Matt Rendell situation thread #3

[skoobydoo]

How succinct are Patrick Smith's lines in The Australian --- 'More broadly it seems the issue of race has become a weapon and not a principle'. (I particularly read Misfud in that line) 'And authority appears to many as a heavy tool of coercion and not necessarily justice.'

 

[jackster83]

Funny thing - was talking to a friend yesterday that is not a huge football nut - and is a trusted senior manager - and he said Vlad is like one of those CEO's that has outlasted his stay - starting to make quick and rash decisions, believes he is bigger than the company that he runs and runs the place like a dictatorship, with no fear of retribution for his actions as he is never wrong.

Interesting take I tend to agree with - my instant thought was comparing Vlad to Bernie Ecclestone

The man is an absolute pig who believes he's bigger than the game. He doesn't give a rats about the clubs (excluding Collingwood, GWS or GC) or the supporters - it's all about the TV and sponsorship revenue. He takes the moral high ground when it suits him but feels free to act like a ruthless dicatator if someone speaks their mind or if there's dollars in it for him. The smirk on his face when they announced the Port bailout irked me, especially considering their financial situation was largely caused by the licence fee and his TV rights deal.

Claymonk should stage a coup d'etat.

 

[Freddy Bassett]

What I hated most was when Sam said he was misitifed as to why Andy D didn't accept Mifsud's resignation and that he (Mifsud) needs to stand down immediately, Brayshaw sits back in his chair like he does and says "Well Sam, don't you think it has to do with his contribution to football? And that losing Mifsud would be a great loss to football?" Ummm so what is Rendell then? Chopped liver? Not only has Rendell contributed more to football but he is a much bigger loss than Mifsud ever will be.

Nice

 

[Allefgib]

Right behind you Monk..

There are a few things I want to say here.

I have been a strongly advocating Matty R should have been given the opportunity to work through his circumstances and for everyone to come out of it better educated.

I'm more than comfortable to see the same level of respect given to Misfud (Mifsud? I'm never quite sure!). The fact that Matt didn't get it is a particular bee in my bonnet but that doesn't mean we should be unreasonable in another situation.

What more concerns me is if Misfud is cut-out for his job. Macca's backed him, and that speaks volumes to me. However, the Rendell sitaution and more particularly the Neeld situation where it seems he's sold blantant misinformation to further his own agenda have to be investigated fully and explained transparently, along with how his future performance will be monitored, including any required checks and balances on his role so that his position is not untenable. Reality is it may already be.

 

[King Elvis]

I know it's hyperbole, but there was a guy who did a hell of a lot of good things for Germany as well... Until he triggered WWII.

 

[skoobydoo]

'I've got cultural and Professional obligations to do this job I'm employed to do, cultural obligations to my own community and my own cultural values. That's something I won't shy away from. Never have,never will'.

Where is he?????

 

[western royboy]

As someone who works with indigenous people on occassions, stereotyping is one of the biggest things that really shits them.

Some of you are getting sucked in here and sailing pretty close to the wind.

 

[Cap]

As someone who works with indigenous people on occassions, stereotyping is one of the biggest things that really shits them.

Some of you are getting sucked in here and sailing pretty close to the wind.

Well they are not alone in that matter, perhaps a bit of education into the fact that everyone gets stereotyped, it is a human condition rather than something unique to them, may help.

 

[Southerntakeover]

Well they are not alone in that matter, perhaps a bit of education into the fact that everyone gets stereotyped, it is a human condition rather than something unique to them, may help.

I dont think its reasonable to say or imply that all groups have borne the brunt of discrimination and prejudice equally.

 

[NikkiNoo]

I dont think its reasonable to say or imply that all groups have borne the brunt of discrimination and prejudice equally.

Spot on STO.

Yes, at some stage all groups have been discriminated against. But some groups have and still are being discriminated against/have to deal with prejudice quite strongly. Those of us who come from a background where colonial attitudes are still prevalent, even if we want to help or be involved in change, we are white and we come from a position of power that we need to acknowledge and understand when dealing with issues that face Indigenous people. To try and minimize or say that we have suffered as much as Indigenous people is just plain wrong and can cause more harm.

 

[carloss]

#thiswouldmakeagreatmovie

 

[SydCrow]

Walkabout is actually a great movie

starring the delicious Jenny Agutter

 

[Wilburwild]

None of them has anything to do with it.

