So there we have it, Isreal Folau has been found guilty of a high-level breach of Rugby Australia’s code of conduct, which gives the governing body the power to annul his contract.
Listening to those who believe Folau did nothing wrong has been a rather confounding experience. It ranges from the everyday citizen claiming he has been sacked for exercising his freedom of expression to the typical exaggerations of Alan Jones, who claimed he has been sacked for saying he is a Christian. That simply is not what happened.
Let’s get a true understanding of the argument that he has been sacked for exercising his right to free speech. This argument is terrifyingly all-encompassing, and flawed. Many people have said it is our right to say whatever we like no matter what.
So I will use some ridiculous examples here, but I didn’t set the rules. What if a Christian pastor told his congregation that homosexuality is an advisable way to be every week for four years as well as encouraging them all to commit adultery? He would lose his position, right? Would he not, therefore, be being punished for exercising his freedom of speech?
What if a science teacher told their year 12 students in every class that God created orange potatoes with the intention of them eventually evolving to grow toupees and become the president of the USA? Would that person keep their job? No – but they should, shouldn’t they? They’re just exercising their right to free speech.
Admittedly, I am not comparing apples with oranges – maybe potatoes with rugby players – but I thought we were allowed to say whatever we want no matter the circumstances. No? Okay, so we have uncovered a double standard – the kind of double standard that leads so many to make statements like ‘political correctness has gone mad’. It’s all a guise to say whatever we like without consequence.
Part of playing rugby in Australia is abiding by the code of conduct, and breaking the code of conduct entitles Rugby Australia to punish the offending player. If they terminate Folau’s contract, it will be on these grounds. People get sacked for this sort of thing in every walk of life every day.
If you still don’t agree, consider this: if your best friend came up to you and said, “Look, mate, I hope your entire family gets murdered tomorrow,” and they meant it, you might not be thrilled by it. But you should be, shouldn’t you? Haven’t they simply expressed their right to free speech? I can feel the comments section already: “It isn’t the same thing”, you will say. Why not? All people should be able to say whatever they like, all of the time, without consequence. That’s your side of the coin, not mine.
So I’ll leave you freedom-of-speech-screaming masses with a question. Do you really care about freedom of speech or do you only care about it when someone gets reprimanded for saying something you agree with? Maybe a better question is why you care so much more about Israel Folau’s right to arrogantly bully than you do about our gay community being ostracised, as they have been for thousands of years?
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
So where the heck were you last time around ? (Oh and it ain’t a quote) - What do you mean it's "not a quote" ???? It was ALWAYS a 'quote', and it was entirely based on a passage of the Bible. - Galatians 5 - 16 "This I say then, Walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfil the lust of the flesh. 17 For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the things that ye would. 18 But if ye be led of the Spirit, ye are not under the law. 19 Now the works of the flesh are manifest, which are these; Adultery, fornication, uncleanness, lasciviousness, 20 Idolatry, witchcraft, hatred, variance, emulations, wrath, strife, seditions, heresies, 21 Envyings, murders, drunkenness, revellings, and such like: of the which I tell you before, as I have also told you in time past, that they which do such things shall not inherit the kingdom of God. "
Tuc Du Nard
Roar Rookie
Using rugby rules as an analogy; IF wasn't given an actual yellow card last year, therefore, he might have expected to only get a yellow on this occasion and not a possible "Red". However, off the field last year, he was still brought to account, warned, and an agreement was made. Was that essentially a yellow card? I think so. He then did it again, repeat offence, and is now facing a "Red Career Card". Fair enough he gets the red. Ignorance of what you have signed is no excuse; to abide by the code of conduct. If he never signed that bit in his contract that doesn't mean he didn't know the rules and what would happen. A suspension or fine only as some would suggest, is like issuing another yellow and against its own rules.
Marlin
Roar Rookie
please, mate. Give it a rest. The bible is a work of fiction. There is no god, no hell, no devil. The bloke is a footy player and he is tearing the code apart because he thinks the sky fairy spoke to him - only him - and told him to try to save the sinners. Do we know if he has convinced anyone to repent their sins? It's delusional. I for one wish he would just go away and bother (his) god on his own time. You too
Ralph
Roar Guru
Gee that is a very good question. What are the foundations of political correctness? I suspect 'be nice to everyone' is the conclusion rather than the essence. I wonder if they don't assume life should be fair, perhaps that majorities are evil and that if everyone doesn't have the same outcome then something must be wrong.
Uriah Heep
Roar Rookie
I think you’ll find that most of the offensive things for Christians have been said and continue to be said. The very premise of Mohammad being the last prophet and the perfect man – to be emulated by all – is offensive to Christians and Jews (and a whole slew of others). Quite apart from Mohammedans that grasp on to that, potentially, becoming a real and present danger most Christians and Jews (and the sundry others) chose not to personalise it – in fact Governments rely on it. Your particular view about Mary comes from the Talmud. It’s not exactly new.
