The Eureka flag

[LiteraryPiano]

Since the recent banning of the Eureka flag on contruction sites by the Howard government, I thought I'd bring up the question.
What are peoples view of the Eureka flag? What do people think it represents? and why?

[spikeyred]

I think even with a cursory look at the historical conditions surrounding the coming-to-be of the Eureka flag it is clearly a symbol of workers struggle.

Without recounting in detail the entirety of the events surrounding the building of the Stockade on Bakery hill and the Eureka rebellion it's self, it is easy too see that the injustice of hugely expensive miners licenses, denial of voting rights, brutal police enforcement of the laws surrounding the miners licenses, the corrupt trial of the hotel proprietor who was responsible for murdering popular miner James Scobie are all classic and strong examples of Capitalist oppression and exploitation of workers. Seeing as Eureka was brought about by these things, it is clear that the miners were organized workers resulting to desperate measures of struggle against this Capitalist exploitation.

The oath taken by the participants under their new flag as they burned their licenses in resistance and protest, a simple but powerful one, also attests to the nature of the Eureka Rebellion as one of the most important parts of the history of Workers struggle on this continent. The oath was simply "We swear by the Southern Cross to stand truly by each other and fight to defend our rights and liberties"

People of all ages and 20 nationalities made this pledge to each other, including Jamaicans, Black and White Americans, and several different European nationalities. I think this gives the Eureka flag, as a symbol, a seriously multicultural and internationalist quality.

I think the capitalist-government reaction too the events that have come to be embodied and symbolized by the Eureka flag also attest to the seriously threating, organized and working class nature of the rebellion. Governor Hotham, the governor of the colony of Victoria at the time, sent police and marine reinforcements to Ballarat from Melbourne. He also ordered artillery pieces be sent, but thankfully they did not arrive in time for the assault on the stockade.
The timing of the capitalist reactionary response was crucial for them and was the reason that Eureka did not escalate further and become a more drawn out affair.
The Blues and Reds chose to sneak up on and attack the stockade before dawn on Sunday the 3rd of December 1854. They were able to take the miners by surprise and thin in numbers.
There were only 120 men in the stockade at the time, 30 people died in the fighting that only lasted about a quarter of an hour.
The timing was important because the reason many men were out of the stockade, and why those inside were taken by surprise, was the fact that they didn't believe the Government troops would profane the 'Sabbath'. This is a slightly archaic notion for us today, but think of it in context. It shows how desperate the capitalist government was too crush rebellion, and perhaps even revolution-in-infancy. A second and important reason why the timing was crucial was the fact that thousands of other Miners from other gold fields had heard of the events and were en-route to join forces with the 'Ballarat Reform League'.

If the reinforcments had of arrived... well, I'm sure it would of turned out very differently!
Even though the miners lost the battle, and nothing anywhere near socialistic was attained, their important and original demands were won. They were given the right to vote, mining taxes were significantly reduced and all men charged with High-treason were acquitted by juries.

I believe seriously that if the Eureka rebellion had of gone on longer, the demands of the miners would of broadened and become more radical, aswell as having more layers of the working and oppressed classes drawn in too the struggle. In this sense a more serious crisis for the capitalists was averted. It is important too note that 1848 was 'the year of revolution's' in Europe, and the Eureka Rebellion came only 6 years after this. Also Governor Hotham must have had the American War of Independence lurking in the back of his mind during the stand off.

It is also interesting too note that one of the reasons the miners were taxed so highly was that the Squatters refused to be taxed highly, and because they had voting rights and more money, they of course were a section of the local ruling class and held significant sway in the Government, meaning that the Government couldn't simply shift the burden of taxation too the squatters. This is a classic example of the capitalist and land-lord classes being the dictators in a capitalist system.

I strongly believe that the Eureka flag is a serious symbol of working class resistance, struggle and history within the borders of the Australian state and should be viewed as such. Any attack on the Eureka flag is an attack on Labor history within Australian borders and should be fiercly defended against. It is a stealthy, sneaky move by the Howard government to pull another inch of the rug out from underneath the working class within this country. Many lessons should can be learnt from the Eureka rebellion.

