By Maria Millers

To sin by silence, when we should protest,
Makes cowards out of men. The human race
Has climbed on protest. Had no voice been raised
Against injustice, ignorance, and lust,
The inquisition yet would serve the law,
And guillotines decide our least disputes.
The few who dare, must speak and speak again
To right the wrongs of many
(Excerpt from ‘Protest’ by EllaWheelerWilcox).

As I write it is one day before the anniversary of the brutal Hamas attack and hostage taking of Israelis on October 7th; a day etched in the minds not just Israelis but Jewish people across the world. But for Palestinians this too was the beginning of a year of death and destruction for those civilians living in Gaza.

As a multicultural society we are home to many of those from both sides who have been affected by what has happened.

Australia prides itself on being a successful multicultural society and indeed on many levels it has been one. But the events of the past year and the most recent escalation of conflict in the Middle East are testing the strength of our multiculturalism. And also our leaders.

The right to protest has always been the hallmark of a functioning democracy and peaceful protest should never become opportunities for political posturing and point scoring.

As Nobel Laureate and Holocaust survivor, Elie Wiesel wrote:

“There may be times when we are powerless to prevent injustice, but there must never be a time when we fail to protest.”

There have been ongoing protests from Australian Palestinians and as the anniversary of October 7th draws nearer critics raised the question of whether it is insensitive to hold vigils on a day which brings pain to a community where historical memories of past atrocities still reverberate.

At the same time we cannot ignore the pain of Palestinian Australians who have witnessed all year incredible loss of life and destruction of homes, hospitals, schools etc. in the land from which they have come and where many still have familial connections

Much of the debate has revolved around flags. Flags can be quite divisive, often representing national identity, cultural heritage and political ideologies. The meaning of a flag can vary significantly depending on your personal experiences and therefore can be a contentious symbol

There has been concern that the flag of Hezbollah has appeared at Palestinian rallies particularly since it’s a proscribed terrorist organization.

However, the decision to display the Israeli flag on the Sydney Opera House was met with mixed reactions and opinions on whether it was a mistake. For some, it was a show of solidarity with Israel, particularly during a time of conflict. Others viewed it as controversial, arguing that it politicized a cultural landmark and could be seen as dismissive of Palestinian perspectives or the complexities of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.

Ultimately whether it was a mistake depends on where you stand on using public symbols which may alienate and upset other affected citizens in our multicultural society and on one’s viewpoint regarding the appropriateness of using public symbols for political statements and the broader context of the ongoing conflict. The incident highlighted the sensitivities around national symbols and their implications in a multicultural society.

Some flags are universally reviled. The Swastika flag is a potent symbol of hate, representing the atrocities of the Holocaust and the broader impact of Nazi ideology, making it universally condemned. However, even flags like the Union Jack can also evoke feelings of colonialism and oppression in formerly colonized countries.

As we live on a globalized but increasingly fragile planet perhaps we should move towards an Earth Flag. One designed by John McConnell in 1969 features a view of Earth from space, with a dark blue background representing the cosmos. It symbolizes peace and unity among all people on the planet. These proposals aim to foster a sense of global citizenship and awareness, encouraging people to think beyond national borders. Of course we already have the United Nations Flag featuring a world map surrounded by olive branches, representing the nations of the world coming together to solve problems. Regrettably they have not been able to do so.

Perhaps it is poetry we should turn to in fostering a culture of respect and understanding to serve as bridges rather than barriers in a multicultural society. In the words of poet Denise Levertov:

A voice from the dark called out,
The poets must give us
imagination of peace, to oust the intense, familiar
imagination of disaster. Peace, not only
the absence of war.

And if despair for the world becomes too much, turn towards nature to find relief:

When despair for the world grows in me
and I wake in the night at the least sound
in fear of what my life and my children’s lives might be,
I go and lie down where the wood drake
rests in his beauty on the water, and the great heron feeds.
I come into the peace of wild things
who do not tax their lives with forethought
of grief. I come into the presence of still water.
And I feel above me the day-blind stars
waiting with their light. For a time
I rest in the grace of the world, and am free.
(The Peace of Wild Things by Wendell Berry).