This is my view.

In our anthem are the words “We are young and free” and importantly “Advance Australia Fair” – are we doing that for the indigenous is an important question given the Deaths in Custody, the Stolen Generation, White Australia Policy and so on.  Are we being fair to a child who is in a democracy when we are unkind to her and her family?  Is that fair?  Or do we ask her more about why she felt moved to not stand up (metaphorically she is), what she wanted to express and what she would like to see happen?

When I travelled my beautiful country alone I felt how incredible this land is, so ancient.  I contemplated the stewards here for 50,000 years, we were only here 200.   I puzzled over how they could survive in such harsh conditions and the fact they had mapped this country, they literally have names for every part of this country, very sophisticated.  I sat at Uluru and recall asking for a sign from indigenous if I am not to climb the rock (give a sign). That night I dreamed indigenous women came to me and impressed on me to walk the base.  This I did with respect and sat very still imagining their peace that mirrored the deep peace in this land (no wars here).  I also recall driving into Fitzroy Crossing and saw them sitting under a tree, I felt I was in someone else’s country, they belonged here.  I felt that.  I didn’t feel this was not my home, it is, I just felt their heritage as ancient and one with the land. I am still learning.  Other words that came to me were to do with having “boundless plains to share” and reflected on refugees, plenty of space for them to share with.  I remember feeling this driving on Australia Day.  Other words to contemplate “with courage let us all combine” means unity. Unity cannot be forced or indeed brainwashed with unquestioned allegiance, it is to unify in our values. Values in my view inclusive of:  Responsibility, Empathy, Awareness, Love, Honesty, Oneness, Peace, Enjoyment and Service.  This gives me REAL HOPES for the future of real sovereignty. It is not in flags and songs that we find our common wealth, it is in shared values that these objects, sentiments express.  I love this little girls courage. I am impressed.

My only allegience is to truth and love and I love my country and its incredible people.

If a child’s truth is to stand for those she feels are not treated fairly she has made her first declaration of independence.

This is often quoted by Voltaire but it was stated by a Evelyn Hall:

“I disapprove of what you say, but I will defend to the death your right to say it. The words above reportedly originated with an English author named Evelyn Beatrice Hall in 1906…”

The flag and anthem is about freedom.  To live it is to embrace all views and in the case of a child, go lightly as she is sensitive and could be hurt.  It takes courage to stand up and out of the crowd.

The lyrics of “Advance Australia Fair” were officially adopted in 1984 as follows:^[12]

Australia: Politicians attack nine-year-old for not standing during anthem

(CNN)A 9-year-old Australian girl who refused to stand during the country’s national anthem out of respect for the nation’s Indigenous population has been attacked by prominent politicians, who called for her to be kicked out of school.

Harper Nielsen, who lives in the state of Queensland, told CNN affiliate Nine News she sat during her country’s national anthem because she believed it was disrespectful to Indigenous Australians.

The anthem, titled “Advance Australia Fair,” contains the line “Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free.”

“(But) when it says Advance Australia Fair, it means advance the white people,” the 9-year-old student told Nine News.

Is Australia becoming a more racist country?

“And when it says ‘we are young’ it completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us for 50,000 years.”

Australia’s indigenous population represents about 2% of the total population but has a lower life expectancy and twice the infant mortality rate than the rest of the country.

Controversial right-wing senator Pauline Hanson said Australian schools were “brainwashing” children and called for Nielsen to be “taken out” of her school in a video statement posted on social media.

“It’s about who we are as a nation, it’s part of us … Here we have a kid who’s been brainwashed and I’ll tell you what, I’d give her a kick up the backside,” she said in the video, Wednesday.

“This kid is headed down the wrong path and I blame the parents for encouraging this.”

Pauline Hanson 

✔@PaulineHansonOz

9 YEAR OLD REFUSES TO STAND FOR NATIONAL ANTHEM

“Good on the school for trying to instill the respect for our National anthem and pride in our country.” @PaulineHansonOz

Join the conversation on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/PaulineHansonAu/ …

12:32 PM – Sep 12, 2018

Former Australian Prime Minister Tony Abbott told Sydney-based radio station 2GB the girl should “follow the rules.”

“It’s just a sign of good manners and courtesy to stand for the national anthem,” the former leader said Tuesday. Abbott was appointed as special envoy on indigenous affairs under new Prime Minister Scott Morrison in August.

Queensland Liberal National politician Jarrod Bleijie, the state’s shadow minister for Education, said Nielsen was a “brat.”

“Shame on her parents for using her as a political pawn. Stop the silly protest and stand and sing proudly your National Anthem,” Bleijie said on Twitter, adding that sitting during the anthem disrespected Australian veterans.

The politician said Nielsen should be suspended if she continued to sit during the anthem.

Jarrod Bleijie

✔@JarrodBleijieMP

Shame on her parents for using her as a political pawn.Stop the silly protest and stand and sing proudly your National Anthem. Refusing to stand disrespects our country and our veterans. Suspension should follow if she continues to act like a brat #qldpol http://www.couriermail.com.au/news/queensland/news-story/4368e8e72309376d9e6ae0eee994c06f …

11:13 AM – Sep 12, 2018

Anthem boycott leads to detention

A NINE-year-old girl has been threatened with suspension and given detention because she refuses to stand for the national anthem.

Speaking to CNN, Mark Nielsen, Harper’s father, said he was “amazed and proud” of his daughter over how she had handled the initial protest and then the ensuing national controversy.

“(I’m) amazed at her capacity for seeing things that don’t feel right and having the strength to try and right them. I don’t have that, so to see someone so young is really astonishing, and I’m just incredibly proud,” he said.

Nielsen said his family had been overwhelmed by the positive responses they’d received from across Australia, including the indigenous community, but added there had been some hate mail as well.

Still, he said their critics had the right to their opinions. “People can say what they want. Calling her a brat without having actually met her seems a little weak-minded but again, I defend their right to be free to say what they feel,” he said.

In a statement, the Queensland Department of Education said the school had never suggested Nielsen would be expelled or suspended for refusing to stand during the anthem.

In fact, the school had tried to be respectful of her wishes by providing alternatives, such as not singing along.

“Kenmore South State School is an inclusive and tolerant school which supports the diverse points of view of all students and families,” the department’s statement said.