Topic starter
Today is Australia Day and it seems that the indigenous population and Torres Straits Islanders are finally getting their message heard.
Estimates put the Melbourne protest at between 40,000 and 60,000 people (bigger than the official Australia Day parade in the same city) and with similar protests across Australia. Perhaps in the future ALL the peoples of Australia can equally celebrate a national day together.
Posted : 26/01/2018 11:28 am
I haven't seen the coverage. What's their message exactly? Why is Australia Day more controversial to the Aborigines than, for example, Canada Day is to Native Canadians?
Posted : 26/01/2018 12:09 pm
Canada Day commemorates the enactment of the constitution, Australia Day commemorates the date the the first British fleet landed on Aussie soil
Posted : 26/01/2018 12:14 pm
They're not keen on Aussies getting pissed up and having a national holiday and fireworks on this date as it was the same date as the first British fleet of ships to arrive. Then over the years they were killed, raped and ethnically cleansed in an attempt to wipe the black savages from their own land. Some want to "change the date" but that's not going to do much. Judging by the comments I see on my Facebook, lots of white people think the indigenous people should "just get on with it and move on". Just ain't that simple.
Canada Day celebrates what was essentially the birth of Canada
Posted : 26/01/2018 12:22 pm
Topic starter
I think aphex 2k hits the nail squarely on the head.
Additionally, the protest marches are celebrating the` fact that after all the injustices that the indigenous people have endured since Europeans landed in Australia, they are still there (and making people listen and take notice of their story).
Posted : 26/01/2018 1:28 pm