Opinion Boogate - The Adam Goodes Saga

[ManWithNoName]

No, the numerous times Adam and other parties have stated that the booing has racial undertones?
If you can't acknowledge that then good luck to you.

He said in that passage that he's changed his view of what Australia day is, which is a day of celebration and I applaud him for that. I get annoyed at many of my liberal friends for calling AUS day invasion day. It's wrong and does not promote reconciliation.

We should put greater emphasis on the importance of "sorry day" and other things other than let our day of celebration be trashed.

I'm just playing the devils advocate also here man, something that you should at least consider before you zealously push a point home.

I'm not zealously pushing a point home. You stated "calling Australia Day 'Invasion Day' is incredibly offensive". You implied he "divided the nation" and "played the race card". I've asked you to back that up.

Goodes has never stated the booing has a racial undertone
He never branded Australia Day "Invasion Day". If you can't acknowledge that some Indigenous people don't see it as the day of celebration you do, then good luck to you

 

[BrunoV]

The transcript of Goodes' acceptance speech

“It’s an honour to win an award for doing stuff that you love and that you believe in. For me, I chose that life is all about actions and interactions. I believe that our choices and how we interact with each other creates our relationships and this in turn creates the environment that we live in.

Our environment shapes our communities which then shapes the country that we all live in. Growing up as an indigenous Australian I have experienced my fair share of racism. While it has been difficult a lot of the time, it has also taught me a lot and also shaped my values and what I believe in today. I believe racism is a community issue which we all need to address and that’s why racism stops with me.

There are always two ways we can look at a situation. We can choose to get angry. Or not. We can choose to help others. Or not. Or choose to be offended. Or not. We can keep our silence or educate ourselves and others about racism and minority populations.

It is not just about taking responsibility for your own actions but speaking to your mates when they take out their anger on their loved ones, minority groups or make racist remarks. It means treating people the way you want to be treated, whether that’s your manners, the way you talk to people, whether they are your loved ones or the person serving your dinner. It’s about how you choose to give back and make a difference to those around you, your community or your country that goes outside of just yourself.

I believe we are all connected whether we like it or not. We are all equal and the same in so many ways. My hope is that we as a nation can break down the silos between races, break down those stereotypes of minority populations, indigenous populations and all other minority groups. I hope we can be proud of our heritage regardless of the colour of our skin and be proud to be Australian.

I’m not here to tell you what to think, or how to act to raise your children. All I’m here to do is tell you about my experiences and hope you choose to be aware of your actions and interactions so that together we can eliminate racism.

I’m so grateful for this award and this honour, however the real reward is when everyone is talking to their mates, to their families and their children, having those conversations and educating others about racism. What it looks like, how hurtful and how pointless it is and how we can eliminate it.

The ultimate reward is when all Australians see each other as equals and treat each other as equals. To me, everything is about people and the choices we make. I believe it’s the people and the interactions between us that makes this country so special. Thank you so much and have a great Australia Day.”

http://www.news.com.au/sport/afl/if...check-your-facts/story-fndv7pj3-1227463277546

 

[BLA60]

You're simplifying the s**t out of it. Of course there is a connection between the two, but to laude Jobe because of his reaction to booing, and then condemn Goodes for his reaction to booing, is ridiculous. Not saying everyone does it of course. But, there has been a lot of (paraphrasing here) "See? Jobe doesn't get upset about the booing, that's why Goodes is a flog" type of thing. It's people justifying their actions.

And by the way, there were definitely mass media, players and clubs comment on Jobe's boos. Government, no, but racism is without a doubt a more important issue.

No i think your more way over analysing it.

Im still yet to make any form of connection that this booing is racist apart from the media and sydney telling me it is.

How can we possibly all be racists but only at one guy? And no dont play the "oh he speaks out about it" crap.

Because if something is truely racist it would be at the entirety of that race. Not one guy. Regardless of who speaks up or who doesn't.

I don't understand why people like you insist on ignoring context.

You expose yourself when you make the ridiculous comment 'it's just because he's Aboriginal'. You don't appreciate or choose to ignore the bit that follows the 'AND' it that sentence.

'It's just because he's Aboriginal AND he put race based political issues on the agenda'.

