Ray Martin's bid to change Aussie flag

The Daily Telegraph ^ | January 25, 2010

[myknowledge]

AUSTRALIA should get a new flag that ditches the Union Jack, according to TV presenter Ray Martin.

Martin said yesterday he would lead a campaign to replace the existing "colonial" flag.

"I object to having the British flag in the corner of our flag," he said.

"We have well and truly reached the point where we should have our own flag. I think we have to grow up and move on to the next stage,"

[myknowledge]

I partially agree with Ray Martin, it's time for a new Australian flag, sure we'll allow the old one to be flown any time, but the new one would fly when the future Federal Republic of Australia is born.

My proposed Australian flag design would incorporate the Eureka Flag of 1854 (above), along with a bicolor green and gold half the length of the Eureka Flag, placed to the right, incorporating the republican seal in its center.

The flag ratio would be a consistent 13:30 (13 units wide, 30 units long).

What do you think?

[Paladin2]

A Great White on a field of blue with a can of Foster’s in the corner.

[HANG THE EXPENSE]

Goodonya!

[GreenLanternCorps]

Silly idea. Only insecure nations keep changing their flag. I'll agree with the posters below from the "Daily Telegraph" website:

Evan of Sydney Posted at 2:46 PM Today

Stick to second rate journalism Ray and leave the big decision to the right boys and girls - the everyday Australians who love their flag and what it stands for. The Union Jack is a symbol young fella - it stands for the strong foundation on which we were built as a nation. Your left wing, pseudo-puritanical nonsense incenses those who fought for this wonderful nation. If you don't like the flag, maybe you could go to a country who one you like. What? Are you still here? Off you go amigo - if you don't like our flag and what it stands for, I'm sure there's another country which doesn't carry the oppressive image of the Union Jack on it. Off you go!!

don campbell of port macquarie Posted at 7:08 AM Today

Hundreds of thousands of Australians have fought and died under this flag, what right has Ray Martin or others to seek to change our flag. Why should we destroy our heritage to satisfy a minority and why waste tens of millions of dollars on another referendum on the republic issue, an issue which was soundly defeated a few years ago. There is one thing that can be said for Rudd and labor they have absolutely no idea on sound economic management and are prepared to waste hundreds of millions of dollars on red herrings to divert the publics attention from the real issues facing this country.

Dibs of Washington, DC ex-Sydney Posted at 7:15 AM Today

Having lived overseas for nearly 13 years, 9 of those in Washington DC, I can tell you that our flag is recognized all over the world. When I see it I feel proud to be an Aussie, it sits on a flag pole outside my front lawn just like my neighbours US flag. Everyone that sees me outside will yell g'day at me and they all smile, the flag represents who we are, fun happy aussie's. I have an Aussie flag sticker on my car, I wear my Aussie flag T-shirt whenever I can in the summer, I have Aussie flag magnets all over my refrigerator. Why would you want to change it? Aren't you proud of your heritage and your flag? I know I am! Enough of this BS talk of changing the flag, thats what third world countries do not advanced countries like Oz. If you're embarrassed about your flag maybe you shouldn't call yourself an Australian!!!

Dave of Hassall Grove Posted at 1:33 PM Today

I'm ex Australian Army, I have lost mates serving for this flag and many have died for the rights of this flag and many are still serving overseas under this flag,I say to Mr. Martin, and the rest,how dear you corrupt this flag by your inconsiderable lack of importance this flag holds to the Australian society. We have history with this flag, what do you want to do throw away your history?????? I and all the past and present serving personnel are your history, what do you want to do throw us away?????You should be ashamed of this offensive nasty way of threating your lineage. I thought more of you Mr. Martin, now I do not think of you so highly.

Bushboy Posted at 8:53 AM Today

Ray Martin, another person that wants to impose himself on everybody else, in true Socialist style. He has always been a namby pamby lightweight. Its all part of the great socialist smokescreen to distract from the real purpose. Many distractions coming folks to hide the lefts embarrassment with their handling of the Man made climate change con. Watch Malcolm Turnbull also, he is the biggest socialist of them all.

[death2tyrants]

They should adopt Iron Maiden's The Trooper. It will still have a British Flag on it, but it's got a cool looking skeleton.

[GATOR NAVY]

My proposed Australian flag design would incorporate the Eureka Flag of 1854 (above), along with a bicolor green and gold half the length of the Eureka Flag, placed to the right, incorporating the republican seal in its center.

So it's what you have pictured on one half plus something else on the other half?

Sorry. Way, way too busy.

I like the flag you have now. I've always liked the Southern Cross motif. And I see nothing wrong with acknowledging your British heritage.

[MrsEmmaPeel]

I’ve always loved the Eureka flag.