Thats my elaborate 2 cents.

[agentsaboteur]

and quite a 2 cents it was, a very well put together piece. i gotta hand it to you red, you pwned me in terms of historical evidence last night however i dont even understand how the government can ban the flag in the first place. Even if the legislation is passed its not going to stop builders flying the flag. and as if the government is really going to put so much money and effort in to start up a police task force to prevent the eureka flag being flown. Lolazoid you'd think howard would be worrying about something else in order to swing voter opinion wouldnt you?

And in relation to what Molotovhearts said on a previous thread about the eureka flag being adopted as nazi imagery. thats something i just cant comprehend at all, i mean you'd think nazis would at least do some homework into where there symbols come from (20 nationalities swearing an oath isnt very white suprememist) or are they really that clueless?

[spikeyred]

Some of them are clueless, some of them lie delibratly haha, fucking nazis.

As for police task forces, they already have one, it's called the ABCC. If you don't know about the ABCC, I'll start a topic and give some basic info later if you want, when I have time, or, if someone else wants too, they can make out.
Either way if they outlaw it you can be sure it will be something that the ABCC is responsible for cracking down on

Also, the stuff I've read, the government reasoning, suggests that they might not need new laws, and may simply start to consider it as some sort of contravening of "Freedom of Association".
Fucking fuck fuck.

[LiteraryPiano]

Great post, SR.
Cheers.

[blackpurpleredpink]

Personally, I really dislike the use of the Eureka flag by revolutionary folx.

Its' kinda of like the Confederate flag in the US - its means different things to different people... but i really don't see the utility in continuing to use it.

Why use a symbol that has such varied and conflicting connotations? It's not as if you can fly a Eureka flag and everyone knows, 'yep! Workers unite!'

For example, the Patriotic Youth League (a white nationalist group) used it as their symbol - and they're by no means the first rightwing group to make use of it.

The Eureka flag has also for a very long time been used as a cover for a variety of leftwing nationalisms, the unions are champions at this.

It's just that PYL-types emphasise the AUSTRALIAN nature of the flags heritage... it was raised by AUSTRALIAN workers, against a FOREIGN authority - it's just too easily manipulated by racists and nationalists; even if its historic roots are in workers struggle... it's silly to pretend like its meaning and use has not changed since 1854 - particularly considering it is basically the official emblem of the white nationalist movement these days.

Yuck yuck yuck!

[agentsaboteur]

that was my initial reaction to it. dont get me wrong i only believe in standing under one flag (red and black ) but the history behind the Eureka flag can only suggest that white nationalist groups using the Eureka flag to imitate 'leftist' or worker imagery to appeal to patriotic would be australian nationalists. but yeah i understand where your coming from blackpurpleredpink.

[spikeyred]

Blackpurpleredpink I respect that stance, but I think that that is buying into Right-wing crap too much. It is exaclty their intention to blur these lines and such. The Eureka flag was by no means raised by 'AUSTRALIAN' workers first against a 'FOREIGN' authority. For a start *no one* considered themselves Australians at that time, and secondly, it's not even as if instead of considering themselves Australians they considered themselves to be of one national origin or anything, because, like I said, there were 20 nationalities, including a mix of skin color, which is contextually important as well as symbolically important of smashing those damn fascists use of the flag.

I also *HIGHLY* reject the notion that the Eureka Flag is akin to the Confederate flag, because it is not akin *at all*. The Confederate flag symbolized a Slave-based Bourgeoisie rebellion against a slightly more liberal bourgeoisie layer that wanted to abolish Slavery. The Confederate flag stands for the retention of slavery and extreme racism. In *extreme* contrast the Eureka flag symbolized an equality and democracy based organization of workers, that was not racist in the slightest and even internationalised and was in opposition to Bourgeoisie oppression.
I'm happy to argue this point further if need be, but I feel thats enough for now.

