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Australian flag banned at Big Day Out concert in Australia

Australian flag banned at Big Day Out concert in Australia

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25th January 2007, 03:57

OZGOD

World Class Player

Debut: Jan 2005

Venue: Boston MA (from Sydney Aus)

Runs: 14,938

Wickets: 384

Australian flag banned at Big Day Out concert in Australia

How can waving an Australian flag in Australia be considered ethnically inflammatory or offensive?? This is moronic stuff. The idiots are just too lazy to get more security!

Quote:

BDO flag ban stupid, says PM

Prime Minister John Howard has labelled as stupid and offensive a push to prevent Australian flags being taken into a youth music festival in Sydney.

Organisers of the Sydney Big Day Out (BDO) have asked fans to leave Australian flags, and flag bandannas, at home because of fears some people could use them to incite ethnic violence.

They today denied reports they had banned the use of flags at the event, saying they were "simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes''.

The BDO will be held on Thursday at the Sydney showground at Olympic Park.

Mr Howard, who is back on deck today after summer holidays, said most Australians would be offended by the idea as well.

"The proposition that the display of the Australian flag should ever be banned anywhere in Australia is offensive and it will be to millions of Australians,'' he told reporters.

"The reason given at the time was quite unacceptable. They're running their own political agenda but because of public pressure, they're now backing down.''

Event organiser Ken West was quoted as saying fans' behaviour last year in the wake of the Cronulla riots and the recent ethnic violence at the Australian Open tennis tournament had forced his hand.

But Mr Howard said the Cronulla riots weren't the fault of the flag.

"Flags don't have legs and arms, if anyone was breaking the law at Cronulla, or breaks the law at any time in the future, they should be dealt with by the authorities,'' he said.

"This event is on property owned by the NSW government, so the NSW government has the power to make absolutely certain that this stupid ban does not in any way get implemented.''

NSW Premier Morris Iemma and the RSL also condemned the decision to ban the flag, describing it as "outrageous" and "unbelievable".

BDO organisers issued a statement this morning saying the flag was not banned, but they said they did not want concert-goers taking it into the event.

"We are not banning the Australian flag but are simply discouraging its use for anti-social purposes at the Big Day Out," the statement said.

RSL national president Bill Crews said he would back the concert being cancelled if the flag ban continued.

"We'd certainly support that approach if they don't want to change their mind on the banning of the flag," he told Nine.

"This is an incredible decision that I hope organisers will quickly change. It's an unbelievable thing that you ban Australia's national symbol at any event in Australia."

BDO organisers said while they intended no disrespect to the flag, the Sydney concert was not an Australia Day event and there was no need for the flag to be waved there.

"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," they said.

"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 event tours six cities in Australia and New Zealand but the ban will only affect Sydney, where the festival has been shifted to the day before its usual Australia Day date to avoid nationalistic overtones.

Opposition Leader Kevin Rudd said he agreed with Prime Minister John Howard that the organisers should overturn their decision.

"I just think this is excessive and wrong, and doubly wrong in the lead up to Australia Day," he told the Nine Network.

Mr Rudd said the Big Day Out was terrific event, but organisers should not be blaming the flag.

The Sydney Chamber of Commerce also weighed into the debate, saying the flag ban jeopardised Sydney's reputation as an events host.

Director of the chamber Patricia Forsythe said such a ban gave an impression that major events in Sydney had been hijacked by gangs, and could damage the local economy.

"Major events such as the Big Day Out generate millions of dollars and thousands of jobs for the Sydney economy," Ms Forsythe said.

"Sydney can't afford the perception that our major events ... (are) threatened by extremists and thugs."

Ms Forsythe said boosting security numbers at events like the Big Day Out would be a better way to combat any trouble.

AAP

http://www.smh.com.au/news/national...9330795860.html

25th January 2007, 04:19

kablooee87 kablooee87 is offline

International Star

Debut: Jul 2005

Venue: Stanley Park

Runs: 8,731

Wickets: 302

Occupation: University Student

All the details and reasons given aside. Just the thought of banning a country's flag in that actual country is ridiculous.

25th January 2007, 05:11

Invictus

ODI Star

Debut: Jul 2005

Venue: Mississauga

Runs: 3,295

Wickets: 7

Occupation: Acting busy while doing nothing

oh the stupidity in the name of political correctness.

25th January 2007, 05:42

PlanetPakistan PlanetPakistan is offline

Living Legend

Debut: Mar 2006

Venue: Orlando, FL

Runs: 23,569

Wickets: 638

Occupation: Student.

This is actually quite sad!

25th January 2007, 05:53

genghis81

Moderator

Debut: Nov 2005

Venue: Brisbane, Australia

Runs: 4,756

Wickets: 64

Occupation: Engineer

Yeh this is making big news here. Aparently the case is that the Cronulla riots were caused by patriotic Aussies and if Aussies bring an Aussie flag they are being patriotic and hence asking for a fight against non-anglo aussies.

A bit of a joke, and I'm glad all authorities are fighting against it. If a thug comes looking for a fight, he will find one. Waving a flag is not going to incite racist behaviour. By the way Ozgod, have you heard about an offensive video done up by some Lebanese kids from some school Granville in Sydney.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...from=public_rss

Last edited by genghis81 : 25th January 2007 at 06:20.