[Windflier]

The US flag once featured the Union Jack, too.

Grand Union Flag
AKA "Continental Colors"

"The Grand Union flag was never officially sanctioned by the Continental Congress but is considered the first flag of the United States and was in use from late 1775 until mid 1777.

This flag was an alteration of the British Meteor flag. In its blue canton was the red cross of ST. George and the white cross of ST. Andrew. The thirteen stripes signified the original colonies. Retaining the British Union in the canton indicated a continued loyalty, as the Americans saw it, to the constitutional government against which they fought.

On January 1,1776, this flag was first raised on Prospect Hill (then called MT. Pisgah), in Somerville, Massachusetts. At this time the Continental army came into formal existence.

At the time it was known as the continental colors because it represented the entire nation. In one of Washington's letters he referred to it as the "Great Union Flag" and it is most commonly called the Grand Union Flag today."

[naturalman1975]

Our flag bears the stars that shine at night
In our southern sky of blue
And there's a little old flag in the corner
That is part of our heritage too,

It's the English, the Scots and the Irish
Who were sent to the end of the earth
The rogues and the schemers, the doers and dreamers
Who gave modern Australia birth.

And you who are shouting to change it
You don't seem to understand
It's the flag of our laws and language
Not just the flag of some far away land

Though, there's plenty who'll tell if you ask them
How when Europe was plunged into night
How that little old flag in the corner
Was a symbol of freedom and light.

It doesn't mean we owe our allegiance
To some forgotten imperial dream
We've got the stars to show where we're going
And the old flag to show where we've been

It's only an old piece of bunting
It's only an old coloured rag
But there's thousands who died for its honour
And fell in defence of our flag.

My view is expressed throughout the thread I posted on this story earlier today.

[naturalman1975]

What is the ‘republican seal’ to which you refer?

[melsec]

Personally I am against it - and also against becoming a republic - if this was a different day I might feel different but at this stage in time any change would be used to further the cause of the left!

What is wrong with a constitutional monarchy anyway/

[Windflier]

Grand Union Flag

(image not linking in previous post)

[goldstategop]

Keep the old flag. Enough of this politically correct idiocy. There's nothing wrong in acknowledging Australia's origins as a former British colony. This is a solution in search of a problem.

"Show me just what Mohammed brought that was new, and there you will find only things evil and inhuman, such as his command to spread by the sword the faith he preached." - Manuel II Palelogus

[myknowledge]

What is the ‘republican seal’ to which you refer?

The republican seal which would replace the current Australian coat of arms.

My proposed design would retain most of the original design, but the name ribbon removed and encircling the seal with a blue ring, showing 'Federal Republic of Australia' through the top half and '1.1.2016' (the proposed date of the republic's creation).

[dennisw]

To de-link from you British heritage is the dream of the Australian multi-culturalists. Bad idea

This also de-links from your European heritage and makes Australia into a pan-Asian pan-Muslim melting pot. Bad idea in my book. You should seek to remain as a European outpost in Asia

[myknowledge]

I know my country's heritage is traditionally British, but if you check out my FR page, my personal family heritage is Vietnamese (South Vietnamese, from the former Republic of Vietnam), but I'd surely advocate as much retainment of Australia's British heritage when it becomes a federal republic, because it has benefited Australia since 1788.

[dennisw]

Vietnamese or not it is in your interest for Australia to retain its British and European character. Think about it...or maybe you already have.

Let’s say Australia’s leaders come out tomorrow and proclaim-— “Since we are in Asia we are going to become much more of an Asian nation. We have plenty of living space. We are going to greatly encourage Asian immigration and shoot for a 50% Asian population by 2050”

Would you be in favor of that?
If I were in your shoes I would not

[dennisw]

I know my country’s heritage is traditionally British..........
_________________
_________________

Australia’s heritage is
1-British
2-British Isles
3-North European (Dutch, German, Scandinavian)
4-All Europeans including Southern and Eastern ....
..... in that precise order

It used to be that Southern Catholic Europeans were kept out of Australia or limited in immigration. But in the 1950s and 60s this was reversed and Italians, Greeks, Portuguese were encouraged to immigrate to boost the population. Australia probably felt it was needed for many reasons including self-defense. Asians were still kept out. There was a white Australia policy still in effect. Certainly no Muslims from Pakistan and Afghanistan were allowed in

Vietnamese were allowed in after the fall of Saigon. From what I hear Australia was pretty generous in taking in Vietnamese boat people while fellow Asians such as Japan took in practically zero. I suppose that all Asian immigration was relaxed about then. I know that Jackie Chan’s father ran a restaurant there for decades (died recently) and was a refugee or immigrant from over crowded Hong Kong

[MarkAccord]

They should also stop speaking English. That would be a great way to show their independence!