Mega Thread Matt Rendell situation thread #2

[NikkiNoo]

The Age understands that Mifsud, accompanied by the AFL's multicultural officer, Ali Fahour, warned Rendell he was treading a dangerous path in comparing indigenous players with Africans and complaining about problems with punctuality

Read more: http://www.theage.com.au/afl/afl-news/mifsud-deeply-offended-20120320-1vi0y.html#ixzz1phgyhEtm

Freddy that IS an issue. It smacks of the old colonialism that all people with darker skin are the same, inferior savages that need to be 'helped' by the good white people. Now, yes Rendell may have been right that there are similar issues between these two cultural groups in some respects, and that what we are learning from one group we can apply some of those lessons to another, but it is something you need to be careful about the wording you use in respect to that. We all know that Rendell isn't careful about his wording.

 

[PrideOf]

Surely this should clear it up for you.

Morning tea break at AFL House is it?

 

[ruscy002]

Freddy that IS an issue. It smacks of the old colonialism that all people with darker skin are the same, inferior savages that need to be 'helped' by the good white people. Now, yes Rendell may have been right that there are similar issues between these two cultural groups in some respects, and that what we are learning from one group we can apply some of those lessons to another, but it is something you need to be careful about the wording you use in respect to that. We all know that Rendell isn't careful about his wording.

Poor wording != hanging offense, any way you look at it.

 

[PrideOf]

Ali fahour ‏ @AliFahour

Been a interesting morning. What's your thoughts on today's press??

Well, Ali would like to know what our thoughts are on the media coverage. I'll be tweeting a response to him - anyone else want to have a crack?

 

[Dolemite]

When I was at uni there an indigenous student who was given $15,000 a year to study. Was that racist? Or was it simply giving him an opportunity that he may not have been able to receive otherwise?

 

[PrideOf]

Poor wording != hanging offense, any way you look at it.

Apparently. Yet Dipper calls Gavin Wanganeen an Abo (no context required there) and is allowed an apology, a suspension and forgiveness.

 

[Drakescoffeecake]

Well, Ali would like to know what our thoughts are on the media coverage. I'll be tweeting a response to him - anyone else want to have a crack?

I'm in

 

[WALL-e]

Ate an Oreo cookie this morning......felt racist.

 

[ruscy002]

When I was at uni there an indigenous student who was given $15,000 a year to study. Was that racist?

That is positive discrimination - given the stigma associated with the word "racist", from a phillosophical perspective they are not the same thing.

 

[PrideOf]

Ate an Oreo cookie this morning......felt racist.

Did you eat the white bit first?

 

[Elite Crow]

Interesting that Mifsud has a performance based contract and that he gets paid for the more aboriginals and multinational players that are drafted, is there anyone else disturbed by that? Isn't that basically an admission that they have to be handled differently? Isn't that racism? Imagine if a similar role was set up in the afl where one of their managers got paid bonuses for the more white players drafted!

 

[WALL-e]

Did you eat the white bit first?

Felt like eating a white kid with tw black parents.

/reverse Madonna

 

[ruscy002]

Interesting that Mifsud has a performance based contract and that he gets paid for the more aboriginals and multinational players that are drafted, is there anyone else disturbed by that? Isn't that basically an admission that they have to be handled differently? Isn't that racism? Imagine if a similar role was set up in the afl where one of their managers got paid bonuses for the more white players drafted!

See above re positive discrimination...anything like this can really be looked upon either way depending on how you want to project it. Usually it's the PC show ponies who make a big deal about these sort of distinctions, rather than the people who are actually affected by it.

 

[PrideOf]

Felt like eating a white kid with tw black parents.

/reverse Madonna

Or a reverse Webster (for those of us who watched TV in the 80s).

 

[Alby_Green]

I know most of you don't but I support your club which includes Trigg and Misfud and the AFL on their stance on the issue.

How are things in the office today? High fives all round?

 

[cmndstab]

What was disgusting about it?

I probably wouldn't use the word "disgusting", but Rucci clearly left out several key points from Rendell's interview that would serve to paint him in a much better light than the article ended up doing.

 

[moogerfooger]

Freddy that IS an issue. It smacks of the old colonialism that all people with darker skin are the same, inferior savages that need to be 'helped' by the good white people. Now, yes Rendell may have been right that there are similar issues between these two cultural groups in some respects, and that what we are learning from one group we can apply some of those lessons to another, but it is something you need to be careful about the wording you use in respect to that. We all know that Rendell isn't careful about his wording.

this is the crux of the matter. it wasn't that long ago that black children were being taken away from their parents in remote communities to be brought up with white families in cities to give them a "better chance of integrating into white society". any discussion along those lines has to be handled with a lot of sensitivity and nuance.

 

[King Elvis]

He really wants his cake and to eat it too doesn't he.

He needs to do a press conference. A man in his position can do no less.