The booing either started or intensified to the point of significance after he stood up for himself because, funnily enough, he did not like being called an Ape and then his Australian of the Year appointment which is completely misunderstood in two main ways. The first is the his speech was not a negative or spitting in the face of white Australian. It was about looking forward and growing out of the 'invasion day' attitude.

Second and more importantly, when Shane Warne takes to twitter criticising Goodes' conduct in a game as not being fit for the Australian of the Year it completely trivialises the reason for the award.

Contrary to popular opinion, Goodes did not win the award because they 'wanted to make it up to him'. He is an indigenous leader and figure head who is seriously respected by anyone who knows for his extensive and charitable work with indigenous communities. Of course these awards are symbolic, they are by nature. There will be X number of unknown charity workers who do the same amount of work that Goodes does if not more but they don't have the profile and granting the award to those people does not ventilate the issues to the extent that it does if the figure is already a public and political figure with a media profile (it the same for all awards of this type). None of it is to say that Goodes is undeserving of the award.

The suggestion that playing for a free kick somehow invalidates Goodes the political and social figure is a fundamental misunderstanding of the reasons he won the award. It dismisses the award as tokenism (which of itself I find to be a disgusting attitude).

The logical extension of the attitude is that Goodes only won the award because he was racially vilified, not that he won the award on merit. Of course the Indigenous man did not win the award on merit, how could he?

Out of this CONTEXT Goodes finds himself being the subject of booing every time he touches the ball on the sporting field.

When you can find an example that mirrors the Goodes example in any meaningful way then you might have a point.

It didnt start when he stood up for himself though where are you pulling that from. Why werent we talking about this booing years ago. Because it wasnt happening!

Secondly. I havent even brought up australian of the year or shane warne once so dont go changing the point of view to something more to your preference. In fact i have no quarrel with him being awarded AOY! Its a tremendous honor and he has been a tremendous person for his work over the years to help with the aboriginal and non aboriginal communities so lets just end that there.

I don't appreciate you criticising me when we barely even touched on anything that you've brought up. Its all out of left field. So if anyone needs to find the point, its you.

----

In general

The aboriginal community does not revolve entirely through 1 man. So there cannot be a legitimate racial undertone to any of this.

And to he branded as one for my actions without proper knowledge of my reasons or personal beliefs and morals. is actually quite insulting to me personally because it is an attack on your core as a person.

 

[DapperJong]

No i think your more way over analysing it.

Im still yet to make any form of connection that this booing is racist apart from the media and sydney telling me it is.

How can we possibly all be racists but only at one guy? And no dont play the "oh he speaks out about it" crap.

Because if something is truely racist it would be at the entirety of that race. Not one guy. Regardless of who speaks up or who doesn't.



It didnt start when he stood up for himself though where are you pulling that from. Why werent we talking about this booing years ago. Because it wasnt happening!

Secondly. I havent even brought up australian of the year or shane warne once so dont go changing the point of view to something more to your preference. In fact i have no quarrel with him being awarded AOY! Its a tremendous honor and he has been a tremendous person for his work over the years to help with the aboriginal and non aboriginal communities so lets just end that there.

I don't appreciate you criticising me when we barely even touched on anything that you've brought up. Its all out of left field. So if anyone needs to find the point, its you.

----

In general

The aboriginal community does not revolve entirely through 1 man. So there cannot be a legitimate racial undertone to any of this.

And to he branded as one for my actions without proper knowledge of my reasons or personal beliefs and morals. is actually quite insulting to me personally because it is an attack on your core as a person.

Going to have to agree to disagree.

 

[yaco55]

Booing in itself is a means of showing dissatisfaction (for want of a better word) for an act or a decision, to say it's disrespectful and insulting is taking it a bit too far.
For the record I don't boo

We can never have a mature debate on this subject till we accept that booing may be considered disrespectful and insulting.

 

[BLA60]

Going to have to agree to disagree.

Happy to settle at that.

I think its something that didnt need such a big discussion as it has had all week everywhere.

 

[MightyDon]

Respect gets Respect and i find it a little hard to respect someone who labeled our players drug cheats.

