Fortunately there were still some voices of reason - I recommend checking out these columns in particular: Noise Pollution by Clem Bastow in The Age and The Daily Truth with Jack Marx in the Sydney Morning Herald.
(And this is an image I borrowed from Clem's column :)
Here are a few choice quotes from the two. Clem first:
I have many fond memories of my various Big Days Out: sooky Goths stomping around in the heat as their make-up melts in the lead up to Nine Inch Nails; disgusting sauce-covered Dagwood Dogs and loads of Hare Krishna nosh falling off pitifully inadequate environmentally-friendly plates; Frenzal Rhomb's gleeful destruction of comedy effigies of politicians; singing The Darkness' I Believe In A Thing Called Love with Andrew G in a brief moment of televisual infamy; and, of course, the music.
You'll note that not one of those happy reminiscences included "Being given a spray by brick-headed tools insisting I 'kiss the flag!' or face the consequences."
Certainly my stance on the BDO has changed through the years; where I would've once studied the line-up intently, highlighting favoured acts and noting possible clashes with blue biro, more recent line-ups have been average and the day more a chance to hang loose, drink, and catch up with mates - oh yeah, with music in the background - and I don't think I'm alone.
As such, the crowd becomes less populated with various gaggles of die-hard fans and more a generalised scrum looking to party. The "good old days" of packs of roaming fairies, frog-people, colour-coded pals and sombrero-wearing nongs have gradually been replaced by beer hats, shorts, flags and thongs. Who wears thongs to a festival, anyway? Someone who doesn't think it's an epic day of music appreciation and is just there to have "fun" in the sun, clearly.
And when "fun" means drinking to excess, punching-on, groping women and intimidating just about everyone, the real motivation for attending the Big Day Out - MUSIC - becomes irrelevant. And if music is irrelevant to your day, well, I suppose you may as well wave a flag, given that for all intents and purposes you are not at a music festival.
So, it's dickheads that are the problem, and if the Australian flag makes them easier to spot - and weed out - I'm all for discouraging its use. After all, Lees and West have a duty of care when it comes to BDO patrons, and if they reckon discouraging Our Flag's use means I'm less likely to be punched in the face by a drongo with delusions of patriotism, then I thank them.
and now here's Jack:
Traditionally, politicians aren't known for harmony, which is why it's notable that there's a "chorus of disapproval" from John Howard, the RSL and assorted trumpeters for the opposition, all belting out a tune against Ken West's discouraging punters flying flags at the Big Day Out.
They say the Australian flag should be allowed at concerts, though I suspect they're only referring to the sorts of concerts politicians don't attend - somehow I don't think I'll be allowed to wave one at the Opera House, particularly if the Prime Minister's in the seat behind me.
The New South Wales premier says a flag "ought not to be used to be making political points", which is not only a trifle ridiculous of him, but utterly hypocritical.
Discussion has been heated - the comments sections under both of these posts have been unsurprisingly supportive of the bloggers - the fun sections have been on the discussion boards on the Herald Sun (right-wing Murdoch owned newspaper in Melbourne) and it's also been interesting getting an international perspective on things from Digg.com.
(Damn, can't find the comments on the Herald Sun site any more)
For what it's worth, I was at the Australia Day Sydney Big Day Out last year and the mood was ugly. The Australian flag was being used as a clear sign of "whiteness" and was draped all over aggressive obnoxious drunken young men and women all over the place. If people weren't wearing it as capes, it was temporary tattoos on cheeks and arms.
In addition to the story of the guy being bashed for refusing to kiss the flag, I know of another girl who felt a similar level of discomfort with the vibe, went off and bought an Aboriginal flag badge with the word sorry on it and was promptly surrounded by a group of these people chanting Aussie Aussie Aussie Oi Oi Oi at her.
Nobody needs a flag at a music festival - what are they going to do, barrack for Australian bands?
If you want to look at it from a truly conservative perspective (outflank Howard and the other dickheads - Rudd and Iemma included), the use of the Australian flag in the way that these people have chosen to do so (as a fashion accessory) is actually quite disrespectful to the flag. Dragging the flag along the ground is one of the worst things you can do. (Personally I'm not so precious and think that it's ultimately just a bit of fabric but if these people want to make a fuss about it, they should do it right).
There is even government policy about the proper handling of the flag -
Australian Flag Protocol: 'The Australian National Flag should be displayed only in a manner befitting the national emblem. It should not be subjected to indignity... It should always be flown aloft and free and should not be allowed to fall or lie upon the ground. When the Australian National Flag is raised or lowered, or when it is carried past in a parade or review, all present should face the Flag, men should remove their hats and all should remain silent. Those in uniform should salute.' (http://www.australianflag.org.au/protocol.php)
From a purely political perspective, I can see the reasons for Kevin Rudd to come down on Howard's side - John Howard is a master of wedge politics, inflating unimportant but highly emotional issues to a point where it's almost impossible to express an opposing/sensible view without being shouted down. Flag stuff is always a wedge issue and Kruddy would know that. (I'm just glad Julia Gillard didn't do the same).
All in all, another day in Howard's Australia. (I just hope things don't get ugly on Thursday).
(Update) - Something else that has just occurred to me is the economic hypocrisy in this fuss from our Prime Minister. John Howard is a dyed in the wool free-marketeer - taking the position that the market works things out and that as long as business follows the letter of the law, they should be allowed to behave as they wish. If people disagree with the way a business behaves, they are entitled to take their business elsewhere.
Following this logic, he could perhaps advise people not to go to the Big Day Out but he can't suddenly tell them what policies to impose on their customers.
I'd like to see Lees and West take a stand, declare an outright ban on flags and make all patrons wear a burqa or something similar. (Maybe a "Sorry" tshirt with an Aboriginal flag).
