Australia Day means many things to each different people living in this land. But more than anything else right now, we must give new meaning to it.
Australia Day, held every 26 January, is a celebration marking the arrival of the first European settlers in this country. Bonhomie, beer, and barbecues are the norm of celebration here. It commemorates the day that Australia was given its name, when Captain Arthur Philip thrust the Union Jack flag onto the shore of this island. Since its inception through British imperialist control, Australia and the settlers have enjoyed relative prosperity. In fact, through the passing of time, it has become a country topping the lists in the “most enviable”, “happiest”, and “most livable” places in the world. Here, citizens and migrants – including Filipinos – alike are enjoying the fruits of living in a country that is open to different beliefs and religions. Life here is great because everyone shares equal rights, a relatively good working condition, efficient education, mouth-watering cuisines, and state-of-the-art healthcare, including care for the senior citizens.
On the other hand, Australia Day also marks a distinct divide on its people. Even if all over Australia on this day, Aborigines attend citizenship ceremonies, they still feel marginalised and dishonoured by the fact that people actually celebrate the day when Europeans wrecked the aboriginal way of life until almost nothing was left to them. Aboriginal leaders and some government officials both argue on the necessity to change the date of Australia Day. For them, 26 January is a day of mourning for a rich ancient culture, for the whole indigenous people who were displaced from their land, massacred, had their children kidnapped, and the slow destruction of their languages.
But more than the protest to change the date of Australia Day celebration, there is a pressing issue that Australia should focus on. The recent spate of crimes is a lurking danger to the otherwise peaceful Australia. Recently, the youth of today landed on the headlines for the wrong reasons. The series of crimes is linked to the so-called Apex gang, heightening anti-migration rhetoric, but police statistics show most home invasions, car thefts and aggravated robberies are committed by people born in Australia.
Drug- or mental health problem-initiated crimes had risen and a recently bailed out drug addict had even rampaged the road with his car being used as an instrument of murder and destruction. The youngest of his victims was a poor, innocent, three-month-old baby. Six people were killed and more than 30 are currently in the hospital. He even stabbed his own brother, now in the hospital. These and all other crimes invoke fear for people’s own safety even inside their homes and even in public areas.
The incident marked a traumatic experience to Australia, tarnishing the wellbeing of the citizens. Did it turn the green light on to start fearing the streets of Australia and the ignition of paranoia to the people?
This should not be the reaction. Australia Day should be given new meaning – wherein cooperation is the key to maintaining this open country. Despite peril in one’s country, each citizen, no matter what the descent, should unite and brace against peril. More than celebrating Australia’s history, Australia Day should mean looking towards the future of this nation, overcoming challenges that come our way as a united nation.