 

[MightyDon]

http://theblacksteamtrain.blogspot.com.au/2015/07/the-wayland-smithers-school-of.html

The Wayland Smithers School of Journalism


The jeering was loud. Almost deafening in its unison - as hundreds of voices simultaneously uttered a long, slow “Boooooo” at the defiant man who stood before them from his position of power and privilege. The crowd refused to be silenced, their eyes fixed on him in an angry glare that reinforced the hatred coming from their mouths, the mocking tone of their cries reaching a crescendo that seemed to confuse their target, before his trusted advisor could intervene.

“They’re not saying ‘Boo’, they’re saying “Boo-urns”.

Just as Wayland Smithers protected Montgomery Burns in The Simpsons, sections of our media, together with the hierarchy of the unnecessary at the AFL, are now lying to protect Adam Goodes in much the same way. “They’re not booing you Adam, they’re just displaying their deep seated racism the only way they can”, or in Smithers-speak, “They’re not saying Boo, they’re saying “Boo-oong!”

Of course, we have the regular roster of apologists come out, shaming the country and our society for cutting down a sports star who happens to have Aboriginal blood as part of his racial make-up. The caring, informed and sensitive city dwellers who, despite their alabaster skin tone and lack of racial diversity, can not only see, smell and hear racism, but tragically, are so deeply affected by it that they feel they must differentiate themselves from the white person next to them by pointing at them and screaming racist long enough and loud enough that somehow, somewhere in the midst of all their righteous shouting, their own skin tone will be forgotten or ignored.

One thing I’ve come to understand about our society is that often, those who see themselves as the most tolerant, educated and enlightened are usually most racist, close-minded of all. These types were the first to pick up their keyboard or a microphone and declare that speaking negatively about the so-called ‘war dance’ effort from Adam Goodes over the weekend means that we are culturally ignorant, yet in making such a claim, have themselves ignored an entire segment of the Aboriginal community, who are appalled at the ‘performance’. In wanting us to be a homogenous community capable of only thinking and feeling one way, therefore enabling them to have the correct information and be ‘right’, they are guilty of the same crime they are continually accusing an entire nation of – RACISM.

The fact is, some Aboriginal people, myself included, saw that embarrassing display and did not feel pride. Instead, we felt shame, and a sense of sadness and loss. Some of this stems from seeing yet more of our traditions mocked and traded upon, invented and earning overnight acclaim, for little more than cheap thrills while the long standing traditions are ignored, left to die quietly and uncelebrated until they are forgotten and lost forever. Some of this comes from the fact we're tired of the theatrics, and how his need for attention will play out for the rest of us, and creep a little into our own lives. For an urban blackfella like me, I hate the fact that all of a sudden my opinion is relevant. I haven’t written a blog post in almost a year, or bothered to watch free to air television in even longer, yet received two messages on my phone today – one from SBS and the other from 2GB, wanting to know what I think about the whole Goodes drama and depending on what I think, whether they want to hear from me. They aren’t the only ones. Friends, acquaintances and even the random guy standing next to me in line at the supermarket suddenly wants to hear what I have to say, but only on this one topic, just for now. The easiest way to get rid of them is to gauge their personal feelings, then just agree with them. If someone is genuinely looking for a discussion, they are easy to tell, but most people just want me to be the token black who validates their own feelings on the matter.

Views like mine, that are contrary to the representations being made by the rabid, name-calling media, are ignored or rejected by all those who simply want to brand every incident or comment with an ‘ism’, because the object of their outrage is never to stimulate an educated debate or a discussion, but rather they wish to simply stand on their given podium and recite their narcissistic lecture, a pointless exercise for them to reinforce their followers that they alone are a bastion of cultural relevance, understanding and compassion. Sadly, theses ‘enlightened’ folks also tend to take their cues on history from the most removed people of a culture, merely because they tend to occupy the cubicle or apartment next to them, or speak with the most authoritarian voice or sense of victimhood – a sure sign that they must know what they are on about, according to our current high standards of journalism in this country – instead of seeking the truth and looking for those with knowledge that comes from a life of lived tradition, rather than being well removed from it.

