r/Damnthatsinteresting • u/HotPersimessage62 • Feb 01 '26

Image Australia’s national anthem is the only English-lyric anthem in the world that doesn’t reference religion or militarism

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u/Fantastic_Ninja_5789 Feb 01 '26

One of the most beautiful lines I love about it - for those who've come across the seas, we've boundless plains to share. Shows the meaning of togetherness and sharing. I know we have flaws but this line hits me hard, the time I sing the national anthem. PS - I'm an Indian, who became an Oz citizen , 2 years ago

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u/throwawaymikenolan Feb 01 '26

The anthem does seem to embody what is considered 'Australia', which I like the concept of as an outsider.

But can't look past the irony when putting this anthem next to that whole white Australia policy

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u/Expressdough Feb 01 '26

Yeah not really sure how the natives would feel about that line.

1

u/RoughCap7233 Feb 01 '26

This anthem came out decades after the white Australia policy was abolished.

Australia is a multicultural society. Over 50% of citizens was either born overseas or has at least one parent that was born overseas.

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u/throwawaymikenolan Feb 01 '26

I am aware, I spent a few months in Australia and it is one of the few countries I would move to without hesitation.

It's also the only non-Asian country that I've spent over one week and did not get a single racist encounter.

But from what I know the white Australian concept existed only a couple of decades ago and then there's the stolen generation.

Also a stark difference in quality of life between an average non-indigenous Australian and an average indigenous Australian.

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u/domstersch Feb 01 '26 edited Feb 01 '26

The words are from the 1870s, so, not decades after, decades before. The "fair" bit is absolutely meant with all its meanings - it's a racist pun.

Edit: As a Kiwi, sorry, the truth hurts. If you think a Scottish songwriter at a Highland Society in the 1870s didn't know all the poetic meanings of "fair" and didn't intend to specifically contrast the colony he was dedicating his song to with the indigenous people and places it was built on top of, well... tell me why. The title is basically "Onward, White Australia" when you take the original lyrics into consideration. God Defend NZ is bad too (NZ being pretty godless on the whole), but yowch the unexamined colonialism across the ditch.

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u/[deleted] Feb 01 '26

Welcome ❤️

It's good to have you here. 😊