I take the point that not everyone is quick to recognise the Eureka flag as a 'WORKERS UNITE!' flag, but, I would like to develop that further. First off I want too make reference to your idea of 'left-nationalism' as 'championed by the unions'. First off I'd say that there is absoloutly nothing wrong with wishing to live in a soecity where Soverignty is not based in the Queen. I take the point that a 'President' is little better, but, there is nothing reactionary about cutting ties with a religion-based monarch. Secondly I would say that the rank-and-file of the Union *do* see the Eureka flag as a symbol of workers unity and resistance, even if radical non-union youth don't. Also the rotten union bosses are... a hand brake on the progressive nature of the workers and a non-reflective face for them. Secondly, it is clear that historically the Eureka flag *does* stand for workers unity and rebellion blah blah, even if it isn't currently known or widely seen. We can turn this to the lefts advantage in this country in a number of ways. First off it is no good meekly abandoning such a powerful symbol to Nazi's, of whom it clearly does not belong, so we should educate ourselves on this issue. Following this maybe we should engage in mass campaings about the history of radical working class Australia. Socialist Alternative were doing this time last time I picked up an issue of their mag, and if SA can do a shitty half assed SA job on it and manage to impress and surpise me, imagine if a decent organisation or even the broader left engaged in this? Thirdly the Eureka flag can be turned into a trojan horse for us. When I was younger and identifying with the right in a weak way, I knew about the Eureka rebellion, and the flag, and I admired it greatly. I noticed the rights use of this symbol and this impressed me and had me decided it was a nationalist thing, I bought into the same lies and blured truths you've outlined that the right use blackpurpleredpink, but when I started becoming more educated and realizing how bullshit the Right was, and how correct the left was, I kept my appreciation of Eureka. And in fact, Eureka was one of the events that won me over too the left. A correct explanation from the left of Eureka blows the rights analysis COMPLETLY out of the water, and is still as appealing too angry and confused youth.

In this way I think we should embrace and take back the Eureka flag.

And even if it isn't to 'stand under it', especially if you are of agentsaboteurs line of only standing under red and black, but as a symbol of workers international history of resisting capitalist opression, and of the lessons learned.

So I guess that makes 4cents now.

*edit*
Oh, also forgot, theres an article on ABCC and it's banning shit today in the age. It was also discussed on ABC radio today.

I'll just link too it to avoid Copyright type shit...
www.theage.com.au/news/national/watchdog-accused-over-site-bans-on-stickers/2007/11/13/1194766676806.html

[blackpurpleredpink]

but the history behind the Eureka flag can only suggest that white nationalist groups using the Eureka flag to imitate 'leftist' or worker imagery to appeal to patriotic would be australian nationalists

Sure - but the unions often use the flag for similar reasons. Precisely because they are not anti-nationalist; they represent 'australian workers' - and so their fight is framed in explicitly nationalist terms using nationalist symbols like the eureka/southern cross flag. I'm not denying the flags history, but things have changed dramatically since the 19th century. As a symbol the flag no longer means what it once did and so to continue to use it despite the evolution of its meaning seems rather stubborn and pointless, particularly for revolutionaries.

[agentsaboteur]

Agreed, i personally think its become redundant.

[spikeyred]

I still don't think Unions push any particular line on nationalism, mainly because it's not relevant for the purposes of the rotten union-beuracrat cast.
Plus, I happen too know there are actually some incredibly left 'big' union players in Australia who are very internationalist. Craig Johnston for example, former secretary of the AMWU, who I met in the John Curtin hotel earlier this year. He was talking about getting shot at on picket lines in Thailand. If thats not internationalist I don't know what is. You ask him if he thinks the Eureka flag is used in a nationalist context.

[LiteraryPiano]

I think holding to tightly to one side on this can be slightly problematic.
Indeed, tthe Eureka flag has been adopted by Far Right groups in Australia for some time, and has been exploited by them, as well as the general right (and parts of the left) as a means of promoting anything from White Nationalism, to regular nationalism. This is indeed, true.
However, the history, or at least where the flag was derived from clearly is against all these politics - well, nationalist and racist politics - and was indeed a flag of working class rebellion. Thus, the flag still, if held to it's actual meaning, is indeed an internationalist, working class flag - and probably anti-capitalist, too.
But the manipulation of it by Far Right groups makes the use of this problematic for revolutionaries and socialists, for the possibility of it being misinterpreted (As it has been) as a means of promoting right wing politics.
Abandoning it is much worse, though.
Abandoning a flag like this, allows for it's history to be ignored and manipulated by Far Right as a means of distorting history to promote their politics, and is definitely a bad thing. It also sets a trend, in my opinion.
I mean, how is this different to the far right groups now adopting anarchist aesthetic (well, of the Black Bloc, at least) in Europe, and now Australia? Or the adoption of the Black Flag by these same groups? Surely we wont give up these!

