Academic and Indigenous commentator Anthony Dillon says Aussies should be proud to celebrate their national day and not be swept up in the cancel culture movement.
Australia Day is generally celebrated on Jan. 26 each year, but in recent times, has become more contentious due to its connection with European colonialism.
However, amid community backlash, management at Australian Venue Co. quickly retracted its decision, but some patrons have been left with a sour taste in the mouth and will be giving their pubs the snub.
Dillon, a researcher at the Australian Catholic University, told The Epoch Times he was, at first, taken aback by how quickly the events unfolded, and how fast the hotel chain reversed its decision.
“When I first heard [Australia Day] had been banned, I just thought it was ’more woke-ism,'” Dillon said, adding that it was “not helpful for Aboriginal people.”
Dillon gave credit to Australian Venue Co. for apologising so quickly, and noted that the “culture wars” have been alive and well in Australia for at least two to three decades.
The academic reminded Australians they did not need to accept woke rhetoric.
One of the most recent examples, Dillon says, was supermarket giant Woolworths declining to stock Australia Day items earlier this year.
“We don’t have to tolerate nonsense,” he said, adding that Australia Day is, and should always be, about celebrating what’s great about the nation.
