Respecting our flag !

Purists are appalled at the way we treat the Australian flag at events such as Australia day.  Not only is it worn as an item of clothing but some drape it over their shoulders like a cape and it is not unusual to see it spread on the ground and used as a rug at picnics.   Australia day brings a sea of flags and these include those fluttering from the radio masts of cars to flags used as window ornaments in apartment blocks.

There are strict protocols that apply to national flags.   They should only be flown on flag poles between sunrise and sunset and etiquette applies whenever they appear on social occasions.    This even dictates how they should be arranged when used as a mark of respect on the coffin at a funeral.    Entire books have been written detailing the customs and procedures that apply to flags.

We once despaired that Australians had turned their backs on our national flag.   Early in the last century it was the Union Jack that flew on most public occasions and many lamented that the flag poles of Australian cities were bare on national days.    At war, Australian soldiers were more likely to be fighting under the Union Jack than the Australian flag, and in many cases our flag was unknown to those from other countries.

Australian tourists visiting the United States were amazed at the reverence with which the " Stars and Stripes " was held in that country.     The flag was everywhere - outside citizens homes and proudly flying from most public buildings.   It seemed that Americans identified with their flag in a way that had not taken hold here in Australia.

That changed several decades ago.   It was probably Australian sporting successes that created a desire in spectators to show their identity, but suddenly Australian flags began to appear in the crowd at the Davis cup and at the cricket.  Years later - both the Australian flag and the " Boxing Kangaroo " became a crescendo of flag waving when the Americas cup victory became a national event - and from there it was unstoppable !

The purists may grumble, but this is a country that has always disdained the rules and regulations handed down by those who consider themselves the elite.   The Australian custom of addressing others by their given name shocked the class conscious people of Britain and our early beginnings required the tradition of  " helping a mate " for sheer survival in this new country.

The way we " show the flag " is the Australian way - and it shows no disrespect.    Rather than flying the flag on a remote flag pole, the individual bearing the flag as a painted ornament on their face or as something they wear or carry is proclaiming to the world their origin.    Our flag has taken it's place amongst the flags of the world - and anyone seeking to change it would suffer a huge backlash.

The more it becomes the flag of the Australian people, the less likely to suffer change if we ever become a Republic.