Hysterical media is killing race relations

I did my usual Google of Rugby League under the NEWS heading and came up with one mention of Tahu and Johns having a get together today. If our media is so interested in fighting racism, where are the thousand stories on this? The media is a dsgrace. THE racism issue that engulfed rugby league is a step closer to resolution after Andrew Johns and Timana Tahu held a private meeting at Parramatta Stadium last night. Johns and Tahu met at the back of the Ken Thornett Stand before last night's match against North Queensland, with the pair speaking for 15 minutes. Johns attended the game as part of his commitments with radio station Triple M, which broadcasts Monday night football. Tahu did not play last night due to suspension. When approached, Johns said: "Timana was just in here. We are fine." The body language of the pair seemed relaxed and calm. Johns, wearing a cap and looking healthy, has now returned to work with Triple M and Channel 9 after the racial drama that drove a knife into the NSW State of Origin camp.

Mal Browns comments were made at a private function, which someone had recorded. They're all stupid fools who deserve the condemnation they received. It's just surprising that so many have jumped to Johns defence - would people do it if he was in politics?

Watch his reply to you, Dogs of War. He will say something to the effect of that he doesnt mean it to be a case of AFL versus NRL, but a case of how his generalisations about those 'apologists' for the Joey Johns' comment are different from the fact that AFL supporters didn't try to apologise for Dipper's and Mal's comments. Stupid, I know, but there is no use of trying to analyse his arguments..... All he is trying to get across is that the NRL and press as a whole condemned Joey's comment and just because he thinks it was a 'racist' comment intended to incite racism in Australia then we all should condemn Joey as a racist and progress toward his utopian society..... He argues as if all the press and all the NRL agree with his sanctimonious viewpoint - all we need to look at is the specific headline to this article to ascertain the outcome of this debacle "hysterical media - and "bleeding hearts" are killing race relations".

Which comment recieved a larger media beat up? Dipper and Mals? Or Johns comment? Especially given that Dipper and Mal's where made in public, while John's was made in private. The difference is that someone in the Johns case spoke up at the offence it caused, while the other cases no one complain publicly. Just cause no one did, doesn't mean it wasn't offensive. It may have been roundly commended, but it doesn't take away from the fact that they were made. Your kidding if you want to use this as an AFL is better than NRL case.

That "Dipper" guy and et. al, and "alterior" motives... , what does that say about someone who is trying to make a point of difference between two codes he knows nothing about, as well as not knowing anything about the supporter base.. hehehe..

It’s interesting to note the difference in response between the Rugby League and AFL communities to recent racist comments made by prominent sportsmen. The comments made by Mal Brown and that Dipper guy were roundly condemned by the AFL organisation, supported by the media and by the broader AFL community. No-one jumped to the defence of the comments or the people who made them. The NRL and the press quite rightly condemned the use of racist slurs by Andrew Johns when making his comments, in recognition of the hurt they can do, to people impacted and to relations between races in our multi-cultural society. However there does seem to be a large Rugby League supporter base who have jumped to John’s defence, at least if The Roar is a guide. They prefer to defend the instigator of the racist slur and attack those who were rightly offended by it. What does that say about the supporter base of the two codes I wonder? And which of those reactions better reflects the sort of society we want to have in a modern multi-cultural Australia?

Yes, Mr Intellect, you sure do go to the trouble to explain yourself, don't you? When asked relevant questions relating to how you think your complaining will alter things in reality,l you don't (or can't) answer and run for the hills! Now that we have gotten past the views of a first generation (at best) Australian and his need to make amends for the sins of his forefathers and him still being bogged down in the hierarchical class-system of England from which he is desperately trying to dig himself out of, we can move on. The beliefs and sanctimonious tirades of the bleeding hearts only serve to further reinforce racial divide in this country. Practical opportunities for improving race relations include such things as access to adequate healthcare and education. But access to education does not necessarily mean that it will be taken up. Encouragement from the community and family units can assist in the motivation and take-up of educational and healthcare opportunities. Rugby League is also a great vehicle for achieving teamwork and contributing to racial harmony. Despite what the doom-sayers say, one man's stupid, out-of-context comment does not tarnish the game nor should it affect the nation as a whole, along with the motivation for children and adults to play the game, and add to its reputation as one of the greatest games of all! Let's move on from a holier-than-thou, punitive attitude, which only serves to further divide us into adversarial positions! Ernie is right when he states 'stop bashing your own countrymen and think outside the square". A stupid comment made by someone in the public eye - who has now been punished for the inability to control his inhibitions - does not refllect the image or beliefs of rugby league, nor society in general.

Sorry to see you go, Richie old boy. Leaving with your loss of face, lack of education and intellect. And as that inimitable band - the B52's- once sang ' you're livin' in your own private Idaho". hhaahaha. I will surely miss your scintillating repartee` and bold efforts at working towards your own unique utopian society. Check back in with us in 10 years to let us know how that's going for ya. Luckily for Australia that the powers that be do not share your beliefs or views. I was even going to change your name for you to "Mr Intellect" as Richard sounds do very droll, and to help you stroke your own ego. Glad you're not here and don't forget not to send a postcard...hahahaha

Looks like I'm doing what you're doing then RtheE, ie, "making my opinions known on forums". Only trouble is whereas I argue coherently for a point of view and go to some trouble to explain it, you respond with bombast and invective. What you lack in intellect you make up for with volume. You are right about one thing though, I am wasting my time exchanging opinons with you. Your head is set in concrete and you just can't see further than the end of your nose. So this is the last time I am going to bother to respond to any post by you. But just so you don't interpret my silence as acquiescence, I'll leave you with a response to all your future posts which are in the same vein. Bollocks!

