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Saturday night’s banana throwing incident will be forever remembered as abhorrent, despicable, unacceptable, detestable and loathsome. Most agree, it was an unambiguously racist act. Make no mistake, throwing a banana at an indigenous person is racist.
And when I saw the vision of the women throwing a banana at Crows player Eddie Betts, I immediately came to the same conclusion.
Like everyone else, I immediately focused on the woman. I tried to understand what would have possessed her do such a thing. What about the effect this would have on Eddie, his family, friends and teammates?
This act deflected the focus away from what was an extraordinary Showdown 41. A Showdown that again clearly demonstrated that ladder positions are irrelevant during these battles.
I knew immediately this would be a massive story. Within a couple of minutes the woman’s image had been uploaded to social media sites. Unfortunately for her, someone in the crowd had captured the moment she threw the banana and then when she left, again she was snapped and it was posted for all to see. By Sunday night everyone in Australia knew what she looked like.
The social media trolls where having a field day, calling her every name imaginable.
But as Lucy Cornes so correctly blogged, those who were spitting their poisonous venom at this woman are in fact part of the problem. There is no solution associated with unhelpful and distasteful criticism. All it does is manifest more hatred.
Both the Crows and Port Adelaide released statements condemning the woman’s act. Port Adelaide says the fan has been banned indefinitely.
It also said:
“After talking to witnesses it is clear that the offender’s behaviour was racially motivated and is therefore a significant breach of the club’s values and spectator code of conduct.”
“Port Adelaide will meet with the offender in the coming days to offer her an opportunity to take part in the club’s industry leading Aboriginal cultural awareness programs.”
By Monday there was an overwhelming call for the woman to be banned from attending Port Adelaide football matches for life.
But in my humble opinion this is not the answer, nor is it fair.
Everyone deserves a second chance. Even her.
It goes without saying she has done a terrible thing, and she will probable be defined by the act for the rest of her life, which in itself is a major burden to carry.
Think about this; we give AFL footballers many chances when they make mistakes. We allow Sam Newman to continually spew offence on the Channel Nine Footy Show.
How many chances does Kyle Sandilands deserve?
You see it is one rule for some and another rule for others.
Life is not meant to be fair, I understand that, but in this case we need to take a really deep breath and collectively think carefully about all of those involved in this incident.
There is a duty of care for both parties.
From what we understand Eddie is okay, and simply wants to get on with winning football matches and kicking goals. Crows CEO Andrew Fagan said as much on FiveAA breakfast on Monday Morning.
But we do not know what this woman is going through. She is in a hole with Australia looking down on her.
Again I reiterate, what she did was inexcusable, but she deserves a second chance. She deserves a chance to redeem herself. She deserves an opportunity to explain herself. She deserves the chance to meet with Eddie face-to-face. She has already agreed to attend a cultural awareness session.
And while I am only guessing, I will bet my collection of wrestling videos that Eddie would welcome this approach as well, rather than the approach of most, who have no solution apart from simply abandoning this women for life. I am sure Eddie would prefer education rather than significant punishment.
And I leave you with this thought: can we guarantee that everyone criticising this women are devoid of any racial bias?
Racial discrimination can be subtle, and it doesn’t always manifest itself in the form a flying banana.
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