Aborigines Against Compulsory Singing of Anthem

Aborigines Against Compulsory Singing Of National Anthem In Tasmanian Schools

The Tasmanian Aboriginal Centre is opposed to the NSW push for schools to force all children to sing the national anthem being extended to Tasmania, Legal Director Michael Mansell, said today.

Mr Mansell said, “This is a blatant political use of children. Making the singing of the national anthem compulsory diminishes any individual enthusiasm to participate anyway. But more importantly, the anthem is about the white people and immigrants, and excludes Aborigines. This is evident by the words “For we are young and free”, a reference to the last two hundred years- the coming of whites.

This reference arbitrarily dismisses the ownership of this country by Aboriginal people since time began. We are proudly an ancient people, not a young one. The national anthem is not ours-it is theirs.

If there is a genuine belief that we all should be as one then abandon the Australian flag and replace it with the Aboriginal flag, dump Australian Day and make up a new anthem that is more inclusive’.

Michael Mansell
Legal Director
24th January 2006

Posted by Nala pakana on the Vibe Forum.

http://www.forum.vibe.com.au/forum/topic.asp?TOPIC_ID=1641

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