Sound Familiar

[Wazza]

Being Australian is a unique quality; it is a state of mind, an attitude that is born of our love for freedom and nurtured by the remarkable land in which we live. We are proud of the fact that ours is an ancient continent, with flora and fauna like no other on Earth. It is a rugged, unforgiving land, but it is - as acknowl-edged in our national anthem - of a beauty, rich and rare. Yet throughout it there is a single enduring spirit that cries freedom.

Our people, like the land, are different, but regardless of race or culture they are drawn to this country by the freedom it offers. It is part of our common heritage, an umbrella under which we all shelter, particularly in these troubled times. When the values, which we uphold, are under threat, it is important to remind ourselves of what it means to be Australian; the responsibilities we bear to preserve the freedom, which we sometimes take for granted. It is equally important that our children properly understand these values, as they bind us together as Australians, irrespective of country of origin or religion.

A government minister has advocated the reintroduction of flag raising ceremonies and the singing of the national anthem in schools, a suggestion that has been strongly endorsed by the Prime Minister. The proposal is seen as a means of promoting civics and the principles of democracy in schools. Already it has its detractors among some republicans and supporters of multiculturalism. Their criticisms, however, are disingenuous. It is not what is on the flag that is important, it is what it symbolises that we support. What has been proposed is a celebration of what unites us, and it should not cause affront to any race or culture. Not only should the proposal be embraced, the practice should never have been removed in the first place. There should be regular discussion in the classroom on Australian values, our responsibilities as a community, civility and respect.

The last two weeks, after the bombings in Bali, have been instructive on what it means to be an Australian. It has united us in grief, but made us more determined not to be cowered by terror and to bring to justice those who have committed this despicable crime against us.

Mr Howard captured this essence in an address to the families of Bali victims. "We may in times of stress and challenge and crisis be as tough as tungsten, but we're also a soft and loving people who will wrap our arms around those who have lost so much and will reach out to those who have suffered so much,"

The spirit of mateship, the pride we have in our nation, especially when our freedoms and values are threatened and the virtues of compassion, tolerance, and courage; It is these very qualities that need to be passed on to new generations. The flag and national anthem reinforce these qualities. Fostering respect for them should always be an automatic progression.