In recent years in Australia, usually in January, debate erupts in the media concerning the appropriateness of the selection of January 26th as our national identity day, Australia Day.
The debate usually separates two sides.
On one side are a great many indigenous Australians who view the day as inappropriate as it marks the anniversary of the 1788 arrival of the First Fleet of British ships at Port Jackson, New South Wales and the raising of the Union Jack at Sydney Cove by Governor Arthur Phillip.
These Australians refer to the day as Invasion Day and the beginning of the attack on themselves, their culture and their traditional stewardship of the land.
On the other side of the debate are Australians who support the retention of January 26th as being entirely appropriate as it marks the genesis of the building of a complex modern Australian society, with all our social institutions having their roots entrenched in the British traditions.
There are many calls for the date to be changed so that all Australians, indigenous and non-indigenous, can celebrate the day as a day of national significance. If the calls are to be taken seriously, what date should be chosen?
