Big Flag Out

THE Big Day Out represents three things - a chance for ALL Australians (and New Zealand tag-alongs), whether rich OR poor-but-still-able-to-bum-enough-cash-off-the-parents, whether white OR non-Australian, to go out and experience some of the finest American musicians, for eBay scalpers to make some sweet coin, and for Triple J to harp on about it incessantly for the next 6 months.

The media has been going on about a complete ban on the Australian flag-emblem for all patrons, which loosely translates to the BDO organisers possibly considering a suggestive disclaimer to be wary of causing trouble that includes said stars-and-stripes pattern.

OF course, the beat-up has brought "THEM" out of the woodwork again. You know who I mean, THOSE PEOPLE, the ONES IN THE WOODWORK. *sub-audible toot*

Howard reckons it's offensive, and will be to "millions of Australians". What he's saying is - there are some that aren't offended, some of them possibly aren't Australian, you might even call them un-Australian. *sub-audible toot*

Apparently, "they're running their own political agenda" - I'm not sure what agenda that is, some kind of national self-loathing perhaps.

Patriotism is a form of racism, as event organiser Ken West said: "The Australian flag was being used as gang colours. It was racism disguised as patriotism and I'm not going to tolerate it."

Here's a tip: Australia is not a gang, it's an area.

Organisers also said: "we are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes" - draping yourself in a flag to declare your convict or white heritage as a mark of superiority is NO DIFFERENT than burning it to specifically incite hatred/violence. They are both anti-social and un-regional (un-region should be the new catch-all for any values discussion - ie: women are bits of meat? That's un-regional for this region!)

The RSL, which pricks it's ears up when anything happens to the Australian flag (if anything bad happens to Australia they don't seem to actually care), pricked it's ears up and had a few choice words to say, but I don't think they made it to print, it's just not marketable without old wind-bag Ruxie.

Kevin Rudd, in true Labor spirit, agrees with Howard: "we should fly it with pride."

Points go to organisers: "Unfortunately the media reports yesterday were not quoted accurately and we must thank the participating media for wasting everybody's time, including John Howard, Morris Iemma, NSW RSL President, Keysar Trad and Burt Lane of the Australian National FlagAssociation.''

Thank you for not only getting the facts wrong, but exploiting nationalist garbage for political points scoring. You are all truly great people.

For all those True-Blue Patriots who love Australia, I suggest the following:

• taxes - pay more, declare nothing - Australia is great, it offers so much, you love it, so give something back.
• clean up Australia - pick up garbage off the streets, you love this land, keep it tidy.
• care for the Australian flora/fauna/environment - you want to defend the rights of Australia to Australian beaches, so defend the rights of native plants to native soil - help defend against queue-jumping animals and plants.
• befriend an Aboriginal - give them a hug.
• volunteer - there are plent of organisations that help Australia, join them.

If you gave a crap about the region of Australia at all, you would have done at least some of these already, because wearing a logo doesn't show appreciation, action does.