I don't like the idea of standing to close to either side on this one; but fuck do I hate being a fence sitter!

[blackpurpleredpink]

Abandoning a flag like this, allows for it's history to be ignored and manipulated by Far Right as a means of distorting history to promote their politics, and is definitely a bad thing.

I think this kind of stuff runs the danger of becoming sentimentalism rather than anything meaningful.

There is nothing inherently useful about the flags continued use or indeed if it was to fade into obscurity.

It's just a flag, what is important are ideas not symbols - if the far right wish to appropriate the eureka flag, more power to them- i really don't think it matters.

It's not gonna be their choice of symbol that makes them relevant or their ideas meaningful - the same is true for us.

We don't need the eureka flag, whilst it's good to establish an historical facet to our ongoing struggle we don't need to do this by flying 19thC flags.

Surely we wont give up these

Why not?

Relying on symbols, colours, uniforms is not what anarchism is about - the whole black flag thing itself is just a product of anarchism roots in 19th century politics - none of that is important to anarchist ideas or communicating them, even if its fun to play around with.

That is not to say that we should allow fascists to simply steal the imagery associated with our ideas (this may lead to internal confusion, such as witnessed at APEC); but the difference is that the black flag etc. is actually a symbol of anarchism - the eureka flag is not, it's not 'ours' in any ideological sense, i could care less.

Really it's only ideological sentimentalism that is keeping these things alive [ie. 'anarchists like this colour!' etc.] they really dont serve any meaningful purpose other than to distinguish anarchists from non-anarchists at protests - and i even think that's a good thing to do?

[spikeyred]

Well, I consider myself to be of the working class before I consider myself to be any kind of socialist, so for me it is actually important to the history of my class, and history is very important from a Marxist standpoint. Also I want to emphasize class here. It's pivotal importance to the struggle for a revolutionary restructuring of the organization. Just because the Balarat Reform League was not as far left as marxists or anarchists, doesn't mean they couldn't of got there, and doesn't mean we should dismiss or ignore them. Eureka is important for it's decisive rebellion and resistance, not for it's complicated political ideas.

As for your downplaying of Symbols and symbolism, I think it is equally 'sentimental' to think that we can all just sit around, ignore the past and all just discuss the merit of our ideas, and that this is going to lead in it's self to Revolution.
Symbolism is one part of a long list of the tactics of revolution. I reject the notion that defending the history and symbol of Eureka is 'falling into sentimentalism', because it only becomes this if you let it, instead you should at the same time be engaging in the hugely broad field of auxilaries and tactics available to revolutionaries, from strikes, to lectures, to using parliaments and councils as platforms.

It is ridiculous to kid ourselves that we can simply shed any symbolism and not pay any attention to it. The reality is Symbols are ways of condensing ideas and having people fondly connecting and identifying with them. Symbolism is a powerful axillary that should neither be ignored, or focused on exclusively or to the detriment of other auxiliaries.

[agentsaboteur]

I mean, how is this different to the far right groups now adopting anarchist aesthetic (well, of the Black Bloc, at least) in Europe, and now Australia? Or the adoption of the Black Flag by these same groups? Surely we wont give up these!

speaking of which, i read somewhere that a group of nationalist anarchists (possibly from sweden) copied the Antifascistisk Aktion and replaced it with Nationalist Anarchists(!) Id have to say i too am in the middle on this one, on a personal level i dont see it as being specifically relevent to anarchist struggle, to me it seems its directly related to australian working class struggle and not world-wide Class struggle (despite the fact that 20 nationalities swore an oath on it) sitting on the fence on this one too