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.
h.j.huwman
Guest
Excellent .. well said . Thank you.
NL
Guest
The article is encouraging more sportspeople to use their high profile to speak out on social and political issues. No problems there. However not every cause is as clear cut and widely accepted as that of the fight for racial equality or the tackling of homophobia. Clearly some issues are more controversial and polarising than others, including the stories of some minority groups whose complaint might be against another minority group (and vice versa). Personally I’d prefer to see these issues debated elsewhere (with or without sportspeople) and the sporting arena left for the enjoyment of sport. We don’t live under a Stasi regime where we have no other outlets for the expression of views.
steveng
Roar Rookie
You can also add to what you are like, when you say; 'rather be hated by Bolt than supported by Bolt'...because I have my head deeply rooted in the 'Sahara Dessert' and do not care what is happening around me or to me. Because letting dogooders (which seem to be governing our lives) like Mr Goodes do what he does (with his indigenous political agendas) are exactly what we as a nation have fought for everyone in this country and people like you are benefiting from.
deccas
Guest
So you're going with the Australia is a post racial society therefore its not racist to hate goodes? Goodes didn't get anything, no boos nothing, until he showed that he wasn't going to stand for racism. Its about how he performs blackness, he is a black man with pride in his culture, one who isn't afraid to indicate that there is a bit of resentment from indigenous people toward the white colonial culture that now rules in their homeland. Its interesting, the words people use to describe indigenous sportsmen that they like or don't like, taking a look at them indicates a bit about the mindset that informs those views. Goodes is arrogant, if he was modest he would be more liked. Maybe if he wasn't black that arrogance wouldn't be perceived as a threat to a white culture that so badly wants to forget about the history of dispossession and oppression on which it is built.
delbeato
Roar Guru
Not in the same way. Lockett the person did not attract the range of character assessments Goodes has. The depth of feeling towards, or against Goodes is different.
Daws
Roar Rookie
Steveng gonna break this down for you one last time like everyone else already has, "Because Goodes does this ‘not as an indigenous war dance’ he does all these things (like he often expresses himself in the media) to be controversial, divisive and to really ‘stick it up’ the people that he marginalises" a) Point to examples where he is controversial, divisive and sticks it up the marginalized in the media. b) He is standing up for the marginalized indigenous people of Australia To steal Paul Keatings phrase, we are not here to be a sponge for your prejudice.
Daws
Roar Rookie
Intimidating? Did you find Nicky Winmar lifting up his shirt intimidating as well? Appropriate time? You mean Indigenous round right?
Daws
Guest
You can't be serious.
Daws
Guest
Powerbot, 1) Indigenous people (especially youth) need role-models to guide the way forward and show them an alternative to poverty. Adam Goodes is one such role model. 2) As far as being over rated and over paid, he is a dual Brownlow medallist and dual premiership player. I think he has the body of work to back up his "fat cheque". 3) How are the stupid decisions of the Abbott government in anyway Adam Goodes' fault?
Col from Brissie
Guest
I saw the footage and there were a couple of 'birds flipped' which I wouldn't describe as being aggressive, but if someone had imitated pointing a gun at him in response to his spear throwing action at them then I imagine you would be saying that that was inappropriate. Why should he assume that anyone else would want to do it - he has stated that Jetta would have done it also if he had kicked a goal and I am pretty sure that the other indigenous players from both sides would also have liked to do it, so why did it have to be an individual thing. In my opinion it would have been great to see the teams lined up before the game and the 'war dance' performed by the indigenous players of both sides if it had we wouldn't be having this discussion.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
And got slagged off for it. You can't use people that got pilloried at the time as an example of how Goodes is somehow treated unfairly.
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Who cares what era it was part of? My point was that I don't recall too many defenders of culture getting around Bobby back then.
Simoc
Guest
The camera zoomed in on the crowd as Goodes ran in front of them and the vast majority were smiling. Only a few took offence but it gave every journalist a chance to write and bring out the racists who responded as they always do.
Simoc
Guest
Yes the kiwis have used the haka to get revved up before the game for decades while the opposition watches. And got away with it because the public likes it. Obviously if the Wallabies were a bit smarter they would perform an Aboriginal war dance afterwards and the All Blacks would have to stand and watch and cool off.
Maggie
Guest
Posting a false statement twice ("paying lip service to his role as an ambassador for his indigenous brethren and accepting a fat cheque for a sports academy named after him") doesn't change the fact that the statement is false. The federal government funding to which you refer was a grant to the GO Foundation which is focused on improving educational opportunities for indigenous children by providing scholarships and assisting with expenses to attend quality schools. It was set up by Adam Goodes and Michael O'Loughlin but has nothing to do with sport. It is one of several organisations set up to address indigenous disadvantage in which Goodes is involved. Hardly what I would call "paying lip service".
jamesb
Guest
That Bobby Despotovski’s incident did occur during the NSL era. Despotovski did an offensive salute towards Melbourne Knights fans. As for the A-League, like Epiquin mentioned, it has really only been the Abbas/Santalab affair.
Mark
Guest
Another ranter. Racism doesn't count of it's coming from a young person?
Mark
Guest
Where's your figures on "most of us"? You simply rant and don't back it up with anything.
Marklar
Guest
He was doing it AT non-indigenous people, he comes across as a divisive cry baby that has a problem with white people. Not only that he seems to think he's a victim- of what, a 13 year old girl? No wonder people can't stand him
Jack Russell
Roar Guru
Clearly you're too young to remember the controversy surrounding Bobby Despotovski's three finger salute. A much more subtle action than Goodes dance. Funny, I don't recall people coming out en masse defending his culture. Im sure those same people defending Goodes were right behind him though.