Ditto, clipper, my use of the term 'wise man' was also not meant to be taken literally. FYI, wise men are not always experts in any area, or even a particular area under discussion. If being an expert in this particular area was a prerequisite to being able to debate in this forum, then poor old Richie's first post would have been blocked and we would never have heard from him again, and also have had the fun ride of watching him try stroke his own ego, but do little more than make matters worse for poor old Tahu and Inglis, by 'attempting' to attack those who dare not support his crusade. hahaha

Also, Richie, what exactly will you achieve by your bleating "I will not tolerate this" jibber jabber? You tell me what you will achieve - or what you think you will achieve - by only making these statements and then we'll all know! it seems to me that you think you can change society and the world (according to how Richie believes it should operate) by making your opinions known on forums and your intolerance to your so-called 'racial' slurs will change things, somehow. That's the really amusing part of your efforts - other than your futile attempts to make everyone believe that you have been gifted with superior intellect - which only serves to exhibit your fragile ego, really.

And it's "hysterical" by the way.

Ok. I wasn't thinking of it in those terms and I didn't agree with the article anyway. However I do enjoy both Union and League and I'd like to see both prosper. I do think though that all of us, black and white, have a right and a responsibility to stand up for the sort of Australia we want to live in. And as far as I'm concerned that doesn't include allowing people to think it's ok to use a racist slur to denigrate another human being. We are all implicated when a high profile person does this and its up to all of us to say we won't tolerate it. In a reverse impact to that which is intended, the more Johns' supporters defend him, the more those who are disgusted with his remarks have to protest. So the debate escalates. I agree. It's up to Greg Inglis and the other indigenous players whi he offended to decide whether they will forgive him. I'll stop attacking his comments, though, if others stop defending them.

We all come into the world backwards Richard - and that is the birth that England gave its convicts and the Indigenous population of this land. Our country prospered from hard working peoples from all Nationalities - the Irish, Italian, Chinese, and Germans included, and only after an explosion in numbers once Gold had been discovered. This was the only likely scenario of freeing oneself from debt - to find gold !!!!! The elite were given control over all of the land - and you paid both rent and taxes to them - you'd be lucky to have enough money for a pint at the local pub by the time your 70 hour work week was finished. Read the headline of this topic again please - "Hysterical media is killing race relations". My point is that race relations have nothing to do with Mr Andrew Johns and his slur which should realy offend dark skinned people alll over the world. The attack though is on Rugby League, and it has been raised by a Rugby Union convert who may have more on his agenda than some people might think.

Wow you sure have tickets on yourself. You've even got the hide to call yourself "Voice of the People". What voice, what people? And for that matter, what evidence of my narrow minded and myopic viewpoint? Is that all you are going to say or are you planning to say something intelligent? Voice of the People? Voice of Darkness if you ask me.

England is the mother country in the sense that it was settlement from England which gave birth to modern Australia. In the same way it gave birth to America and Canada. Not all mothers are kind however and I agree with you that England in the 18th century was not a kind place. Thank god eh Ernie that we live in Australia in the 21st century. As far as it being the elites who deprived ordinary folk of their opportunities, well I know what you mean, but I'm not sure its especially relevant to our topic is it? If it is, then I'd have to say that things are never all that simple are they? History shows that some people in the elites certainly did deprive ordinary folk and some in fact provided opportunities to ordinary folk. My mother's experience is a case in point. She was an orphan, born into a poor weaver's family in Lancashire and was brought up in Barnardos homes, founded by a member of the elite and financed in those days at least by the Christian wealthy who provided her with tremendous opportunity. But I wasn't necessarily talking about the elite, but those of influence, those who take responsibility and who lead. They come from all walks of life and my point was that they have shown greater enlightenment in the way they have handled this example of expressed racism in public life. I hadn'tplanned on a discourse on political philosophy Ernie, but thanks for the opportunity.

Big Al - my point should be clear. Rugby League is a working mans game. The division between Rugby League and Rugby Union occurred when elite Union officials refused to insure any player who was injured on the field. This left only the wealthy with the opportunity to play Rugby Union. The poorer players if injured had no means of feeding or caring for their families - thus Rugby League was born. You will find media outlets (often Rugby Union fans) who are owned in majority by the elite, attacking Rugby League for their own personal agendas. This scenario with Mr. Andrew Johns is no different. Do you see anyone in the Australian Cricket Team threatening to boycott India after the continuing racist "Monkey" call of Andrew Simmons? Where is his support or hatred for India as a collective whole by bloggers on this site? Stop bashing your own countrymen and think outside the square. The Rugby Union boys want our television ratings, press coverage, pay t.v deals, merchandising, and bums on seats. You are helping them towards their goals just nicely.

. . . . . spiralling out of control and off the point here !! . .

Richard - I find it amusing that you refer to England as "The mother country". Mothers are generally reknowned for both care and compassion for their children, and also their childrens friends. To be bound and chained and sent to an unknown foreign land for acts such as petty theft to feed ones own family in times of hardship is not the action of any mother that I know. To then work these convicts to near death, starve them, whip, shackle, and denegrate them is anything far from motherly. Kings, Queens, government, land lords, nobles, aristocracy, and certain church groups have been treating the down and unfortunate as a commodity for as long as history can remember. Those with influence as you suggest are the very source that have deprived ordinary folk the opportunities that are given to family members and the elite. Wake up and smell the roses !!!!!!

No, sorry, I was a little sarcastic. What I should've said was that we can't assume Billo is a wise man. He may well be, but is he an expert in the area? Has he been published? Is he a lecturer on the subject? His opinions or statements should carry no more weight than any other poster.