I was walking onto campus the other day on a route I hardly ever use anymore, which takes me past the Student Village (the dorms). They’re not very large, and generally house international students. Anyway, this red thing hanging up in a tree caught my eye, and I paused to look at it. It was a flag, tied to a flagpole inexplicably planted right underneath a large eucalyptus. It was, actually, The Confederate Battle Flag.

I stopped long enough to take a few photos, and walked on. It took me only another five minutes to reach the café where I get my morning coffee, and by the time I was in line for a cappuccino (fair trade, of course) I was hopping mad.

I mean, really, what the hell? There’s always that one guy in an American dorm who hangs a rebel flag in his window, and he always does it in the name of southern heritage, or free speech, which is fair enough, but I think by now we all accept that Dixie has lost that battle. And usually that guy is not very well liked by his dorm-mates. So he… goes to Perth? Australia already sports a flag fielding the emblems of a hollow, meaningless empire; it does not need another one. So, where did this one come from? Some American student who thinks he’s ‘celebrating’ his culture, by hanging it in some forgotten corner under a tree? Does he think it’s funny? Does he feel clever? Jesus, why not actually hang it from the official flagpole in Bush Court. Why not pull down the Australian Commonwealth flag, or the Western Australian flag, or if he really wanted to make a statement, take down the Aboriginal flag and replace it with good ol’ Dixie! Freeeebiiird!!

Maybe I’m not giving this guy the benefit of doubt. Maybe it’s not a guy. Maybe he or she is trying to make a statement about freedom of speech after all (which, technically, Australia does not protect). Maybe he or she is trying to display some pride on a campus that prides itself on diversity. Maybe he or she is trying to instigate dialogue. Or maybe he (or she) is just a big fan of The Dukes of Hazzard.

I’m not sure where to go from here. A fellow student pushed me, if I was that disturbed, to complain to the Student Guild. “Murdoch supports tolerance and should be upset to host symbols of hate on campus.” She said. “And, sorry, but America doesn’t need any more bad press.” I could write a letter to the school paper; but no one reads it (ok, maybe some do; I don’t). I could leave a note on the flagpole asking who put it there and please tell me why. Or, I could take the bait and set it afire…

Or I could just chill out and opt for some redneck satire with Jackie and Dunlap.  Ahh, that feels better.

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