Between that article, Thomas's comments on FC, Rendell refusing to blame him and Mifsud on Twitter; I'm convinced he wasn't the catalyst for this.

It's either Fahour or Andy D (or both), Mifsud unfortunately seems to be caught in the middle.

 

[jenny61_99]

When I was at uni there an indigenous student who was given $15,000 a year to study. Was that racist? Or was it simply giving him an opportunity that he may not have been able to receive otherwise?

We're not talking about uni students though are we? We are talking about kids under 16. That means 14/15 year olds.

At first glance, Rendells suggestions seem good and his heart was absolutely in the right place. A great opportunity for indigenous kids to come from isolated communities being brought down to Melbourne to attend private schools (presumably boarding?) and the Footy Academy. Helps them adjust to the vastly different pace of life in the City and the rest of it that goes with it. On deeper analysis of this proposal and an understanding of indigenous issues, you can see how some indigenous people may take exception.

However, in the press that is coming to light today, it appears that the actual proposal wasn't what they had issue with, rather the language he used. I'm wondering if this is the first time Ali Fahoud had ever met Rendell? Mifsud would be used to his laconic no-nonsense, no holds barred approach and perhaps had never taken offense before - knowing full well that Matty didn't have racist intentions - but Fahoud may have highlighted Matts phrasing and choice of language to Jason, and after some consideration (lengthy sole searching I think is the phrase he used) he realised he was actually offended and decided to do something about it.

I personally don't understand how if/when he decided he was offended, why he didn't have a chat with his mate Rendell? That he'd choose to highlight it to King Vlad and then make it public ahead rather than having a discussion with his supposed mate is bewildering at best.

 

[Dolemite]

Anyone have anymore info on this Ali bloke? I feel he is a key player in all of this.

 

[RocknRoll]

That is positive discrimination - given the stigma associated with the word "racist", from a phillosophical perspective they are not the same thing.

The preferred term is "affirmative action".

Also on Misfud telling Rendell that he did not like being called an Aborigine. Presumably he preferred the term indigenous. I believe there is a group in Australia who do not like this term (may be Queensland?) and prefer the term Aborigine. I think the most politically correct term is "Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islanders". Also Aboriginal should always have a capital letter.

This may seem like it is impossible to get right and yes it is a bit of a minefield. But remember when referring to "them" there are many different subgroups and cultures. What is acceptable to some may not be acceptable to others.

It is certainly at best ignorant and at worst offensive to be including Africans in the same group. The only similarity is they are also from a minority.

Matt just seems guilty of insensitivity and ignorance to me. This is not the same as racism. Perhaps, since he thought he was just trying to help, he was oblivious to this and refused to back down when confronted by Trigg. What seems to have triggered the resignation rather than enforced mediation and education was the rapid escalation and leaking of the "one white parent" line to the media last Friday. It certainly should have been handled better by a number of people:
Mifsud - leaked to media which then demanded quick response from Trigger
Demetriou - went on warpath asking for sacking
Trigger - shot Rendell before he could draw
Rendell - ignorance and blind faith in his own agenda
Fahour - ? maybe stirred the pot (unclear role)

 

[Dolemite]

We're not talking about uni students though are we? We are talking about kids under 16. That means 14/15 year olds.

At first glance, Rendells suggestions seem good and his heart was absolutely in the right place. A great opportunity for indigenous kids to come from isolated communities being brought down to Melbourne to attend private schools (presumably boarding?) and the Footy Academy. Helps them adjust to the vastly different pace of life in the City and the rest of it that goes with it. On deeper analysis of this proposal and an understanding of indigenous issues, you can see how some indigenous people may take exception.

However, in the press that is coming to light today, it appears that the actual proposal wasn't what they had issue with, rather the language he used. I'm wondering if this is the first time Ali Fahoud had ever met Rendell? Mifsud would be used to his laconic no-nonsense, no holds barred approach and perhaps had never taken offense before - knowing full well that Matty didn't have racist intentions - but Fahoud may have highlighted Matts phrasing and choice of language to Jason, and after some consideration (lengthy sole searching I think is the phrase he used) he realised he was actually offended and decided to do something about it.

I personally don't understand how if/when he decided he was offended, why he didn't have a chat with his mate Rendell? That he'd choose to highlight it to King Vlad and then make it public ahead rather than having a discussion with his supposed mate is bewildering at best.

No we are not talking about uni students but couldn't it be construed that he was given the opportunity to do things the 'white' way to improve his life?

 

[Damp Squarie]

Pretty good post Jenny. The only thing I would add after watching Footy Confidential on youtube last night is that Rendell strikes me as a nut....first impressions... yes he was emotional and deserved to be, but just the way he ranted makes me think hmmm he's a 6pack short of hangover.

Caro wrote a good article on this saga this morning.

 

[SydCrow]

here is Ali F interviewing Matty R

[youtube]DZQn8uP05H4[/youtube]

 

[Dolemite]

How is Trigg going this morning mate?