Of course, Australia Day is slightly complicated; because it celebrates the arrival of the First Fleet of British Ships in 1788, it also marks the invasion of Aboriginal lands - so has been a key moment for demonstrations by indigenous peoples and their supporters.
As an attempt to circumvent such difficulties, the media seems to focus on the positive side of citizenship, printing lots of feel-good interviews with immigrants telling us just how much they love this country, and how good it has been to them. Was talking to a friend from work, J, about the wholesale appearance of goods of all types with the Australian flag on them. These days, she suggests, people wear the flag without any thought; when she was younger it was a much more problematic symbol (and looking patriotic was definitely not cool).
For an alternative version of the Straya national anthem click here. And note (unfortunately) all the White comments that follow. For the original - "Advance Australia Fair" - not an easy singalong, I'm afraid, click here.
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