Enough of' Australia Day' lets call it what it is 'Invasion Day'
Today on the 26th January, millions of people gathered throughout Australia to celebrate Australia day. This day is a national holiday and has long been promoted as a time to celebrate Australia’s diversity and achievements. A day to celebrate the Australia dream.
I have been in Australia before and witnessed the large amount of money invested on this day and the pride that White Australians have in their celebrations. Everywhere you go you see the flag, it's carried by people, painted on children's faces. It's a day of bbq's and drinking. There are so many events organised around the country and by the end of the day, everyone is drunk and the cities/towns are usually thrashed.
But in reality what they are celebrating is the day that Captain Arthur Phillip took formal possession of the colony of New South Wales and raised the British flag for the first time in Sydney Cove. It is the day that Australia was invaded and the start of a long history of brutality and abuse. Below is a video, where aboriginal people tell you exactly what that day means to them.
Down through the years there have been many protests running side by side with the celebrations and today was one of the most successful. People are starting to stand united and see this celebration for what it really is. It has only worked at continuing a huge divide in the Country, covering up a history that is nothing to be proud of. It was day when many westerners arrived heavily armed and started to slaughter aboriginal people. So much tragedy has followed on from this day. So many lives lost, so many children displaced.
'I refuse to celebrate, and every Australia Day my heart is broken as I am reminded that in the eyes of many, I am not welcome on my own land.'—Nakkiah Lui, Aboriginal woman
In the link below is an article where you can read about what this day means to the native people living in remote parts of Australia.
http://mobile.abc.net.au/news/2018-01-26/what-do-remote-aboriginal-communities-think-of-australia-day/9363470?pfmredir=sm
Less that 70 years ago this was the reality for aboriginal people in Australia, this is why people need to come together and speak up. There still is so much injustice taking pace, which I have spoke about in a previous article. You can see it here.
Thousands of people came today to be part of Invasion Day rallies around Australia, especially in Melbourne and Brisbane. Melbourne had more than 25,000 people taking part in the protest.
In Brisbane, thousands of people joined in a very peaceful protest. In Sydney at least 3000 people turned up to protest. I know that is not much but it is a start. These protests also took place in Perth, Canberra, Adelaide, Darwin and Hobart.
This is exactly what needs to happen. People coming together and uniting against such a long history of racism.
I hope that more and more people wake up to the reality of so called Australia Day.
We need to find a way to celebrate the amazing diversity that is in the country while truly honouring the aboriginal people.
Make a solar day instead ?
anything is better than what is celebrated now, thanks for stopping by x
Delve a little deeper into any holiday and we find so much not to be celebrating.
What @shivvi said is exactly what I wanted to say. It is quite the same in every country and it is upsetting. And even if 3000 people are rising to protest in Sydney, the start is wonderful. The journey to a thousand miles begin with the first step and if the first step is taken and is followed by consistent steps, the journey will soon be achieved.
that is so true x
Thanks @sharoonyasir, this feels especially close to my heart because of the time I spend there. But is is true that there is so much injustice taking place globally.
All new info for me...thanks for opening me up to it.
You're welcome @borrowedearth, that's what's so great about Steemit, reaching people and bringing awareness.
It is shocking to me that I didn't know how recently it was that bad. That document was incredibly disturbing. Thanks for the awareness.
Thanks super mama, to be honest it's still really bad what is going on over there, I out a link to a really good documentary in the other post I done, if you ever have the time to look at it. xx
I will check it next time I go to town and have "town speed" internet.
Nice that picture says it all for me x thanks for sharing x
good on ya for highlighting this! I lived in Sydney for 6 months some years back, and as a Brit i couldnt help feel quite embarressed during talk on the history of Australia.
WHen i visited Uluru and met a few non city aboriginals, i was prety blown away at what ancient wisdom and sacred knowledge they posses. From the outside they do look like very primal humans, and sadly they never were able to hold the takeover off. ..
glad u guys are doing something about this whilst they are still around to protect!
Thank you @eco-alex, I hope that this will bring about much needed change. It is so important to keep bringing awareness to this, as there is to many others. But as I lived there for a little bit and witnessed how the native people are still being treated, the disregard and abuse they suffer, I couldnot be silent. It's up to us to keep making sure that this does not go unseen and their voices unheard.
Yes I agree. We have a 'Waitangi' day here in NZ, which, on the surface, is a more inclusive term of a day both white & Maori indigenous peoples can enjoy.
But, devils advocate hat on, I'm not in favor in denigrating the settlers of either AU or NZ. Most of them were working-class people ignorant of the wider colonialist agenda, and they carried with them the typical racist attitudes of the day.
And keep in mind that colonialism is a part of capitalism. The best thing that anyone can do is to accept the reality of capitalism and work towards a future where it is a filthy 10-letter word.
totally agree with you, they go hand in hand. Thanks @stmoloud.