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Patriotism is the last refuge of a scoundrel.


Australia is a bloody big country. We've got bloody great big bits of water, bloody great big deserts, bloody great big trees, bloody great big sharks, crocs, snakes, spiders, wombats and bloody great big snags. When I took this photo of Henry the other day, he turned to me and said "look at that bloody great big mountain, are there any bloody great big yowies up there?"

I didn't know. I've not seen any.

So another Australia Day has come around again. It's a funny kind of day, Australia Day. It used to pass by pretty much unnoticed, and then the bloody Bicentenary came along is a haze of canary yellow and lime green and Australia day all of a sudden was bigger than Ben Hur in a pair of budgie smugglers and thongs!

Then, along comes John Howard (with a bit of help from his mate Pauline Hanson), and we've got these bloody great big flags everywhere. You can't turn without spotting a beach towel, singlet, bikini thong or set of BBQ tongs emblazoned with that god awful flag of ours. As noted in that comments thread the other day, there is no small irony that most of this tat is also labelled Made in China, which is a turn-up for the books that I'm sure those flag wavers who long for the days of the White Australia Policy enjoy very much.

So yeah, I'm not a big fan of Australia Day, as I shall explain on the ron.

Comments

Miles McClagan said…
At least at the Bicentennial everyone got a kick arse medal...

That I lost...

Shame, would have had a lot of names signed on it I'd have forgotten about it...
Sue said…
Is this spot near your house? I love it. You took a photo of it a while ago and I love going back to look at it as it is so beautiful. And now with Henry in it...even better!
Don't you love our Aussie of the Year, Mick Dodson! Gotta love a bit of controversy. The talk-back stations here are going berserk.
smudgeon said…
I have one spare if you really want one, Miles. My mum & nan signed it, so I guess it's a collectable...
freefalling said…
I didn't get a Bicentennial medal!!
Kitty said…
aw...he is adorable.

now when he asks you such questions, do you respond with a straight face, or do you laugh? I would have trouble not laughing, which is terrible.

I imagine you would keep a straight face.
Miles McClagan said…
Everyone at school signed mine, one kid wrote this incredibly elaborate message and phone number on it. Weird. I wonder if I could find it if I searched hard enough. It was valuable, but alas, I don't have that or the one the anarchist kid gave me to rebel against patriotism...my Mum didn't sign mine though...
Kris McCracken said…
Miles, I missed out because I missed that day. Obviously I was so little regarded that no-one bothered to keep it for me!
Kris McCracken said…
Sue, just over the road. Dodson is okay, but I prefer Noel Pearson, he pisses everybody off, which is always a good sign.
Kris McCracken said…
Me, put it up on e-bay!
Kris McCracken said…
FF, primary school kids only, I think.
Kris McCracken said…
Kitty, I just play a straight bat.
Kris McCracken said…
Miles, if only it was legal tender!

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