It's our history. Really? Or is it just your history, as in your Anglo history? The fact that the Brits had a large part in forming Australia as it was in 1901 is reflected in the flag that was chosen then. But where in the flag is the representation of our now recognised indigenous citizens, or of the wave after wave of postwar immigrants, come from all parts of the world who have also since built the nation?

If it ain't broke, don't fix it. It is bloody well broke. These days, the ostentatious display of the Australian flag outside a house, on bumper-stickers or the like, is more often a statement of political conservatism than patriotism pure. The Australian flag is no longer a symbol that unites us - it divides us.

It is unpatriotic to speak out against the flag. Really? We want an Australian flag to feature uniquely Australian symbols, as opposed to the flag of another nation, and we're the unpatriotic ones?

You can't believe in multiculturalism and support a flag that asserts the primacy of the Anglo race. We need a flag that reflects the equality of our citizens, not vaunts one lot over other.

Our forefathers and mothers served and died in wars under this flag, and so it can't be changed. This is the greatest chestnut of them all, and simply wrong. In the first place, in all the military books I have read, and written, I have never come across an "Iwo Jima" moment where our troops raced up a hill, or the like, to plant an Australian flag, let alone actually defended one to the death. That stuff is great for American movies, but not actually the way our wars were fought. They fought for Australia - and I honour them for it - but not specifically the flag. Besides which, the current blue ensign was only adopted at the insistence of Robert Menzies in 1954, to replace the red ensign which had broadly been our flag since 1901.

All up, is it really such a terrible thing to want an Australian flag to boast uniquely Australian symbols? For me, the answer is Eureka, but anything that does not have the flag of another nation upon it would be better than the one we have now.

Where will it all end, you ask? How about standing proudly on our own two feet, with a flag and a system of government entirely uncluttered by embarrassing proclamations of piety to another nation …

Happy Australia Day. You too, Professor. And even you, Jonesy.