Quote of the month!
December 2001
No Brainer for star-crossed Nova
Like monarchist Kerry Jones, Sydney Radio station Nova FM doesn't know how many stars there are on the Australian flag either:
" How many stars on the Australian flag? If you answered six, you'd be correct. If you thought the answer was five, however, you could have won $10,000 on Sydney's newest, though perhaps not smartest, FM radio station.
When a student named Ellen tried her luck, question number four was "How many stars on the Australian flag?". The sheet in front of [presenter] Kip Wightman said five. Ellen also arrived at five and went on to get all other questions correct. She was told she had won $10,000.
At 4.15 pm, general manager Larry Bruce went on air to do a mea culpa, telling listeners it was a "no brainer" quiz but Nova was the "no brainer" on this occasion. He said that since Ellen gave the station the answer it was looking for, she could keep the $10,000. "
The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 August 2001, p.20.
November 2001
John Howard – Putting the United States first
There's an election on and John Howard is using that last resort of scoundrels: 'rallying around the flag'. Except it's not his beloved British Ensign...
" Does "putting Australia's interests first" require John Howard to fly the US flag at Liberal campaign headquarters? "
A.W. Fuller, Lindfield, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 11 October 2001.
October 2001
September 11
" Wars begin with flags and cheers and end with bags and tears. "
Alan J. Douglas, North Parramatta, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 8 October 2001.
September 2001
Our flag, chosen for us by London
September 3 marked John Howard's "flag day". Most of Australia ignored him.
" Don't be misled by John Howard's flag waving today, for September 3, 2001 is not the centenary of the Australian flag and it was not chosen by the people. Australians continue to be denied a popular vote on what flag they wish to fly, unlike the choice provided for a national anthem, despite the Howard Government changing the Flags Act to allow such a vote on a new flag and opinion polls showing many Australians want a change. "
Harold Scruby, Our flag, chosen for us by London,
The Australian, 3 September 2001, p.13
August 2001
Anthem Antics
" Apropos David Wallace's letter (below), according to my Bristol-based son who was at the one-day match last Sunday, it was no so much England's St George Cross flags (minus the Union Jack) that irked Australian supporters as the loudly sung taunts "God save YOUR gracious Queen". Roll on the republic! "
Louise Luscombe, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 15 June 2001.
July 2001
British to the Bootstraps
The Ashes cricket Test series between Australia and England is on again. Wouldn't it be great if we could wave a flag that supported only one of the teams?
" Watching cricket being played in my former home town of Bristol, I noticed that the only Union Jacks to be seen were on the Australian flags. All the other flags just had the cross of St George. How British can Australia get? "
David Wallace, North Rocks, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 13 June 2001.
June 2001
Fighting for the flag?
Rollo Kingsford-Smith flew in Australian and British squadrons from 1939 to 1945, achieving the rank of wing commander, and went on to act as an aide de-camp to Her Majesty the Queen. He debunks the monarchist lie that our war heroes 'fought and died' for the flag:
" Perhaps the most common argument against change is that Australians fought and died for the flag, and any alteration denigrates their sacrifice. As a serviceman in World War II, I saw my share of fighting and witnessed the deaths of far too many Australians in combat. However, I certainly didn't fight for the flag and I didn't know anyone who said they did. "
A flag for the New Millennium, Australian Geographic, April-June 2001, p.35.
May 2001
Anzac Insult
" In the lead-up to Anzac Day, the Australian media will employ the golden Rising Sun that has appeared on the uniforms of Australia's soldiers since 1902. Why don't we recognise that icon represents Australian aspirations, sense of achievement, and sense of Australian identity in a far superior manner to the Union Jack icon of a foreign nation? Why doesn't it appear on the "defaced British naval ensign" which is passed off as an Australian national flag? "
George Poulos, Dover Heights, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 25 April 2001.
April 2001
Testing Time
The recent India-Australia Test series was one of cricket's most exciting. But it did have its downside...
" I am travelling in India and whenever I admit to being Australian few Indians can resist the urge to make sure I am aware of the outcome of the cricket Test. Today one such Indian person went on to ask if Australia still had a British flag in the corner of our own. "Yes" I admitted, "and unlike India, we are not yet a republic either."
He shook his head in genuine sympathy that Australians had to bear such a set of national tragedies. Indeed, indeed. "
Ivan Beek, Rajasthan, India
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 April 2001.
March 2001
Dressing up mutton as lamb
" And in spite of the best publicity which can be given to any flag - the Olympic Games - our flag remains the unambiguous symbol of some unrecognisable, British branch office. A nation's flag is its supreme marketing symbol. However recent events have emerged which prove conclusively that the Australian flag is a commercial disaster. "
Harold Scruby, It's due time to scrap the Jack, The Australian, 26 January 2001, p.13
February 2001
Perfect Flag
" Look no further for a new Australian flag. The symbol used for the Australian Centenary of Federation of a shooting, multi-pointed star drawing a modern, single-line map of Australia would be ideal. It is easily identifiable as Australian, contains nothing offensive to any individuals or groups and uses enough colours to satisfy everyone. "
George Macfarlane, Blackheath, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 9 January 2001.
January 2001
The Colony is History
The Centenary of Federation celebrations across the nation are proving to be a focal point for debate about the republic as well as a new flag - defying John Howard's attempts to stifle debate on these issues. After seeing the Sydeny Harbour Bridge light up with a specactular Federation motif during the New Year's Fireworks one correspondent wrote:
" Cathy Freeman need never run with two flags again. Our new national flag was unveiled last night. Roll on the republic! "
Terry Hanly, Annandale, NSW
Letter to the Editor, The Sydney Morning Herald, 2 January 2001.
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