“Blaming Adam Goodes is like blaming a rape victim for the way that they dress” Swans chairman Andrew Pridham.
Studies have proven that race-related stress severely impacts the physical, psychological and social well-being of victims of the abuse.
One needs to go no further than recall how former Australian cricketer, Andrew Symonds, was painted as the villain when he was clearly the victim of a racial attack against the Indian cricket team.
Symonds drifted from the game disillusioned, following the ‘Monkeygate’ affair at SCG in 2008, never really returning to his top form.
What happened to the man who dispensed the abuse? Harbijan Singh’s three-match ban for racial vilification of Symonds was dropped following threats from the Indian Cricket Board that they would abandon their tour.
Both past Cricket Australia (CA) board member Alan Border and Test captain, Ricky Ponting, have since expressed regret about the lack of support that was given by CA to Symonds at the time.
It is clear for all to see that Goodes’ is suffering some sort of trauma over recent events.
Let’s hope that he can come back and play unaffected by it all like the champion that he is.
He and others need all the support they can get and they do not have to continually justify their hurt.
Attitudes like those stated not long ago in the parliament by the Attorney-General, Senator Brandis, that people have “a right to be bigots” are also not helpful to the situation.
AFL should learn from this example and not only rally to the support of the victim but also sanction the perpetrators.
It and the Swans also have a duty to provide its players with a safe work environment.
It should follow the lead from other parts of the world where such spectators are immediately evicted from the ground by security or police. Bans are also imposed which precludes them from attending future matches.
There are also legal remedies to consider provided by under the Racial Discrimination Act which make it unlawful to offend, insult, humiliate or intimidate on the grounds of race, colour or ethnicity.
If all else fails, the Swans’ players can follow what happened in Italy when AC Milan’s players walked off in protest at racist chanting from fans targeting their Ghanian-German colleague, Kevin-Prince Boateng. It caused the game to be abandoned and sent a clear message.
Let’s hope it doesn’t get to that here.
Time for talking has stopped.
Ian
Roar Pro
"The thing with the race stuff is that so many white people have opinions about whether Australians are or aren't racist. To me, ask people who aren't white. They're the ones who know." David Pocock, former Wallaby captain http://www.theage.com.au/rugby-union/australia-rugby/wallaby-david-pocock-slams-talk-adam-goodes-is-running-an-agenda-for-political-gain-20150807-giu08g.html
Ian
Roar Pro
Albo
Guest
"I wonder how many of those who have commented above have ever experienced any form of discrimination in their lives as members of one of Austraila’s minority groups .." You should try being an overweight white smoker ! No highest of awards and no multi million dollar remuneration on hand there to ease the pain of our discriminatory society !
Ian
Roar Pro
I accept that that booing is something that one can't do much about as it is part of the game, but I wonder how well racist taunts are addressed Peeko. I read on this site about someone who highlighted the racist taunts of a fellow spectator to security who said that they had no powers to do anything about it. This is such contentious topic that even the AFL are divided on how to deal with it. It will be interesting to hear what Adam Goodes' has to say at his next public statement whenever that may be.
duecer
Guest
Ejecting people for booing would be a negative response and only fuel the fires for nutters like Jones and Bolt to squeal with delight slogans like 'it's pc gone made' or 'it's a nanny state'. Best to be positive and hope the cheering drowns out the booing.
peeeko
Roar Guru
Ian, what you say here is true. But people are thrown out of games for racial vilification, so what change are you asking for? As much as i am against the booing, i dont think you can throw people out of a game for it.
DaveM
Guest
Ian , I dont know of any human being who has never experienced ANY sort of discrimination / bullying or abuse in their lives. People of "minority groups" have absolutely NO monopoly on the pain felt by discrimination / bullying or other abuse. How can you or anyone else quantify the level of pain felt by ANY victim? Personaly I am sick and tired of hearing this claim that some groups should be treated differently to other members of society.
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
A decade or more at the top of AFL, the highest accolades the game can offer, fame, extraordinary fortune beyond the ken of the ordinary man, awarded Australian of the Year - looks a lot like a non discriminatory "fair go" to your average bloke with a basic education who can "properly appreciate" through eyes that can see and read and ears that can hear.
DaveM
Guest
People practising racial vilification ARE evicted from Sports Games in Australia ....fact. What we see in the Goodes case is that there is a movement that wants people convicted of Racism without any evidence. They want people to be PRESUMED to be racist just based on the fact that they boo.
Ian
Roar Pro
I wonder how many of those who have commented above have ever experienced any form of discrimination in their lives as members of one of Austraila's minority groups Eg Aboriginal, Gay, Muslim, Jewish, Black African or Asian. I have noticed that support in the media asserting the premise that the treatment of Goodes by spectators is fair and justifiable have come from people that are members of one of the majority Australian groups eg White Anglo Saxon males, who would not for the most part suffered any form of discrimination. Until one has experienced such discrimination, I don't believe that one would be able to properly appreciate how it feels to be in Adam Goodes' shoes right now. He needs a fair go from us all.
DaveM
Guest
Love to know what is the difference between racist booing and any other booing. I think 2 things need to happen to defuse this situation : 1. The Booers need to give it a rest 2. Adam Goodes needs to make a statement conceding that his actions may have contributed to peoples perceptions of him.
jax
Guest
"as i understand it, it is up to the receipitent to determine if it is racist or not, not the deliverer, so who will make this call on behalf of the reciepent" The media
jax
Guest
If the media or the player says it's a racist boo it is. That's what I have learned this week, How dare you even ask such a reasonable question. Back in your corner please Foot.
Paul
Guest
Your head
Frank R
Roar Rookie
Realist - what a complete load of rubbish. I for one, have no idea if he has a partner or who she might be. To make the suggestion you have is beyond the pale.
Kaks
Roar Guru
A racial boo goes like this "BOOOOO" A non-racial boo goes like this "BOOO-URNS"
Mick Gold Coast QLD
Roar Guru
Oh? Is this a new line seized upon by those who would say whatever it takes to have their opinion adopted as the only correct opinion?
Redb
Roar Guru
I don't think you can eject someone for booing in isolation. Impossible to police.
StMike
Guest
As SM said at 12.18pm: "I bet that sounded a whole lot more witty in your head"
SM
Guest
I bet that sounded a whole lot more witty in your head