Australia Day, marking the arrival of a British fleet in Sydney Harbor, continues to evoke strong division in Australia. Many view the day as a celebration of colonial oppression, prompting protests and acts of vandalism against statues of British settlers. Statues of figures like Captain James Cook have been defaced, symbolizing the dissent against the historical narrative that celebrates colonialism. Some Australians prefer to refer to the day as Invasion Day or Survival Day, highlighting the need to acknowledge the suffering of Indigenous communities throughout history.
Some Australians were in no mood to celebrate the country's national day on Sunday because they had long seen it as a reminder of colonial oppression.
The damage done in Sydney, Melbourne and Canberra was a fresh sign that Australia Day...remains divisive.
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