Lidia Thorpe’s Australia Day tweet sparks outrage

Outspoken Green Senator Lidia Thorpe has fumed about the date of Australia Day and those celebrating it.

With January 26 still more than two weeks away, Senator Thorpe has sarcastically denounced Australia’s national day.

“Who is celebrating invasion, murder and theft this January 26th?” she wrote on Twitter on Sunday.

Senator Lidia Thorpe, pictured here during a protest in Melbourne against the national day of mourning for Queen Elizabeth II, has once again chosen January 26 as the date for the national celebration

Senator Thorpe has long called for January 26th to be observed as a day of mourning for the dispossession of indigenous people

Fierce arguments for and against soon emerged beneath the provocative tweet.

“It’s a long tradition. Celebrating Australia Day on the same day, January 26th, reinforces a sense of identity and pride in the nation and also demonstrates the continuity and strength of the Australian spirit across generations,” replied one.

“Changing the date could lead to greater division and cultural tension. By celebrating Australia Day on the same day, all Australians can come together to celebrate the nation’s history and pride, regardless of their cultural or ethnic background.”

“This ‘country’ is built on racism and genocide – those are the values ​​and symbols of January 26th,” someone quickly replied.

Australia Day continues to divide people over whether it is a day of celebration or ‘mourning’ (Image Stock Image)

Veteran entertainer Kamahl, who was born in Malaysia, came in early to express his pride at taking part in the national day

Another well-known Australian who has been at the center of a recent racism storm has been quick to celebrate National Day.

“Very excited to be Australia Day Ambassador for the City of Ryde,” singer Kamahl tweeted on Thursday.

“It has been a great privilege since 1990, when there were only nine of us.

“I hope to share what Australia means to me. what does it mean for you ? Please think about it.’

Kamahl recently had a social media spat with ABC radio host Phillip Adams, who claimed cricket icon Don Bradman treated the Malaysian-born veteran entertainer as an “honorary white” to show friendship.

Adams, who was on the warpath against Bradman over an admiring letter to former Liberal Prime Minister Malcolm Fraser, later deleted the tweet but refused to apologize.

Kamahl believes Phillip Adams is “evil” and that he cannot accept his success. (Kamahl is pictured with his ex-wife Sahodra in 2009)

Kamahl, who referred to Bradman in his patriotic song “What is Australia to me?”, said he had a long friendship with the cricket icon, who accused Adams of leading South Africa’s anti-apartheid era, Nelson Mandela, not wanting to meet.

Senator Thorpe has long called for a national day of mourning for January 26, which marks the day the first fleet of British settlers arrived in 1788.

“We cannot continue to celebrate a day that reflects a day of deep pain, loss and trauma,” she said in 2021.

“Are we celebrating the attempted annihilation of the first people of this country? Because that’s how it feels.

“As we experience together what actually happened, what this day represents for all people in this country, then we can learn together, heal together and come together to celebrate a day when we are united.

“But we cannot continue this flag-waving on January 26 when half the country is mourning.”

Senator Thorpe mocked and undermined the swearing-in ceremony for the new Parliament in August.

Senator Thorpe delivered the Black Power salute in the Senate in August when she pointedly referred to Queen Elizabeth II as a “colonist” during a swearing-in ceremony

She marched to the Senate level and saluted the Black Power as she prepared to take her oath.

After raising her right fist, she added her own comment to the oath to the late Queen Elizabeth II.

“I will be loyal to the colonizing Queen Elizabeth II and swear my true allegiance to her,” she said in a mocking tone, before being rebuked and reciting the oath as written.

During the national day of mourning for the late monarch in September, Senator Thorpe took to the streets of Melbourne, covering her hands in fake blood and smearing it on a royal crest on a building.

“The crown has blood on its hands. Our people are still dying every day in this country,” she said.

“The crown’s boot is breathing down our necks and we’re fed up with it.”