I used to dance as a kid. Most of the kids who grew up in our house did it, but I have no intention of my own children doing the same. My reluctance has nothing to do with them being of mixed heritage though, and everything to do with cultural appropriation. I said I used to ‘dance’ as a kid, because that is really all it was. I was dressed in a lap-lap and painted up, was taught the moves the rest of the kids were doing, but it was all just a show. The dances were not ones passed on to us from our Elders, performed for a specific reason or during a time of unique and special celebration that led me to understand my culture in a meaningful way, but rather a collection of dance moves put together by a choreographer who may or may not have had a distant Aboriginal ancestor she found out about in her mid-thirties. A few documentaries and books from the library later, she had all the cultural awareness she felt she needed, and as a bunch of children not yet trusted with much knowledge, we didn’t know any better. We danced for smiling crowds of educated, enlightened people who clapped politely while murmuring “Oh, how cultural”, as they watched us enraptured. I would smile back at them and dance harder, oblivious to what I was doing and simply happy to receive positive praise and attention from a crowd of people I didn’t even know. But I was no better than a performing monkey to them, and for all their education and compassion, those crowds were the most racist people of all. Their wisdom and understanding of Aboriginal people and culture was a passing fetish, and in an effort to appease them, I was walking all over my own culture for their amusement, all of us completely ignorant to this heartbreaking fact.

After becoming a man, I learned better. I learned that our chants, and our dances are sacred. They are powerful and special secrets, not entertainment for the masses or political statements designed to make sure you get yet another mention in the nightly news. I also took it to heart that the title of ‘Warrior’ is like respect. It is always earned, not merely given because of the colour of your skin or your heritage. I am proud to say that some of my own ancestors include great Warriors - men who fought and died to protect their families and their way of life, and faced enormous battles that I could never fully comprehend from where I sit today, in a relative position of privilege by comparison, however you look at the statistics and facts. It would make a mockery of the suffering and heroism of my ancestors to assign a title of great reverence and historical significance, such as ‘Warrior’, to a person whose fame and heroism is derived from little more than the ability to show up a few weekends a year and kick a leather ball around an overly groomed piece of paddock.

As Adam walks out for his next game, before making his way onto that perfectly manicured stadium lawn, I suggest he take a deep, slow breath and reflect upon the reality of his life. Rather than having to emerge from the sheds for the ‘coloured people’, kept separate from the white folks playing beside him, he will run out after being supported by his entire team, not kept to the back. When he is thirsty, he doesn’t have to take a drink at the appropriately labelled drinking fountain, set aside for only folks with his racial identity, but rather will be served like a prince, with a special servant whose only job is to provide refreshments for the thirsty players, regardless of their skin colour or heritage. As he drives his brand new sports car to training, where he looks around at the other players arriving in their equally expensive vehicles and stops to realise he is paid just as much as them, if not more, he should perhaps pause a moment and wonder about whether he is fighting a war that has already been won, and instead of complaining from his position at the top, realise how those on the bottom rungs might be sick of hearing him whinging and would much rather he just got on with life.

 

[2one2]

There is no suggestion from anyone that Ryder was booed for any reason other than the circumstances in which he walked out on the club.

It's all about context?

YES!!!!

Can anything be done to stop the debate going to really simple and stupid places like "why aren't the other aboriginals booed then? There it is proven"

If I read another ******* punter talk about the 71 indigenous players I will explode.

NO-ONE IS CONTENDING THAT THE CROWDS SEE A PERSON, LOOK AT HIS SKIN COLOUR AND JEERS. If you honestly believe that is the depth of the debate then I think we just have to stop right there

 

[the conch]

IMO it would never be anywhere near as bad though. Someone calls me a "white goose" they're just a bit of a prick having a go at me. You use a term like "ape" or something similar to a black person? You're going back to hundreds (thousands maybe) of mistreatment, abuse, violence etc towards people of their ethnicity. "White goose" to me just comes across as "you are a jerk who is white". "Ape" insults EVERYONE of that colour. It's saying you think that of them BECAUSE they are that colour. So yes, whites can experience "racism", but it pales into insignificance when compared to what others cop.

Just what I think of course though.

Ape implies sub human so basically a white supremacist attitude. Deeply offensive. Stuff of slave trading, apartheid, Klu Klux Klan, Nazism.

 

[the conch]

The general premiss and inference that the booing has racial purposes?

Calling Australia day "invasion day" to me is incredibly offensive.

It's regressive and does not help in improving relations.

Yea but it is true and its a disgrace that it should be on this date.

 

[DERO]

Context right now, as it has always been, is so important.