25th January 2007, 06:42

kablooee87 kablooee87 is offline

International Star

Debut: Jul 2005

Venue: Stanley Park

Runs: 8,731

Wickets: 302

Occupation: University Student

Quote:

Originally Posted by genghis81

Yeh this is making big news here. Aparently the case is that the Cronulla riots were caused by patriotic Aussies and if Aussies bring an Aussie flag they are being patriotic and hence asking for a fight against non-anglo aussies.

A bit of a joke, and I'm glad all authorities are fighting against it. If a thug comes looking for a fight, he will find one. Waving a flag is not going to incite racist behaviour. By the way Ozgod, have you heard about an offensive video done up by some Lebanese kids from some school Granville in Sydney.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...from=public_rss

I saw that video yesterday on youtube, let me find a link.

EDIT: Youtube is down for maintenance right now. i'll post a link when it comes up.

Last edited by kablooee87 : 25th January 2007 at 06:43.

25th January 2007, 06:46

genghis81

Moderator

Debut: Nov 2005

Venue: Brisbane, Australia

Runs: 4,756

Wickets: 64

Occupation: Engineer

kablooee ... I beleive it has been removed ... "The person responsible for the Lebo Thugs clip – identified only as 25-year-old Amer – removed the video from YouTube today."

they showed snippets of it on the news last night.

Last edited by genghis81 : 25th January 2007 at 06:48.

25th January 2007, 08:41

International Star

Debut: Nov 2005

Venue: A Cricket Ground

Runs: 6,803

Wickets: 36

Well it hasn't made a difference, if anything this banning has prompted more concert goers to bring the flag with them. The organizers of the event have admitted that it was a mistake to ban the flag in the first place.

25th January 2007, 13:08

the Great Khan the Great Khan is offline

International Star

Debut: Feb 2005

Runs: 6,259

Wickets: 41

its all part of an agenda...and pc gone mad..i dont see any minority group ever saying they hate a flag or hate christmas or other such nonsense..so where do the powers that be come to these conclusions? how do they make such silly descisions? its obvious they dont consult minorites or majorities and arbitrarily make this up as they go along..its pathetic and shameful..minorities have enough probelsm without the so called pc brigade trying to help..reminds me of that teacher in everybody hates chris(the chris rock sitcom)!!

#10

25th January 2007, 14:51

OZGOD

World Class Player

Debut: Jan 2005

Venue: Boston MA (from Sydney Aus)

Runs: 14,938

Wickets: 384

[QUOTE=genghis81]Yeh this is making big news here. Aparently the case is that the Cronulla riots were caused by patriotic Aussies and if Aussies bring an Aussie flag they are being patriotic and hence asking for a fight against non-anglo aussies.

Quote:

A bit of a joke, and I'm glad all authorities are fighting against it. If a thug comes looking for a fight, he will find one. Waving a flag is not going to incite racist behaviour. By the way Ozgod, have you heard about an offensive video done up by some Lebanese kids from some school Granville in Sydney.

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,1011...from=public_rss

I heard about that, that's a bit of a joke too. It's the one glorifying that guy who was found guilty of all those gang rapes of Ozzie schoolgirls, right?

It's funny how young people can gather around and support someone who's obviously a piece of scum, because they think it's "cool" to do so.

#11

30th January 2008, 03:11

Daoud

World Class Player

Debut: Sep 2003

Venue: Sydney

Runs: 16,645

Wickets: 158

Not sure if the ban was still on this year but there were plenty of people dressed in Aussie flags, tops and shorts.

Violence was pretty bad in Melbourne. It got abandoned towards the end (no doubt during the RATM gig), and one guy actually got knocked out and had to be crowd surfed out to paramedics. That really is rock n roll!

Sydney wasnt quite as bad. I nearly got into a fight myself but since I had my already traumatised cousin with me, it just would have freaked her even more so I just exchanged pleasantries and walked away. Our friend who was working as a medic was meant to join us later but she said there were a few fights and the security kept bringing injured people to get stitched up and all

#12

30th January 2008, 03:25

12thMan

Moderator

Debut: Sep 2006

Runs: 26,324

Wickets: 104

Change the day of event far away from Australia Day. And people who have problem with Australian flag in Australia should stay away from such events

#13

30th January 2008, 04:04

Daoud

World Class Player

Debut: Sep 2003

Venue: Sydney

Runs: 16,645

Wickets: 158

Quote:

Originally Posted by 12thMan

Change the day of event far away from Australia Day. And people who have problem with Australian flag in Australia should stay away from such events

The Sydney BDO was traditionally on the 26th (Australia Day) but for the last couple of years its been on the 25th, I suppose to prevent the nationalistic pride, violence etc.
Still, it is seen as an Australia day thing and thats fine. However the irony of the situation was that the headlining act was Rage Against the Machine and one of the other mainstage acts Anti-Flag are very anti-establishment and anti-nationalism in their message.

#14

30th January 2008, 11:52

laz

Local Club Player

Debut: May 2007

Runs: 299

Wickets: 2

How many councils in England ban the Union Jack or the English ST Georges flag .It happens all the time .Same with Christmas decorations .
They re worried about offending non English people

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