INSUBCONTINENT EXCLUSIVE:
Harper Nielsen refused to stand out of recognition of the nation's aboriginal population, she said.Harper Nielsen has become a target of
nationwide condemnation from lawmakers for remaining seated during the Australian national anthem.She disrespected the troops, one lawmaker
said.Her state senator, who said she was "brainwashed," offered to give her "a kick up the backside."Harper is 9 years old.She refused to
stand out of recognition of the nation's aboriginal population, she said, suggesting the country does not represent their interests in the
same way it does white Australians
Harper was given detention at Kenmore South State School, and her parents said she had been threatened with suspension, though school
officials deny the threat.Harper's protest is an echo of former NFL quarterback Colin Kaepernick kneeling to protest police brutality
He originally sat during the national anthem."When it says 'Advance Australia Fair,' it means advance the white people," Harper told 9 News,
describing the anthem's lyrics
"And when it says 'we are young' it completely disregards the indigenous Australians who were here before us for 50,000 years."The incident
and remarks drew criticism from politicians, including former prime minister Tony Abbott, who suggested it signals "good manners" to stand
while the anthem plays.Australia's indigenous population of 2 million is plagued with higher unemployment than the general population, a
lower life expectancy by a decade and higher rates of suicide, obesity and alcoholism.Queensland Sen
Pauline Hanson, a far right nationalist politician who represents Harper's state, has long been critical of extending resources to
She took to social media to express her outrage - and blame Harper's parents."It's about who we are as a nation, it's part of us," Hanson
said in a video Wednesday
"Here we have a kid who's been brainwashed
And I'll tell you what, I'd give her a kick up the backside."Jarrod Bleijie, a shadow education minister and member of the Queensland
Parliament, accused Harper's parents of using their daughter as a "political pawn" and urged her to stop the protest."Refusing to stand
disrespects our country and our veterans
Suspension should follow if she continues to act like a brat," he said on Twitter.Harper's father, Mark Nielsen, on 9 News called his
daughter a "very brave young person" for taking a stand.In a statement, the Queensland Department of Education said it was inclusive and
supported different points of view, but denied that Harper had been threatened with suspension or expulsion for her protest."The school has
been respectful of the student's wishes and has provided other alternatives including remaining outside the hall or not singing during the
national anthem," the department said.Harper's mother, Yvette Miller, called the school's reaction too severe, News 9 reported."We were
surprised behavior such as a passive nonparticipation might be considered in the same realm as something like bringing a knife to school or
being violent toward others," Miller said.(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by TheIndianSubcontinent staff and is
published from a syndicated feed.)