Misha
Guest
Now we know that God talks to Israel - I wonder if he told him who would win the 2019 RWC?
taylorman
Roar Guru
It’s only ridiculous because you fail to apply a reasonable amount of tolerance and maturity, as did Folau. There is no hard line here. If you take this whole posting literally then you are obviously going to fly off the handle, as you are. He’s religious, and with any religion to exist comfortably in society, tolerance, love and maturity must also exist. We put our hand on the bible even though some of us aren’t religious but also can’t be bothered saying, no thanks, Ill affirm. Tolerance. When someone says grace do you get up and left the room or start eating before it’s finished? I’d hope not. Tolerance, maturity. Folau wasn’t smart, but he also isn’t the bad person you make him out to be.
You'll Never Hawk Alone
Roar Pro
With pleasure. He imparts it upon everyone else like it is fact, when it simply appears within his own belief system. It is telling people to be a certain way, because they will be punished if not. But the punishment is burning in hell for all eternity. I'm sure you can decipher the bullying in that? As for the arrogance? Well, haven't we all heard the term 'hate the sin, love the sinner'? Well, what a sham that is. His posts says nothing about homosexual behaviour, but homosexuals. The love the sinner nonsense is how they've always gotten away their dated beliefs. It seems they don't always have to pretend there's any more noble a cause than conformity. You will conform to our requirements, or else you will burn in hell... You don't detect a hint of arrogance in that?
Olly
Roar Rookie
"It is that society, in the balance of acceptance and harmony for the majority have determined it to be offensive." I would hate to be apart of any minority trying to create change for the better based on this.
Olly
Roar Rookie
Unfortunately, they already are with complete impunity and this is not limited to religious groups. This article is grossly simplifying a very complex issue. The outcome of this when it goes to court is going to have a far greater impact on the wider population then people realize. I would not want to be an employee who is part of a minority at the end of all this...
BJ
Roar Rookie
Well that depends on your definition of Christian, and how broad or narrow your view of sexuality. There are liberal and conservative perspectives in religion just as in politics. One rejects the Bible as a foundation for Christian faith, while the other accepts it. The question that those professing any Christian faith must ask themselves is, "whose standard of character and lifestyle ought I follow? Do I make myself a little god and set my own standard, or do I follow that standard set out in God's word?" And should people who don't profess any faith whatsoever begin to demand their standards as being the norm for Christian practice?
AdvantageOZ
Roar Rookie
Spot on JM. I too am a none believer and think the bible is simply a great story with some great moral guidelines (and some not so great ones as well), but it is a book that sits on my shelf right next to the Harry Potter series. However I fully support Izzy in doing what he did and encourage all others to do the same, you believe what you believe and should be allowed express those beliefs without fear of recrimination.
AdvantageOZ
Roar Rookie
I think you are confused with freedom of speech and freedom of religion. What doctrine or well known frame of reference does “Look, mate, I hope your entire family gets murdered tomorrow,” come from? Is there is school of teaching somewhere that I have missed?? I also want to pose an alternative scenario, as I am sure you have seen people posting videos of Izzy delivering sermons at his church. What if one of Izzy's sermons quoted 1 Corinthians 6:9-10 from the bible followed by his interpretation of said quote??? Would this construe a breach???
Censored Often
Roar Rookie
One religion already does, regularly....
duecer
Guest
Wow - that's really far from what spuce was saying. They just offered an example to see if people supporting IF would endorse said behaviour. What's your opinion on the example given?
duecer
Guest
A lot of assumptions there. How are 'the vast majority' going to be subject to the same sanctions as Falou. The vast majority don't have a public profile, the vast majority don't go on social media in their uniform and go against their employers council. How are RA and IF going to 'behave themselves far better' if IF has made it clear that he won't stop posting whatever he likes.
taylorman
Roar Guru
Yes, the Lord made him open it. :-)
Ruckin Oaf
Guest
All Folau did was quote from one verse in one book, and all this happens? So where the heck were you last time around ? (Oh and it ain't a quote)
Mr.Media
Roar Rookie
A ridiculous argument that completely misses the point, and the word 'annul' is misspelled. Freedom of speech is basic in a civilized society. The ARU contract is stupid and should never have been written the way it was in the first place. Rugby players are there to play Rugby. Outside of that they are human beings and they must have their rights. The Bible isn't any old book. There are plenty of idiots and morons out there who don't understand the Bible. One thing is that it doesn't change from day to day like a newspaper, right? All Folau did was quote from one verse in one book, and all this happens? Maybe Folau should be running the ARU instead. After all, he scores more tries than the rest of them ...!!!
jeznez
Roar Guru
You don’t think there are gay christians? Religion and sexuality aren’t like Maccas vs KFC.