Still, I find it very presumptuous to assume that every patriot will sooner or later turn into a fascist. And this is coming from someone who can't identify with any of these terms.

And that's the thing right? What more reason would there be for national pride than to erase history? And that is a classic fascist move. People are always easier to control when they make their country part of their personality.

Only recently is it becoming more spoken about. It certainly wasn't mentioned when I went to school in the 90s

@Ball Fondlers, it's the same in most European countries. Many of the western ones have a colonial history that they tend to sweep under the rug. Australia seems to at least publicly process its history.

It's mostly just brainwashing. They don't know why they are proud, they are just told to be. Turn on the tv. Go aussie go. Proud aussie. 100% australian. blah blah blah

Still I expect the people I respect to have these things in mind and question where such pride comes from and what it can be used for.

Yes, most (or at least many) aussies ignore the past. My parents for example don't acknowledge it