No, the flag isn't racist.
But you might be.
Today I sat watched a group of kids put the Australian flag up at school. It was good to see. I was boy scout and there was a lot of honour and pride involved in being selected to fly the flag at the start of a session. Watching those kids try to figure out the flagpole reminded me of the importance the flag held when I was younger. They definitely let the flag touch the ground, but I'm guessing they don't know about that.
I love Australia. Deeply. It is a part of my identity, and I wouldn't like to be forced away from it. I like that it's too hot sometimes. I like that I have freedoms. I like that I have a good health care system (could always be better). I like that we have free education (could definitely be better). I like that we can express our political and ideological ideas openly.
But I don't like when all those good things are waved around like a toddler with a set of keys. I don't like when people use instagram reels and facebook posts as their research.
I like the Australian flag. And the Aboriginal flag. And the Torres Strait Islander flag. They're the flags of our identity and when any of them are considered offensive I find that disheartening.
The Australian flag has been adopted by people who don't respect who we are a people.
It's not racist to fly the flag, unless you make it racist. If you hold flag while marching at an anti-immigration rally organised by a neo-nazi, you're a racist.
Looks like a duck, and all that.
If you go to a march like that thinking it is not for racists, then you are a fool who has not done due diligence for yourself. You have disrespected yourself and your nation. You have not done the most basic research and found who and what that sort of March is, then you are irresponsible. If have done the research, and you still went. Then you are a racist.
If you hold the Australian flag and pull posters of migrants off the walls, you have just made the Australian flag an accessory in your racist expression.
I watched those kids today and saw the pride and excitement in flying the flags of Australia. But I watched grown men and women use that same flag to sow hatred and drive a wedge between the people of Australia. The contrast between those two uses hurts.
Stop scrolling. Start reading. Stop yelling. Start talking. Stop reacting. Start thinking.