The Olympics and the Republic

The Olympics provide yet another perspective on the Australian Republic.  Once again there was the enervating spectacle of the unremarkable flag, hardly distinguishable from that of New Zealand, alongside green and gold boxing kangaroos. The medal ceremony for first (UK), second (Australia) and third (New Zealand) in one of the women’s rowing events looked like the mother country and two colonies.  Boxer Damien Hooper was a champion in all senses, opting for an Indigenous T shirt to express his opposition to the Union Jack on our flag.  He also commented, “I made a fan page and six hours later  had 10,000 likes on it.  I had all that support flowing in, non-Aboriginal people supporting me as well….we are two cultures living in one nation.  We get along thesedays.”  Over at the Channel 9 studio, Leila McKinnon could hardly contain her excitement in getting to talk to Princes William and Harry leading to a very dull interview indeed.  Prince William thought that Australia should join with other Commonwealth countries to beat the Americans.  That’s an odd notion for Australians.  We only have one objective in sport and that is to whip the Poms, in which objective we failed miserably on this occasion…..next time…… meanwhile, we should whip them with our Constitution and make ourselves a Republic.