- Video
-
Club Roar
Captured a great grassroots sporting moment? We want to see it!Content Collections
The Roar Community
- Join
- Login
“In a controversy the instant we feel anger we have already ceased striving for the truth, and have begun striving for ourselves.” Buddha
I read this quotation yesterday and immediately thought of all the angered rhetoric on The Roar these past few weeks.
Since controversy broke many have been angrily calling for the sacking of Kurtley Beale. Since last week’s hearing many have been equally as vocal with calls of cover-ups and conspiracy theories from all different angles.
There are so many questions about the validity of what has transpired that too many roarers, my self included, and many rugby fans in general have really stopped demanding the truth. That is, we have stopped demanding truth that does not serve our existing opinions.
We have all taken what we want to take out of speculation and angst in the media to fuel our agendas.
Take Scott Allen’s article, ‘Forget losing his Wallaby jersey, Beale could be in real legal trouble’. Scott is obviously a good rugby coach but without knowing the facts of who sent what and when, or having a background in workplace law, he jumped to an angry conclusion.
In this article he continually made mention of how you would feel if it were your ‘mother, wife, sister or daughter’ that had been subjected to those alleged texts. I ask if he considered if Beale was his ‘father, husband, brother or son’ would he want such speculation on the criminality of this controversy from a members of the media unqualified to write an articles on such a matter.
The fact is Bill Pulver has become very angry also. It seems that without really checking the validity of evidence, and without showing due responsible cynicism toward one side of the story, he called a press conference and threw Kurtley under a proverbial bus.
Since then I have been angrily calling for the resignation of Bill Pulver. On reading the above quote above I have reflected and almost instantly mellowed on the subject.
I still wish to hear all of the truth, whether that serves my opinion or not.
If the truth does prove, as The Daily Telegraph suggests, that he knew about certain inaccuracies in the leaked texts etc I have no problem un-angrily suggesting that the ARU board acts quickly.
Whether that is a sacking, a demand for resignation, or another disciplinary action toward Mr Pulver, I am not sure.
However I don’t know all the facts and that is the problem. I like every Roarer and rugby fan am now free to run with any speculation or rumour I read or here.
I do hope the ARU sees the error of their ways and releases all the information they have on this controversy. Only then can people come to terms with what has or has not happened. In the 21st century, with social media and access to information on the web, transparency and the truth is key to everything.
If the truth does show that Mr Pulver has acted appropriately I wish him well in his role as CEO of my beloved ARU.
The fact is too many people without the facts have been angry and I am the first to admit to that. As the wise Buddha quote suggests, anger is indeed self-serving. If you find yourself angry on this matter take a moment to think. Do you really want to know the truth? Or do you only want to hear what you need to fuel your opinion?
I for one want the ARU to divulge the truth. All of it. Warts and all. Even if I’m proven wrong.
There is only one last thing that I wish to write about. One important thing I have taken out of all this.
For us to help ourselves we need to let go of the fixation with the All Blacks and their self righteousness. We keep hearing how the All Blacks are superior in everything they do. That if Beale was an All Black he’d have been shown the door for what he did. Give it a rest.
Let’s compare Beale’s indiscretion with one Julian Savea.
Julian Savea is an All Black that was arrested for domestic violence toward his girlfriend. This caused hardly a ripple in the world of rugby and he was able to plea bargain himself out of any real punishment.
Beale accidentally texted a lewd photo to a Wallaby staffer that was subject of the joke. Yet he has been subjected to exponentially more vitriol before and after his hearing.
Surely one of these acts deserves the angered hatred that Beale has endured these past few weeks.
It seems anyone that has been of the opinion that Beale deserved a presumption of innocence until proven otherwise, or agreed with the independent tribunal that a fine was appropriate, was in actual fact condoning misogyny.
I wonder if these people were shouting for Savea’s elimination from the game with such vigour?
Some things are forgivable. Some things are not.
Let’s keep this all in perspective.
Let’s all seek more of the truth from this controversy.
Join The Roar rugby editor Christy Doran, former Wallaby Matt Toomua and a cast of regular and special guests as they look at the biggest issues in the game on The Roar Rugby Podcast. If you’re looking for great odds on the next game check out Aussie bookmaker PlayUp. Chances are you’re about to lose. Set a deposit limit.