I realise that it is neither the ‘flag’ nor any frequent repetition of ‘pledges’ that shapes and sustains my national identity as first British and then Australian. What actually shapes my personal identity is neither of those; it is my Christian faith! I am first of all a follower of Jesus of Nazareth; that is my personal identity. And neither England (place of my birth), Wales (home of my mother and place where I feel my roots most strongly), nor Australia (home to which I have migrated twice and am now a citizen), actually defines me in that way.
The places speak of my journey, my origins, the cultures that shape my views of history, and place, and home, and nationality. But I am first Christian, and then Australian-English/Welsh. ‘Christian’ identifies that by which my life and identity are shaped. ‘Australian’ names my nationality and the place and communities where I belong, live, contribute, and am at home. ‘English/Welsh’ tells of my roots and journey adding length and place to my life.
Flags have always been marginal for me in that identity/nationality journey. I note with warmth pride occasions when the Australian flag is used with respect or as an act of identification. But the journey from the Union and Welsh flags to that took time. I loved this land and felt well at home in it for some years before the symbol of this land, its flag, drew from me the same immediate and deep response. My heart and history had to learn what my inner being and head had already learned.
It is these nuanced experiences and journey that seems to find no place in the simplistic, nationalistic, and yes, sometimes racist, discussions that occasions like Australia (Invasion) and Anzac Days seem to trigger. Over the 37 years that Shirley and I have journeyed to the USA we have watched, sometimes quite bewildered, as the display of USA flags on porches became flags on pick up trucks and cars, and flag pins on lapels of jackets or dresses. Along with that came a not-so-subtle addition to flag-waving/wearing as a statement of pride. That shift went along with a mindset that divided the world and the USA into ‘US” and “THEM”, with all the growing political rhetoric, division and ideological shifts, fear and mistrust, that have accompanied it.
In that time our American friends from quite different States and across the political spectrum have grieved a great loss of trust and openness that this claimed strengthening of national identity has brought. Sharing their journey has raised our concerns and anxieties about Australia and its peoples, our home place and our national identity.
Something seems to happen when personal identity becomes confused with nationality. It is neither healthy nor life giving. All the talk about ‘real Australians’ and ‘Australian values’ project a uniformity and sameness that are simply not reflected in our diverse and rich mix of cultures and people. I agree with Michael Leunig “… deep in their hearts people understand that there is no such thing as an average Australian”. But what we do know, and often cannot articulate, is that this nation lives in an ancient land, a land that continues to be mysterious, even threatening to second peoples who remain ardent urban dwellers.
A flag, this one or some other, will not and cannot change either of those realities – our diversity and complexity, and our alienation from our home place, national identity that does not slide into racist nationalism! That journey requires a deep connection with the values and life giving core of our faith tradition, and with the first peoples who still are bound deeply and intrinsically to this land and who, if only we would permit it, can help all of us to bed down here and begin to grow deep and nourishing roots. From that living tree will come an even richer, perhaps a genuine national identity.