Mifsud is just a soft-****.

I completely agree. I think its more a personality issue with Mifsud than a cultural one. He is apparently a "political animal", and is clearly showing this by leaking information whether it accurate or not to the media to advance his political agenda. This time he got caught out, and like most politicians, is now avoiding answering the tough questions. He and Julia (and Media Mike) should get on great.

I still think Vlad's management needs to be seriously brought into question here, he has handled this very poorly.

On another note, did anyone hear Aker on AA last night, the boys didnt pick up on it (as usual) but Aker said that when talking with Thomas, Thomas had said that Mifsud wasn't offended by Rendell's comments, but it was Vlad who took offence.

 

[ftmch]

On another note, did anyone hear Aker on AA last night, the boys didnt pick up on it (as usual) but Aker said that when talking with Thomas, Thomas had said that Mifsud wasn't offended by Rendell's comments, but it was Vlad who took offence.

At the risk of sidetracking into another "I can't believe how useless Cornes and Rowe are" discussion, I seriously can't believe how useless Cornes and Rowe are!

 

[SydCrow]

On another note, did anyone hear Aker on AA last night, the boys didnt pick up on it (as usual) but Aker said that when talking with Thomas, Thomas had said that Mifsud wasn't offended by Rendell's comments, but it was Vlad who took offence.

that certainly lines up with everything else we know (Rendell's view of the meeting, the fact that it took Mifsud 6 weeks to report it, the fact that Vlad went ballistic).

 

[bjn1960]

I completely agree. I think its more a personality issue with Mifsud than a cultural one. He is apparently a "political animal", and is clearly showing this by leaking information whether it accurate or not to the media to advance his political agenda. This time he got caught out, and like most politicians, is now avoiding answering the tough questions. He and Julia (and Media Mike) should get on great.

I still think Vlad's management needs to be seriously brought into question here, he has handled this very poorly.

On another note, did anyone hear Aker on AA last night, the boys didnt pick up on it (as usual) but Aker said that when talking with Thomas, Thomas had said that Mifsud wasn't offended by Rendell's comments, but it was Vlad who took offence.

Yes, I heard that and I remember Thomas saying something similar on FC several weeks ago, but nobody has really addressed or clarified that point.

 

[Wilburwild]

At the risk of sidetracking into another "I can't believe how useless Cornes and Rowe are" discussion, I seriously can't believe how useless Cornes and Rowe are!

Why has no one looked into this? That would exonerate Mifsud from the Rendell situation and implicate Vlad. Then Mifsud would have just the one mistake and Vlad two. Rendell 0.

 

[JP Sauce]

Andrew McLeod's support really makes me think that Mifsud just lacks understanding of his role. He might be doing a great job that we haven't seen. At minimum he is naive about media, more likely incompetent in dealing with media. He may not have had media relations training that surely would be required if his role is to be a public one.

I'm sure others could continue the good work of Mifsud, without the media debacle that has ensued. I agree that Mifsud's continued role is untenable, and that he will have lost the trust of the very people he is supposed to be an advocate for. At minimum a sideway move is required and someone more capable in dealing with media and a better understanding of cultural relations needs to take charge to restore confidence in that position.

In this case, the AFL should really set up some kind of education/training system, a school of sorts, so that talented new employees can be better equipped to handle the demands of life with the AFL. You'd hate to see talented people with a lot to offer the AFL dropping out of the system because they weren't adequately prepared to handle the job, so I think some kind of AFL Media Assimilation Program would be quite useful. AMAP?

I guess we could change the title if people wanted, but I think the idea is sound.

 

[srv23]

Well they are not alone in that matter, perhaps a bit of education into the fact that everyone gets stereotyped, it is a human condition rather than something unique to them, may help.

Maybe so but I'm sure there aren't many people of white anglo-saxon background who understand what it's like to be stereotyped as lazy, prone to go "walkabout", alcoholic, dirty etc which is something people with dark skin, in particular aboriginal people, have had to put up with in this and other western countries. At Aami we sit next to a couple of lovely elderly ladies who we have gotten along with extremely well with over many years but just last season a group of aboriginal people were standing in the aisles behind us and one of them started whispering stuff like "yuck can you smell that, I can't stand that smell" which is absolutely disgraceful and something I found especially offensive having dark skin myself - and that was at Footy Park in 2011 at a Crows game. These attitudes are unfortunately rife in our society still. White people in a western country will never truly understand what it's like to be racially vilified or stereotyped based on the colour of your skin because of the history that is behind it - in western society white pople have never been viewed as second class citizens and lived with it throughout their whole life. I have had 30 minute conversations about footy with patients in the thickest Aussie accent (I've lived here my entire life) and have then had that patient ask "When am I leaving Australia and going home", I've had patients tell nurses they would rather see a white doctor (without even meeting me or talking to me), I've seen a muslim doctor who I work with receive hate mail in her pigeon hole at work.