Haters are going to hate and w***ers are going to boo (or defend their right to boo).

 

[DERO]

Implicit prejudice. Google it.

 

[Harlequin]

We can never have a mature debate on this subject till we accept that booing may be considered disrespectful and insulting.

I agree that booing may be disrespectful and upsetting as we've seen that happening in the Goodes case what I don't agree with is that all booing is disrespectful and insulting

 

[MightyDon]

Australia day is s**t. Howard turned us into a bogan wonderland.

 

[Doss]

Australia day is s**t. Howard turned us into a bogan wonderland.

'straya campaigner!

And yes, I agree.

 

[The Speaker]

The Liberals under Howard were adept at embracing the age of the individual in a way that Labor could not, no matter how much they tried then and continue to try now.

 

[MightyDon]

Always thought Australia day was pretty low key/meh, till the Cronulla riots. The hottest 100 was getting a bit past its used by date by then. Now its bunch of over hyped w***ers that think its the 4th of July.

 

[Mr_McBoogerBalls]

Australia day is s**t. Howard turned us into a bogan wonderland.

Sounds like a promising upcoming theme park for QLD

 

[Stopher]

Always thought Australia day was pretty low key/meh, till the Cronulla riots. The hottest 100 was getting a bit past its used by date by then. Now its bunch of over hyped ******s that think its the 4th of July.

Fantastic day for watching cricket....from Adelaide.

 

[SherbertLemon]

Yea but it is true and its a disgrace that it should be on this date.

Of that I agree. I wish Australia was federated on a more public holiday friendly day!

 

[yaco55]

I agree that booing may be disrespectful and upsetting as we've seen that happening in the Goodes case what I don't agree with is that all booing is disrespectful and insulting

Not criticising you but no-one in the media has discussed; Why people Boo ? Is booing socially acceptable ?

Look at it another way - Booing and cheering are opposites. Cheering is seen as a positive but booing is a negative - More positivity about sporting events is welcome, but to achieve this, you have to change the entrenched and ingrained attitude of society.

 

[the conch]

The Liberals under Howard were adept at embracing the age of the individual in a way that Labor could not, no matter how much they tried then and continue to try now.

Yea. Well as part of the history wars hundreds of millions of tax money have been spent on ramping up the militarisation of australian history as the dominant narrative... diggers at war stuff like recent Galipoli celebrations through the Nat war museum. Bugger all for the greatest war, fought on home soil, between settler and aboriginies. (Read Henry Reynolds)
The Conservatives are using our money to reshape history for their political agenda. It's wrong and has profound consequences for aboriginal people cuz they are further marginalised. If money was spent differently I wonder if this super nasty stuff to Goodes would be happening.

 

[efcboy]

It would be nice if Goodes could be booed on his merits like any other player. For example kangaroos fans earlier this year wanted to lynch Hodge and Lewis after their hits on swallow and Goldstein. Booing is a part of the game in the right circumstance. Initially I believe Goodes was booed on his merits (long before the 13yo girl incident or Aus of year award) as he has been a controversial player often reported and staging. Booing week after week is going too far (like with Watson). Let's hope Goodes is back next week, the slate is wiped clean and the crowd refrains from booing unless he whacks a bloke or blatantly stages for a free kick. If he commits either of those two actions then he should be treated like every other player - that's simple equality.

I actually like the tribal dance celebrations from Goodes and Jetta. It shows character and the game has become stale (since the days of Brereton, duckworth, Jacko, capper, jakovich).

 

[The Speaker]

Yea. Well as part of the history wars hundreds of millions of tax money have been spent on ramping up the militarisation of australian history as the dominant narrative... diggers at war stuff like recent Galipoli celebrations through the Nat war museum. Bugger all for the greatest war, fought on home soil, between settler and aboriginies. (Read Henry Reynolds)
The Conservatives are using our money to reshape history for their political agenda. It's wrong and has profound consequences for aboriginal people cuz they are further marginalised. If money was spent differently I wonder if this super nasty stuff to Goodes would be happening.

I also don't find the memorialising of the Anzacs to be inherently marginalising towards Aborigines, particularly given the amount of work done lately to explore the role of our first people in the armies of our nation.

In any case, you are partaking in the history wars yourself with your post.