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Ban the Big Day Out or the flag?
1points
Big Day Out organisers got more than they bargained after a newspaper report in the Melbourne Herald Sun titled “Australian flag a gang colour” appeared yesterday, with just about everyone from the Prime Minister down calling for the event to be cancelled.
The headline refers to a comment by Big Day Out organiser Ken West on his plea to leave racism out of the popular event, but rather than take his comments out of context, here they are (as printed in the article):
“Event producer Ken West said the use of flags last year after the Cronulla riots and recent clashes between Serb and Croatian fans at the Australian Open tennis had forced his hand.
"I didn't like the behaviour of last year and we have moved the event from Australia Day this year partly because of the way the flags were used," Mr 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.
"I am telling people not to bring flags - they are free to get them out at midnight on their way home when it is Australia Day."
The comments only referred to the Sydney event.
But Mr West’s comments have sparked outrage with the Prime Minister John Howard saying the BDO should be cancelled unless its decision to ban flags was reversed.
Admittedly dragging the flag into the race debate was probably not a wise move by Mr West. Saying it was used as gang colours was not so choice either from a PR perspective, but I think it has a ring of truth about it.
Racism in Australia is a legitimate issue however and the problem is not the flag, but people’s own prejudices – on all sides of the fence.
The real story here is that a major Australian event feels they have to take unprecedented measures to diffuse racial tension that could lead to violence – it is not a security a issue either as suggested by parliamentary secretary for immigration Andrew Robb.
For what it’s worth, here’s the press release from the BDO organisers on this burning issue:
The Big Day Out would like to offer the following to clarify its position on “flag banning” at the Sydney show.
Contrary to the reports in the media, it was never our intention to disrespect the symbolism of the Australian or any other flag.
We are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes at the Big Day Out.
In recent times, there has been an increased incidence of flags brandished aggressively and this has led to increased tension. Our only intention in discouraging this activity at the Big Day Out is to ensure that our patrons are not subjected to this aggressive behaviour.
With all this in mind and the aim to create a happy, peaceful MUSICAL event, organisers would like to request that fans please leave their flags at home.
The Big Day Out is not an Australia Day event, but a music festival showcasing music artists from around the world and aspires to unify people through music.
Unfortunately the media reports yesterday were not quoted accurately and we must thank the participating media for wasting everybody’s time including the Prime Minister John Howard, Premier Morris Iemma, NSW RSL President Don Rowe, Keysar Trad (a confidant of the Mufti Sheik Taj el-Dene Elhilaly) and Burt Lane of the Australian National Flag Association….
Comments
Personally I can’t see how running around with a pair of Australian flag decorated boxer shorts, or with a dingy flag draped around the body of an intoxicated teenager is really a statement of national pride. Sure if the promoters had a problem with displaying the flag at all I can see why everyone would kick up a fuss, but realistically, it’s not like there’s going to be a solemn “boy scout - esque” flag raising ceremony.
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How annoying that there’s such a big fuss! I totally get where the promoters are coming from, though I agree that ‘banning the flag’ is wrong, though that isn’t what they’re doing anyway, it’s the way flags are used. And anyway, it’s not held on Australia Day this year in Sydney, so it’s really not necessary to bring flags anyway, as they say, it’s a music festival!
People are made to swear allegiance to the flag, and kiss it, stuff like that, pretty intimidating (and of course especially towards the people that don’t look ‘australian’).
I saw it last year on the South Perth foreshore for Australia Day too. The ‘aussie aussie aussie, oi oi oi’ can actually get quite intimidating coming out of drunk young men, and if they say things like ‘you’re in the wrong place’ to non-caucasion people….. They didn’t say it to me, but I was pretty scared, even though I’m not scared easily(I’ll walk around Northbridge late at night, I’ll walk the dog at midnight by myself, etc etc)
I don’t think it’s the people with aussie boxers and girls wearing the flag as a dress or skirt (seen it!) that is a problem, it’s the guys with flags making people kiss it etc, and people ganging up, one side aussie flags, other side… other flags?
Argh, it’s a difficult issue!
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If banning flags is what it takes to get rid of racist behaviour then I’m all for it …. sadly I don’t think it will hve any effect.
Maaybe they are better of banning alcohol, which only adds fuel to the fire! Go down to South Perth on Friday and see how proud you feel to be an Australian.
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A great post here from Boudist (photo blogger turned pro photographer through his blog!) about all this news, including a quote from someone last year about the aggro at the BDO and people being forced to kiss the flag (and got punched because he wouldn’t)
http://www.boudist.com/archive/2007/01/22/storm_in_a_teacup.php
Yeah, alcohol doesn’t help at all. I think I’ll probably be staying out of the licensed areas of the Perth BDO anyway, though I guess people can fill up in there and then get out… though I’ve heard from a friend who’ll be working there that they’ve got strict instructions not to serve alcohol to drunk people, etc etc… hmmm, we’ll see…. (it’s going to me my first BDO, I am excited about all the bands, but have heard quite a lot of negatives from people about the crowd… and I hope it won’t be as hot as it is this week!!)
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Australian politicians are notoriously nutless so-and-so’s and although I generally find John Howard to be the epitome of Australian politicians I’m happy to award him the Golden Gonad Award for standing up for our flag this time.
As far as I’m concerned if no-one went to a single BDO this year just as a statement of our position that would send a pretty clear message, and if I wasn’t already not going to the Perth BDO I wouldn’t be…
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Maybe instead of banning the australian Flag, they should ban any type of clothing/behaviour that might cause offence to others.
So out go:
* Aussie flag boxes,shirts,hats - don’t want a race riot
* Red and white checked anything- don’t want the serbs and croats going at it.
* Skantilly clad women, yes even shorts would be out - don’t want to upset the muslims
* Alcahol - I dare not attempt to list everyone who is offended by excessive abuse of alcahol.
* Loud music , old people and audiologists can’t stand it
* Hiphop/Rap - I personally loath it
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