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The innocuous action of performing an Indigenous war dance has sent Australian sports fans and media into a frenzy. Adam Goodes’ celebration on the weekend in the Swans’ victory over Carlton, which should have been applauded, has managed to showcase the worst of Australian society.
It is a waste of time to point fingers at individuals – the media, AFL personalties and the public have all played a part in creating something out of nothing.
The comments on videos, Facebook posts, Twitter feeds and news articles, even some posted here on The Roar, have arrived from many fingers, and is just further proof that Australian sport, and Australia as a country, has a lot of work to do in bridging the equality gaps existent in our society.
The media certainly did not help by highlighting the simple celebration as causing “outrage” among supporters, but the fact that their coverage elicited such outrage shows that they were spot on.
This is not about media hype – though they are not an innocent party – this is about people having a problem with a man celebrating his culture, or somehow finding it offensive.
Goodes has become a divisive figure for no apparent reason other than that he wants to use his public profile to highlight important issues in Australian society. Yes, racism, but most importantly he wants people to embrace Aboriginal culture, something that Australians have found hard to stomach.
Bringing up the word ‘racism’ is almost taboo in Australia. It is an ugly word and can admittedly be sprayed around too loosely at times. But it should not be that way. Australia has to accept that it has a problem with racism and bigotry, otherwise it will not go away.
Sportspeople are not just meant to be sportspeople, they are supposed to be role models, as we are told every day. Yet apparently they are required to be silent role models. Go ahead and celebrate with an Indigenous war dance, like rugby league’s Indigenous All-Stars have done consistently, but just make sure you do not open your mouth about why.
Politics and sport should not be mixed, according to many fans when attempting to explain their outrage. And a sportsperson that does take up a political view is in danger of condemnation.
However, role models are not just there to look pretty for the cameras and kick a ball around on a field. Role models also have a duty to help our next generation improve society – the kids who still have a chance of taking on a more widespread and inclusive view of the world.
Trumpeting an increased understanding of Australia’s indigenous population should not be seen as controversial, nor should celebrating your culture. Similarly, standing up against homophobia should not be seen as contentious in today’s world.
Rugby union star David Pocock was lambasted for daring to take up the cause of the LGBT community when he reported an opposition player for using homophobic slurs back in March. Why is that? Perhaps it has something to do with the political and personal viewpoints of those in uproar, rather than simply hating a player who appears to steal the spotlight.
Both Goodes and Pocock have been attacked for showboating, of having hidden agendas behind their supposed publicity-grabbing stunts. But why does that even matter? Equality is hardly a disingenuous cause.
If you have to be loud, obnoxious and attention-seeking to help promote a simple message about LGBT and Indigenous equality, then so be it. Becoming a divisive and mocked figure for standing up only makes the action more honourable.
That Michael Cheika had to even reject suggestions that Pocock’s chances of captaining the Wallabies were harmed for for being outspoken (standing up against homophobia) was ridiculous.
That Goodes’ Wikipedia page was reportedly vandalised with monkey pictures following his celebration also shows that this is about much more than hating or disliking a man for being an attention seeker, or for any other matter. Those actions are the actions of a racist.
Similarly despicable comments and viewpoints were present when the Melbourne Knights dared to stand up to Football Federation Australia’s National Club Identity Policy last year. The Roar‘s moderators had a busy shift that day.
Hiding behind the argument that sport, politics and culture should not be mixed, or suggesting sport is simply for entertainment, is a poor excuse.
Tell the thousands of East German football fans that attended matches under the Stasi regime that you cannot mix politics and sport. They went to the football largely to scream out anti-establishment chants, the only place they could freely express their opinions without the threat of persecution.
Similarly, tell Nelson Mandela that he had no place politicising sport when he targeted rugby union to explicitly further his dream of uniting a fractured and broken South Africa. How dare he, sport and politics should not be mixed.
You may feel that Pocock and Goodes are not championing agendas to such an extreme extent that Mandela and the East Germans were, but their call for equality in Australia is nevertheless a reason for celebration, not condemnation. Equality is a very simple concept after all.
Sport, politics and culture are and always will be intertwined, Anzac Day commemorations are proof of that. Almost every other facet of society will get mixed up with sport, too, whether you like it or whether it offends you.
Sport provides a concentrated scope of where society stands given its widespread popularity. Unfortunately the picture that some sports fans are painting with their hateful comments is not flattering.
Yes, the main point of sport is entertainment, but it also has a strange and wonderful power to unite and reconcile in ways that government bodies cannot hope to attain. It is a unique phenomenon that should be utilised.
Goodes performed an indigenous war dance as a nod to his culture, Pocock outed a homophobic comment in support of LGBT equality. They should be applauded, not chastised. Similar actions from role models in the sporting world would be appreciated. Less of the hysteria around those actions will provide a sign of progression in Australian society.
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