The crowd at the All Stars vs Indigenous Rugby League game in Brisbane played on Saturday night 12th February, 2011, were treated to a war dance display by dancers from the Aboriginal people. What an awesome sight it was, too.
After falling over themselves to try and show the world how wrong they were on the matter of human rights and having finally apologised to the Indigenous nation for their ‘lost generation’, is Australia learning?
Maybe it’s my scepticism of how I, a New Zealander, views the Aussie who endeavours to steal, infer, declare or simply highjack most things that they lack and then try and convince the world it was, or still is their own.
I also tend to feel that Australians try harder to prove they are the best at everything. Failure appears to be no option.
If you are not a winner (achieved at any cost by fair means or foul) then you and your team are losers, so move over for a winner.
To do this they acknowledge achievement by generally displaying what is considered by many as arrogance, create an inference and then make that inference fact to overcome any loss by them.
This helps them feel they were hard done by and were really the winners even though they lost. Such examples are, “What a great try, pity the All Black pass looked forward and because of it we lost.” Or, “We ain’t gonna lose it now Trev so bowl the bloody underarm.”
Pavalova, Crowded House, Russell Crow and, could it be, the Haka too?
Aussies on the steal again, is it in their genes?
They have a will to win.
By comparison, New Zealander’s seem to have adopted an attitude that it is alright to come second, that ‘the meek shall inherit the earth, if it is alright with the rest of you’ or, ‘it’s the taking part that is more important rather than the winning’.
Utter nonsense. We as a nation are so obsessed with doing things right, to be seen as fair to all, and are so PC that it has now clouded our brains into believing that all our visuals are to be viewed through tinted frosted glass.
Accordingly, no one tells you that you are a loser (Denis Connor accepted) and we have made any second place (or less) an acceptable choice.
Controversy raged over the winning by the All Whites of the NZ Halberg Awards 2011, because they won, or was it that they came second to others who did win?
Hillary and Tensing were the first on Everest, but who was next? People only remember winners and it’s the ‘mongrel’ that is often said to be missing from New Zealand achievements in sport today.
We are considered to be the ‘poor cousins of Australia’ yet we refuse to lie in their shadow which is why it makes them try harder and do better than us. The chip on their shoulder is a heavy log.
In 1976, when Australia won no gold medals at the Olympic Games, a mindset gripped their nation vowing that it would never happen again, and that ‘a win at all costs’ would be the national call.
We need to adopt the same attitude, arrogance and sheer tunnel vision that their sportspeople have. We do well but we can do better with more focus and less sickening sugary candyfloss.
Let us stop basking in the glory light of the few and become winners at all things thereby making New Zealand a formidable foe feared by all nations in all sports.
Winning is in the mind and all games are won before they ever take the field. Any team that goes on to a field without this attitude is a loser.
Winners only go on to playing fields to find out by how much they won by, not to see if they can win.
Oh, and by the way, what surprise do the Australians have in store for us at the Rugby World Cup? Singing their national anthem in Aboriginal as well as English? At least they cannot steal our Haka, or can they?
Do not be at all surprised to see them steal just one more thing from their indigenous brothers before all is forgiven.
A performance of an Aboriginal War dance as a retaliatory answer to nullify our All Black challenge is now more than likely should we meet them on that final occasion in November.
But ye of little faith, fear not.
At last, in the mind of my win at all cost, one eyed, tunnel-visioned, no holds barred, is the bruised and battered All Black mongrel dog, who after twenty four years of waiting has finally taught him that losing will no longer be an option.
Michael Warren is a resident rugby writer for http://www.haka.co.nz
Australian
Guest
They are quite cute actually. Like a little yapper miniature dog snappng at the heels of a large Mastiff that doesnt even notice. Cute.
Australian
Guest
That was beautiful! Spot on!!!!
AussieKiwi
Guest
Hope people realise that most Australians don't share Jason's views. He has his facts wrong, not surprising. The apology was on behalf of the current Australian Parliament (NOT past Governments), and was supported by the Liberal opposition. Decent people realise it was necessary to apologise for a few small historical unjustices including dispossession, genocide and the stealing of children from their families. People with an ounce of intelligence realise that the apology had nothing to do with individual guilt and everything to do with reconciliation. And people with a skerrick of historical knowledge know that aborigines fought bravely to defend their land but they couldn't fight guns with spears. They were indeed valiant warriors.
