Today the answer to our queries about why this year's Sydney Big Day Out is not being held on Australia Day, as is tradition, has been made clear:
The organisers are worried that it is degenerating into a patriotic, no, nationalistic aussie-flag waving bogan-fest of epic, drunken and violent proportions. Which it is.
It's been heading in this direction for years now, and the organisers want to distance their event from Australia Day celebrations.
Additionally, in light of the Cronulla Riots and racial problems at the Australian Open, the organisers have asked punters to leave any Australian Flags at home.
"The Australian flag was being used as gang colours. It was racism disguised as patriotism and I'm not going to tolerate it,'' event organiser Ken West was quoted saying.
Damn straight. The least desirable aspect of the BDO has always been the drunken aggro boofs that see it as an opportunity to express their 'Australian-ness' in the most obvious of ways - by waving the flag in your face. Oh, and maybe wearing a VB carton on their head for good measure.
Apparently, last year's event was marred by said boofs carrying the flag around and forcing people to kiss it. Those who declined were offered a punch in the head instead.
Organisers aren't banning the flag, just requesting that people don't over do it. There has been talk that Aussie flags and paraphernalia will be confiscated at the gates. (Will their sniffer dogs be taught to seek out contradband red, white and blues too??) .
The backlash in the media was, not surprisingly, immediate. John Howard, Kevin Rudd, the RSL and Morris Iemma, amongst others, have called for the organisers to reverse their request.
Mr Iemma says he is taking advice from lawyers on whether the Government can force the organisers of the Big Day Out to remove the ban.
Federal parliamentary secretary for immigration, Andrew Robb, went so far as to say the event should be cancelled rather than confiscate flags.
The BDO website today displays a 'clarification' press release, in which they respond to the hysterics.
"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...The Big Day Out is not an Australia Day event, but a music festival showcasing music artists from around the world and aspires to unify people through music," it states.
Fingers crossed it doesn't put people out so much that they feel the need to retaliate by upping their doses of white pride.
I'm going to the BDO on Thursday...so i'll let youse all know eh!?
4 comments:
Bloody ridiculous eh? I plan to stay away from the main stage for most of the day, I'm sure the douchebags will still be out in force!
i will follow you.
it's sad that people now associate the flag with the riots and with anti-social behaviour hey.
maybe we should get a new flag....whoa crazy idea!!!!
Morris is a fool. I lost respect when he had to run radio ads so people knew how to pronounce his name.
hahahaha so true. the first time i saw his pic in the paper since being home i fully couldnt remember who he was.
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