Oz filmmaker fears iconic Southern Cross becoming symbol of racism

Melbourne, Jan.20 (ANI): The filmmaker, who has been chosen as the Northern Territory's nomination for Australian of the Year, wants people to spend Australia Day reflecting on the symbolic significance of the national icon.

Warwick Thornton says he's deeply concerned that the Southern Cross is becoming a symbol of racism for some Australians.

"Aboriginal people have used the Southern Cross for the last 40,000 years as a beacon guiding them to travel through country for survival, and I'm starting to see that star system symbol being used as a very racist nationalistic emblem - and that is seriously worrying me," news.com.au quoted Thornton, as saying.

"We don't want to turn the Southern Cross into a swastika - that's bloody important. We should think about that on Australia Day and the bigger issue of what it represents, why is it happening," Thornton added.

A contender for 2010 Australian of the Year, Thornton said the accolade should be given to someone who saves lives, and not someone who "just asks questions".(ANI)