Unfortunately situations like this with Misfud only serve to further fuel racist attitudes amongst the bigots who already foster such attitudes. They do nothing to actually help the very real issue of racism in this country.

 

[western royboy]

well said

 

[ManInTheArena]

Unfortunately situations like this with Misfud only serve to further fuel racist attitudes amongst the bigots who already foster such attitudes. They do nothing to actually help the very real issue of racism in this country.

I think they also fuel debate and can "shift" attitudes, whether the shift is big or small it doesn't matter, it's usually heading towards the right direction (it usually doesn't go the other way).

Case in point is your post. Someone reads it and empathizes, and then shifts their attitude a bit. Rarely will someone have an epiphany and totally change their attitude towards an issue in one hit.

Thanks for your post by the way, it has helped me gain some insight into what it feels like.

 

[Allefgib]

At Aami we sit next to a couple of lovely elderly ladies who we have gotten along with extremely well with over many years but just last season a group of aboriginal people were standing in the aisles behind us and one of them started whispering stuff like "yuck can you smell that, I can't stand that smell" which is absolutely disgraceful and something I found especially offensive having dark skin myself - and that was at Footy Park in 2011 at a Crows game.

Was there a bad smell or not?

I'm sure the old dears would have said similar if some pig farmers/drunken slobs/smokers were sitting there. I don't particularly see the racism in complaining about bad smells?

Why do you associate comments directed at others with yourself just because you have a similar color skin?

I 'm asking these questions assuming there is more to the stories, but wanting to get you to share your thoughts more. like monk I feel there is alot to learn from someone who can express their frustrations with feeling racially vilified. Please express yourself more, and better.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

just last season a group of aboriginal people were standing in the aisles behind us and one of them started whispering stuff like "yuck can you smell that, I can't stand that smell" which is absolutely disgraceful and something I found especially offensive having dark skin myself - and that was at Footy Park in 2011 at a Crows game.

Was this a direct attack on the Aboriginals? Did they point or look in their direction? Was it obvious that it was targeted at the Aboriginals? Because if you have no evidence and are just making assumptions, you're no better than Misfud whose assumptions have made him out to look like a complete dick.

And I'm not ashamed to admit that I've been standing next to an Aboriginal and thought he bloody stinks, but that's not because he had dark skin, that's just because he bloody stank. Similarly though, I have stood next to numerous caucasians who have stunk just as bad and I've had to move away from them. Unfortunately though it's only acceptable to say that white people stink, say anything similar about a dark skinned person and you're a stupid racist prick.

 

[NikkiNoo]

Unfortunately though it's only acceptable to say that white people stink, say anything similar about a dark skinned person and you're a stupid racist prick.

This is the problem, you need to understand the history and how white people, often the dominant group who historically have imposed colonialisation upon other groups, have decided they are nothing better than savages. Part of that stereotyping is the lack of bathing etc (which is hilarious considering history of the english and their fear of bathing). So the history is that saying someone with different colour skin is a lower being because of things like them 'smelling', hence yes saying it can be considered stereotyping and falling back into that pattern.

I was very lucky recently to interview a visiting Associate Professor from Canada who does a lot of research with marginalised groups such as Indigenous people, sex workers and those who have experience in child welfare etc (although in Canada the majority of sex workers are Indigenous and that is a whole another matter). She was very clear about her having to always consider her whiteness when she doing research on and with Indigenous people. You can not ignore the history of colonial attitudes and know that the Indigenous groups have had people who look like her, sound like her and who have done very bad things to their people not that long ago, some still occurring.

While all that is referring to research and ethical considerations it is something that resonated with me about how people need to think about history when considering how things are today and how we would want the future to be.

 

[ManInTheArena]

I liken Australia's colonization, or take over, to the movie Avatar. That's what I thought of when I was watching the movie. Everyone I say this to looks at me with a perplexed look.