This morning a young chap in one of the senior grades mentioned to me he was going to get a tattoo at the earliest convenience, a southern cross tattoo.. I immediately pulled this face: -_- When I queried as to why he was thinking about getting this particular logo pumped into his freshly traumatised flesh he simply said "I'm Aussie and proud of it". Honest enough of an answer, but of course I had to over analyse... Me? Over analyse? No way! I had to wonder if he understood the meaning of the Southern Cross, and the social stigma around wearing a southern cross tattoo...
I then went into research mode, Southern Cross tattoos are not a new thing, by any means. They have been permanently affixed to many Australians as a national identifier, including many brave servicemen and women over the years. Only recently have they become a way of branding ignorant people. Now, I know I am going to offend many with my wanton generalisations here, but its my blog, so ner...
The top 5 most popular tattoos for Australians are:
1. Tribal decal
2. Kids names/Dead relatives names
3. Miscellaneous Asian character/symbol
4. Southern Cross
5. Butterfly/Flower/Tramp stamp
Is it really surprising that further breaking down this demographic, southern cross tattoos feature prominently in the 18-29 male grouping? A friend on Facebook recently liked a group that made me chuckle. You can find the the link here, but basically it is called "Thanks to Southern Cross tattoos I can spot a dickhead form a distance". Matt Thornton, I love you.
When did an astronomical configuration turn from an important national identifier to a symbol of white pride? The Cronulla Riots certainly come to mind, but was that the instigator or merely a nice big public display of this new ultra-nationalism? Now I'm not saying that Australians shouldn't be proud of their country, I dig pride. I do disagree with it being used to symbolise ignorant "we were here first" attitudes. Now, unless you're of Aboriginal Or Torres Strait Islander heritage you're English, Irish, Norman French, Germanic etc. You are not indigenous, you were not here first. The yobbos rallying around this symbol as a means of asserting their supremacy are no better than the KKK.
End Rant =)
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This phenomenon has occured in the UK also. The image of St George - once associated with the strength and independence of the British people - has now been appropriated by the Neo-Nazis. The line between national pride and xenophobia is thin. Unfortunately.
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