After all the controversy my avatar caused with some forum members claiming it was anti-Australian, I've just recently found out it's almost exactly the same as the flag of an Australian territory, the Cocos (Keeling) Islands. So to all those forum members who complained, you complained against an official Australian flag!!! Shame on you, how unAustralian!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/7/74/Flag_of_the_Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands.svg/600px-Flag_of_the_Cocos_(Keeling)_Islands.svg.png

From Wikipedia:

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Demographics In 2007, there are an estimated 596 inhabitants of the islands. The population on the two inhabited islands generally is split between the ethnic Europeans on West Island (est. pop. 120) and the ethnic Malays on Home Island (est. pop. 500). A Cocos dialect of Malay and English are the main languages spoken and 80% of Cocos Islanders are Sunni Muslim.

There's a thread somewhere about proposals for an alternative Australian flag. You are welcome to suggest it.

Well this flag may represent the majority of Cocos Islanders, but I don't think it represents the majority of mainland Australians, so therefore I don't think it would be appropriate for the entire nation. Contrary to what some claimed during that controversy, my avatar is not a symbol of Australia being taken over by Muslims, it's simply symbolic of someone who identifies as both Australian and Muslim.

Can we have suggestions for similar?

Wonder what the Baptist one would look like.  The Anglican, the Presbyterian, etc etc.

Interesting Abu.

Do you think the inhibitants consider themselves Muslim Australians or Muslim Cocos islanders?

:)

lol
Well at least 80% of islanders are Sunni Muslims...  you just keep proving the point aboo.

Acid

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Do you think the inhibitants consider themselves Muslim Australians or Muslim Cocos islanders?

Would the latter be unAustralian of them?  ;D

Btw, I think you meant they inhabit the island, not inhibit it :)


Grendel,

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Well at least 80% of islanders are Sunni Muslims...  you just keep proving the point aboo.

Sorry I'm not really following... What point do I keep proving?

80 % of Australians are NOT muslims, so your imposing of the muslim symbols on the Australian map is not appropriate in the same way that a superimposing the swastika on the map would not be appropriate, or the hammer and sicle or any other symbol of an ideology seeking world domination.

For the Cocos Islanders, being muslim majority, it is OK as they are dominant there already.

Grendel may wish to explain it otherwise.

Swastika and Hammer/Sickle aren't recognised Australian State/Terroritory symbols, so I think your example is a little over the top. The Crescent and Star are recognised Australian territory symbols, and therefore, if you're truly Australian, you should have no problem with them.

Those avatars are fantastic, Abu.  [smiley=thumbsup.gif]

In fact, I highly recommend you hand out flyers with that particular flag on it to other Australians. I think you should even petition about it becoming the new Australian flag.

In fact, you should go one step further by explaining your theory that Islamic symbols are indeed Australian symbols therefore they should be more accepted.

In all seriousness man, go out and do it.  ;) And get all your Muslim buddies, brothers and cousins to help out.  ;)

Spread the word!  8-)

PS. Don't listen to all these numbskulls. I think no Australian would be offended by that flag. Go ahead and try it out in the street. You'll see what I mean.   :)

abu_rashid wrote on Oct 6^th, 2008 at 10:05pm:

Swastika and Hammer/Sickle aren't recognised Australian State/Terroritory symbols, so I think your example is a little over the top. The Crescent and Star are recognised Australian territory symbols, and therefore, if you're truly Australian, you should have no problem with them.

So you are a true green cocos islander.

Otherwise DT's wheeze is the go -  get out there and tell 'em that if they are truly Australian they should have no problem with your design.

Well personally, as an Australian, I find it quite offensive that you're mocking one of our territory's flags. Next you'll be mocking the Norfolk Island flag because it looks a little too Lebanese!!!

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/1/1d/Norfolk_island_flag_large.png

Just because we on the East Island of Australia are not majority Muslim, doesn't mean we shouldn't respect the majority Muslim West Island and their flag!!!

I am mocking you, pal, not any flag.

Didn't you say once you're an immigrant soren?

What gives you the right to come into my country, mock one of our official flags, waffle on about how much you love the Danes, and then call me pal???

The nerve of some people...

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What gives you the right to come into my country, mock one of our official flags, waffle on about how much you love the Danes, and then call me pal???

Panache.

:D

abu_rashid wrote on Oct 6^th, 2008 at 11:52pm:

Didn't you say once you're an immigrant soren? What gives you the right to come into my country, mock one of our official flags, waffle on about how much you love the Danes, and then call me pal??? The nerve of some people...

*Silent chuckle*

Yeah... you tell him, Abu... 'your country.'  ;)



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Well personally, as an Australian, I find it quite offensive that you're mocking one of our territory's flags. Next you'll be mocking the Norfolk Island flag because it looks a little too Lebanese!!!

*Holding back laughter*

Yeah you go Abu!  ;) Tell the world that Islam is part of our nation now. And that Australians should embrace Islam! You should also petition to the PM that they should replace churches with mosques and I really think you should express your rights to pray at work. Seriously man! Go for it!

Your an *Australian. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise! A full blooded Australian! One that's been here for generations! As has Islam! Allah Achbar! 8-)

Don,

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Tell the world that Islam is part of our nation now

Hate to break it to you, but it is part of our nation, whether you like it or not. Might not be a big part yet, but it's a part.


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And that Australians should embrace Islam

Many of us already are :)


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You should also petition to the PM that they should replace churches with mosques

No need to, the Christians are selling them to us anyway. My local mosque is a former church.


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and I really think you should express your rights to pray at work.

I've never had any trouble praying at work. And I've worked for the government, worked on farms, worked for telcos, worked in retailers etc. and never once had a single problem praying. In fact most work places have always been quite obliging :) When I worked at the ABC my boss actually came up to me on the first day and told me where I could pray and that taking a long lunch on Fridays (for communal prayers) was fine. Most Australians are not bigots like you Don, you should know that by now.


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Your an *Australian. And don't let anybody tell you otherwise! A full blooded Australian! One that's been here for generations!

Yes actually, that's correct, well on most sides we've been here for quite a few generations (since at least the 1850's), except for my grandfather, he was the only recent immigrant, from Britain. :)

abu_rashid wrote on Oct 7^th, 2008 at 12:12am:

[quote]Yes actually, that's correct, well on most sides we've been here for quite a few generations (since at least the 1850's), except for my grandfather, he was the only recent immigrant, from Britain. :)

So what went wrong with you?

Wrong? I saw the light, and embraced the belief in the absolute oneness of my Creator, and it's not too late for you to do the same soren. You can reject your trinitarian polytheism and still embrace absolute monotheism. Let go of the anger and hatred you carry around inside you for the believers of monotheism, and accept it as the only true path.

You muslims are such arrogant tools. You don't know the truth or own the truth so stop professing you do. Your arrogance sickens me.

abu_rashid wrote on Oct 7^th, 2008 at 12:22am:

Wrong? I saw the light, and embraced the belief in the absolute oneness of my Creator, and it's not too late for you to do the same soren. You can reject your trinitarian polytheism and still embrace absolute monotheism. Let go of the anger and hatred you carry around inside you for the believers of monotheism, and accept it as the only true path.

Very nice, thank you.

I could not possibly side with anything absolute, especially not something that is such as colossal misundertsanding of world historical proportions as Islam.
I am not angly and hateful. More like irritated and annoyed.