Australia Day
 

Have a good one all you other Aussie out there.

Chuck a couple of snags on the barbie with a few lamb chops as well. (if you don't you know Sam's gonna getcha)

Sink a couple of coldies, and think about what a bloody cracker of a country we live in!

Hooroo!

"Gday"...to our only allied country with balls!

Well, enjoy your day. We've got the consolation prize in Philadelphia....Charles and Camilla. :smack:

Sucks to be you Brucie!!!

What color is Camilla's saddle?

Oh, it looks like it's brown from h......Now cut that out! :redface:

Thank God someone got it...

must I remind the ex-colonials that treason is still a hanging offence?

Don't bother Jay, Americans are already hung.:cool:

We had our first ever "Samelessly Patriotic Australia day BBQ", including flag bunting, Aussie balloons, snags and XXXX (the one true beer). No lamb though.


I dunno if other Aussies remember a time here, not so long ago, when it was rare to see the Australian flag anywhere other than in political/military situations and in TV ads. It was considered a bit strange (naff) and definitely uncool. It was like the only house in your suburb that displayed a flag was always owned by a former serviceman, who was almost certainly an officer, and definitely scared the kids witless and intimidated the other neighbours with his immaculate lawn, garden and house.

It's changed recently. We're more patriotic, and not simply in the "we-kicked-your-ass-at-sport" kind of way. I'm not sure if it's a product of being "at war" or a feeling of being proud of who we are and where we live. It's probably a bit of both.

It was bloody awful to see the flag claimed as gang colours by thugs in the Cronulla Riots, but fucking beautiful to see it re-claimed as a national symbol by peaceful fans at the BigDayOut concerts.

I think we've got a good sort of patriotism going on at the mo'

Cheers!

Same here, only it was a retired USMC first sargent. :D

Hagar, did you see the report they had on the news about the flag and patriotism in youth recently?

For those of you who didn't, it was suggesting that even though there is a renewed patriotism among our youth, it isn't the same as that shown by returned servicement for example. The reason being that they've had their freedom given to them on a silver platter and in most cases, they're lucky if they know anyone or have distant relatives who've even served in a war.

The general gist is that we as a nation should foster this nationalism through whatever means possible while trying not to stifle the reasons youth feel this way.

Be careful. Nationalism is a hard tiger to ride, the American Republic was consumed by it.

I know Griff. That's what scares me about it. ;)

I didn't see it, but I basically agree with it's sentiments. I think that we're probably not in danger of going over the top with the "Nationalistic Fervour" thing (at least in the immediate future) because we're a bit more easy going, and anyone here who's a bit too zealous about anything tends to get cut down pretty quickly.

I think we'll be ok...