Desperate for another wedge issue, John Howard is now proposing to link funding for schools with their willingness to errect (and I assume, use) a flagpole.
Flag waving ceremonies have gained populartity over the past 20 years or so. Baby boomers let the custom lapse after having nationalism rammed down their throughts during the Vietnam years. The younger generations seem to be more in tune with this sort of thing. I suppose it goes with the growing popularity of Anzac day observance.
As a member of the boomer generation, I have no desire to see flag cerimonies come back. I've always thought one of the nice things about Australia is its low key nationalism. Of course, this is anathema to the conservative view of the world. Strange really, as they accuse the left of social engineering.
I have no objection to schools using a flagpole if that's what their community wants, but surely it should be up to them, not as a condition of getting the money from a ratbag, conservative government.
Labor is being sensible by not reacting to this sort of issue. It will all be sorted, one way or the other, after the election.
