Letter to The Editor - Non-British backgrounds are happy to be a part of the free and prosperous nation

To The Age        Contrary to the claims by Irene Goldwasser (26/9), Australia Day can be seen as very much more than 'a constant reminder to our First Nation people of white invasion' and its 'sad consequences'. It rightly and honourably celebrates the day when Britain, our mother nation, established its authority here, as a result of which we all enjoy the infrastructure and facilities of a viable modern nation. Australians of all backgrounds should feel pride in this achievement and gratitude to our mainly British pioneers. It is untrue, too, that the day 'has little meaning for millions of people from different cultures.' On the contrary, ignoring the exaggeration there, many immigrants from non-British backgrounds are happy to be a part of the free and prosperous nation that has developed so well thanks to the religion, political ideals and legal protections that the British brought here. They are not sympathetic to separatist white-anting.
  Nigel Jackson, Belgrave, Vic