “inner city elite” is a negative descriptor. The inner cities are more expensive to live in, therefore those with higher incomes choose to live there, you usually get more income by being more educated and intelligent.

Those who have gained that advantage choose to live in the inner city not the bush. It’s the free market at work.

And people in the inner city have as much right to voice their opinion as the feral bush chook rednecks.

You do realise you sound like an ultra capatalist in this post?

 

[Cmarsh]

Fighting in Turkey under the Brits to win territory for the Russians and over a hundred years later with AUKUS we continually prove ourselves to be a vassal state. Put that in your pipe and "celebrate" it tomorrow.

Yes nations form alliances with other nations. How about that.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

It might be offensive to you. The majority think it isn’t.


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Yeah and a sizeable minority find it offensive.

 

[SBD Gonzalez]

The discussion about an alternative date for Australia Day happens every year without any satisfactory resolution.

I continue to question why 26 Jan is considered an offensive date. As I have pointed out, only a small group of indigenous people were impacted on that day. A mythology has grown that there was one country that was invaded on 26 Jan.

A large % of people identifying as Aboriginal are mixed race with many having more European ancestors than indigenous. There are probably a number of reasons why someone with 3 European grandparents might identify as Aboriginal. Whatever the reason, it doesn't validate the idea that some of their ancestors invaded some of their other ancestors.

Why do you have to be indigenous to find the date offensive?

 

[Goroyals22]

Yeah and a sizeable minority find it offensive.

Rubbish.. an ultra minority will march tomorrow, the rest who don’t will go about their business… the best thing every year is seeing immigrants to this country celebrating Australia with multi generational Australians and indigenous people


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[liz]

I continue to question why 26 Jan is considered an offensive date. As I have pointed out, only a small group of indigenous people were impacted on that day. A mythology has grown that there was one country that was invaded on 26 Jan.

Because the date was chosen to symbolise the start of British colonisation of the land.

 

[Deliverance]

The discussion about an alternative date for Australia Day happens every year without any satisfactory resolution.

I continue to question why 26 Jan is considered an offensive date. As I have pointed out, only a small group of indigenous people were impacted on that day. A mythology has grown that there was one country that was invaded on 26 Jan.

A large % of people identifying as Aboriginal are mixed race with many having more European ancestors than indigenous. There are probably a number of reasons why someone with 3 European grandparents might identify as Aboriginal. Whatever the reason, it doesn't validate the idea that some of their ancestors invaded some of their other ancestors.

I continue to question why people care if it changes from the 26th. It's only been a national day for about 30 years. It's not significant to many at all.

 

[Fossie 32]

I think change the date out of respect for indigenous Australians.

Maybe a panel of indigenous Australians could put up a bunch of possible dates with the date to be decided on by a national poll.

 

[Skeppersap]

I think change the date out of respect for indigenous Australians.

Maybe a panel of indigenous Australians could put up a bunch of possible dates with the date to be decided on by a national poll.

Including an option for January 26?

 

[Romeoh1]

No brainer- change the date.

 

[Fossie 32]

Including an option for January 26?

Ideally not, though I can see it may not go down well. Hasn't been much reaction about changing it in the past? But who knows.