Republican
Guest
Interesting, I would have to disagree. NZ are far more obsessed at being the best at all and sundry and this is especially evident when v Oz. This sort of affliction is endemic to their cultural DNA. NZ is also a country that is perpetually on a vigil to claim any semblance of Kiwiness available to them around the globe, in their quest to be noticed and certainly in respect of their perceived need to be better than Australia. While it is true that most countries are prone to appropriate to this end, NZ have perfected this art, (who could forget the Chinese Gooseberry) and have been very opportunistic in their ability to piggy back, albeit quite selectively, on any Australian success and indeed our cultural identity when it suits their mercenary agenda. What makes NZ ers even more disingenuous is their sanctimony in assuming to be our moral compass, publicly deriding us at every opportunity whether that be politically, socially or in sport to somehow make themselves feel superior. More's the pity that we Australians continue to benevolently humor them with that misguided paternalistic affection we have for too long now shown Kiwis, despite their collective. ingrained contempt for this country.
Damo
Guest
William, it may be a wind up but its an echo of similar kiwi opinions that are genuine. Rather than a successful joke I think it's an each way bet - an experimental opinion piece. You know -the one you can disown as a joke if it causes offense. There are kiwis who express these type of views about Australia sincerely. It's been a good catalyst to put aboriginal participation in rugby on the agenda though.
Modernity
Guest
Inferiority Complexes are common with younger siblings and we NZ'ers are without a doubt the younger sibling in this case. New Zealand was invited to join the federation of Australia and decided not to. Properly to the loss to both countries in the end, but certainly to the greatest gain the the sport of Rugby. Both our counties have be at the forefront of creating the greatest warrior sport on earth and in the most part a game played by gentlemen.
AdamS
Guest
http://uncyclopedia.wikia.com/wiki/Pakeha
jeznez
Roar Guru
Damn those pakeha!
William
Guest
For a wind-up to be successful it must always contain that element of creditability and believability and Michael has moulded both into his article. Just luv it.
AdamS
Guest
I thought the Maoris gave it to them?
Kuruki
Roar Guru
Word has it the Aussies are actually planning on doing a Haka tonight a quick sneek peak. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W7nraMHsG8c
RedsNut
Guest
The haka is a Maori thing, not a NZ thing. The NZ population isn't entirely Maori, so "the white people" have stolen something from the indigenous people.
Kuruki
Roar Guru
It's only a non issue to those who have lived off and live on the spoils of a mineral rich country at the expense of the rights of the true owners of the land. That's like me setting up a tent on your front lawn then saying ' it's algood mate i have no issue with you living in your house'
Sean Fagan
Guest
Both the Wallabies & Kangaroos once had war cries - they were claimed to have Aboriginal origins, but at best they were composed pieces rather than the purported Maori haka equivalent of “the Illawarra tribe” (Wallabies) and Stradbroke Islanders (Kangaroos). "These Colonial Rugby War Cries" > http://rugbyaustralis.wordpress.com/2010/11/26/haka/
Football United
Guest
would love to see an indigenous war dance, i love how NZ are able to incorporate that into their sporting culture. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0Y59JIObk_U if you watch the bloke going mental in this it shows how intimidating and uniquely australian this challenge could be. We've done it before and we certainly should bring it back, for both the wallabies and the kangaroos.
p.Tah
Guest
Damo, it's slowly happening rugby, but a long way to go. The Lloyd MCDermott development team is a great initiative. Yesterday Shannon Walker from the Titans signed with the ARU 7s team. He had mixed career in the league but I predict a great 7s player.
Damo
Guest
Thanks Moa, but as I said to the big Maori fella who stood up in the crowd at Syd Bledisloe 2000 and declared loudly his pride in his 'nation' at about the 24 nil mark.- 'I'm a pakeha Aussie and I'm proud of my nation too!' Win, lose or draw I'll wake up tomorrow as a proud Australian, perhaps even 'cocky'. Regarding the two countries they say you can pick your friends but you can't pick your neighbours. NZ are just dead lucky in that regard. Looking forward to a great game. And if you guys come up short on the scoreboard, it's ok. You are certain to win the haka. Wallabies by 10.
Jason
Guest
lol you have no idea, some of my closest relatives are part-aborigine and this is a non-issue, there are more important things to worry about. I don't need to say 'sorry' cause I've done nothing wrong, it's like a German person apolgising to a Jew or a Turk apoligising to Armenians just because of their race. God forbid the bloodthirstywhite man because their the only only ones that rape, pillage and plunder of course. I think pc white people need to move on or maybe actually go out to an aboriginal community and talk with one.
Moaman
Guest
Sheees Damo---i like the cut of your jib mate----- just about make you an honourary kiwi for the day( i want you to be happy tonight come final whistle) !!
Damo
Guest
Oh Jason, just when Australia looks like it's making progress someone pipes up and reminds us how far we have to go. Today that person is you. All Australians are the recipients of a vast resource that was used by aboriginal people in their own way till white man came. All Australians today share the spoils of that acquisition. Aboriginal people still do not share equally in that opportunity. If you believe that the crimes are all in the 'past' Jason then you have not been paying attention. If you can't say 'sorry' could you not at least say 'thanks'.