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Perhaps it’s time to acknowledge that Adam Goodes and the wide number of football reporters are not the best representatives for modern racial equality.
These major sporting personalities are clearly trying to light a slow-burning fire with the wrong kindling.
Every word Adam Goodes speaks about this most passionate of issues is underpinned by a deep-seated anger and notable aggression. This was recently highlighted by his use of an Aboriginal war cry directed at Carlton fans in Round 9 and the furore around Hawthorn fans booing him the previous week.
Reading into his history, there is no denying that Adam’s feelings and opinions are completely valid and reasonable. I cannot imagine what it is like to feel that kind of displacement, or to be personally touched by such an enormous national tragedy.
The disgraceful treatment of his mother as a child of the Stolen Generation is unforgivable.
The issue with Adam as the face of racial equality is that he is unforgiving. An apology requires forgiveness before any progress towards recognition and resolution can be successful.
It is time to realise the enormity of this issue and its ramifications outside the world of Australian rules football. The face of this issue must be across all aspects, and be provided the opportunity to work with all Australian communities for the greater good.
An individual working towards true equality must lose a bit of their individuality to be able to accept and live in peace with all people and affect change.
Aggressive actions cause aggressive responses, the result is a divisive environment that is not conducive to change.
You have two choices, Adam.
Step down. You’re proving yourself as not the best suited to this job and could potentially cause more harm than good as such a provocative personality.
Or, change your approach. Be aware of how you interact with your community. Your choices create your relationships and this in turn creates the environment you live in. Try positivity and you may receive a more positive response, break down the silos.
I feel there has been a very harsh indictment of fans caught up in the emotion of supporting their team, these people do not have the ability to personally respond to being branded racist. I’ve heard a crowd lift in anger in response to a great many actions on the footy field and to immediately call these lovers of the sport out as racist is damaging and disrespectful.
Stop perpetuating a hate that simply is not as pervasive in AFL fans as it’s made out to be.
Lindsay Thomas, Hayden Ballantyne, Ryan Crowley – there’s no question as to why these players are sledged by the crowd. Adam has been on this list for a long time, and to say that he was not booed before is ridiculous.
Play or dive for a free kick? You get booed. Be aggressive and antagonistic to the crowd? You get booed. Shy away from contact then remonstrate with the umpires? You get booed. Publicly complain about being booed? You get booed.
I’m sorry, but this is just football fervour, not racial vilification. Let’s all take a few steps back and take some responsibility for what we’re accusing people of and what we’re perpetuating.
As Adam says, there are always two sides to every story and you can choose to be offended or not.
I choose to give these people the benefit of the doubt – therefore I choose not.
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