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Cheers for the response AGB. It is great to be able to have a civil discussion with someone on the matter, without immediately being labelled a racist for not sharing the same views. I got no doubt that some of the points you make are true and think this is the very reason why not a great deal of good can come from the whole situation for Adam. Yes the booing may lessen or even stop, best result, but for some his legacy to the game will always be slightly tarnished, worst result. There is now no way around this as there are far too many elements to the whole situation, and as the entire issue is opinion based there will never be a way to agree on what was the cause.
I can only speak for myself and say why I personally have lost some respect for Adam Goodes. As can you when you write and base your opinion on what you have experienced and believe to be true. As I mentioned in my previous post it is impossible to determine why everyone is booing, and if people are proven to be booing due to race they need to be reprimanded accordingly.
As I will mention shortly there is still one main reason as to why Adam has lost some respect from more than he should have; but firstly I will touch on a few of the other reasons why I don’t think he has. His treatment towards the young Collingwood supporter whilst harsh and maybe not perfectly handled by all involved; too call out clear evident racism despite of age was the right one. His Australian of the Year acceptance speech was also one that only spoke true on many issues still present in our country. His ‘war dance’ was a great showing of his Indigenous pride, and should have been remembered for something special for the years to come (but at least expect some response from the crowd you aim it at, it is after all a challenge).
But in response to a few of your other statements and your question as to why Adam is now being “demonised for making it about him”. I feel it is because he along with his “peers, coaches, team mates & any fan worth their membership” that you mention, have stereotyped an entire crowd as racist. I would like to mention that it is implausible to think that of the nearly 850 senior AFL players, plus coaches and club officials, not one of those people would hold an opposing view to Adam’s. Why don’t they come forward people ask? Because Adam, along with his defenders in the media and general public have made it impossible for a person in their position to do so. As someone that has not booed; I find it hard to find reason as to why a person holding the views that I do are labelled by many as a racist, or ‘a fan not worthy of my membership’. There is no other reason than for simply not agreeing with Adam or accepting that crowds are entirely racist. This is why I stated that he forced the issue of race to stand up for him when it wasn’t needing to, or meant to; and why I make the point that he has helped create a ‘false racist v non-racist’ battle. People such as myself that just hold an opinion are now dragged onto the wrong side of a racist debate.
That is the thing the AFL, Adam and the large collection of his fanatical defenders have done wrong. They need to remember that by holding these opinions you attack a large portion of people that have no animosity towards race, but do have a dislike towards being labelled a racist for merely having a different opinion to a person. This is not his fault entirely, something that I should have mentioned earlier, however he has not helped the situation as he has never succumb to the idea that some fans may boo him or dislike him for any other reason than race. People like myself are not ignorant enough to think that racism does not exist in Australia, but we also see a land which is successful in creating a multicultural equality where people of all backgrounds can prosper. We only have to look around the world, to know this is fact. For people similar to myself to then be told we are racist is what really stings.
Adam Goodes story comes back to one question: Why?
Whether it be racial or not, we will never be able to understand why every individual booed Adam Goodes. If it is racial then I couldn’t agree with you more, those fans should not be apart of our game. I have grown up AFL and local footy grounds my whole life, and I have seen players and umpires booed and cheered in all fashions. I have always admired Adam Goodes and never booed him, but I now in recent weeks disagree with his actions.
I can obviously not speak for all those booing but I dont feel that it was racially motivated, but ‘bullying’ or heckling yes. Something that in my years of attending and playing at various levels of football has been forever present. At local games, where the players are there for the love of the game, not earning the six or seven figure contracts of the professionals, and putting more at risk by taking the field each week. It is not out of the normal for a player to be heckled and ridiculed an entire match by opposing fans or lower grade players, with language and comments that are not fit for display.The aim to affect their performance and concentration on the game. This is no different to what I think happened to Adam. He initially stated that he saw the “booing as a mark of respect”, but when he made everyone aware that it affected him, opposing crowds used it for their teams benefit. I’m not saying that is the greatest thing about footy, but it has been present since the first ball was bounced. In a society that so proudly stands for freedom of speech we try and censor everything around us, at the fear of offending someone. The AFL are now trying to do the same. It is amazing how our views on booing in society could have changed so much since 2001, when the very club Adam plays for ran a ‘Boo a Roo’ campaign.
Unfortunately for Adam, he probably will have this hanging over his head at the end of his career. Not because he stood up for his heritage, players such as WInmar and Long have done this in the past and will be remembered in AFL folklore. But Adam has forced the issue of race to stand up for him when it wasn’t needing to, or meant to. The way Adam, the AFL and many media personalities can suggest they know the motives of everybody booing is outright laughable. In your article, you are one of the few people that addresses this differently.The majority however have stereotyped crowds, which has caused the ‘us v them’ mentality to return to our game. Not white v black, but those with the differing opinions towards Adam Goodes. The AFL for years has been guilty of turning the game into a ‘political platform’ when is not capable of handling the repercussions that come with it. Sam Newman in his own way, like it or hate it, hit the nail on the head by asking the question why do we have rounds for some minorities and not others. By doing so we yes, highlight the importance of the cultures in our game, but more importantly, and negatively, continue to label them as something other than an AFL footballer. By continually giving them titles of Indigenous or Muslim footballer, it focuses on the differences and not the similarities.
Adam Goodes is also personally guilty of this. Creating a false ‘racist v non-racist’ battle amongst the spectators. He is now asking for different treatment from others. He is asking to not be booed, but all others are still left open to be booed. This is an unprecedented request from an individual in a game which hundreds of players are apart of. He has helped for our game to become a primary school playground. This is my main reason for the loss of respect for Adam, as he now thinks he is bigger than the game.
Adam Goodes story comes back to one question: Why?
For the sake of the game, I hope that this is not true or we will be put through another year of hearing about it. But I love the fact how the case has done a full circle on itself and yet another claim by Essendon, as to the non existence of sufficient documents to prove any wrong doing.
Essendon dismiss WADA test report
Cheers for the discussion ABG and Aransan. It has been great to talk about the issue in a civilised manner, and I think by doing so it has shed some light as too why this topic has been so hotly debated.
In regards to the Marngrook Footy show it is a cracker. I haven’t been able to catch it over the last few weeks as I have been out of the country. But always has the good laughs, good banter and most importantly and above all else, a good insight into the game. Good on SBS for giving it the second chance it rightly deserved.
As for the weekend. It was definitely one of the more unique feelings watching the game on Saturday. For some the lesser booing was a good result, whilst to others it carried a weird sense of censorship that until then had not been present in our game. There was always a nervous sense of the unknown to how the crowd would act. Something that was a little unfair to be placed on the Geelong fans in the first place. It will be interesting to watch as the remainder of the season is played out as to how other crowds will react.
If the more boisterous booing raises its voice again, I ask what then? Do we just start the discussions all over again, in another never ending media circus? Or is there, like Saturday, a tolerance level to how loud the booing can be without offending? Which in itself is very strange when you think what the booing supposedly represented. I guess only time will tell.
ABG I hope for your sake and mine that our two clubs don’t make it to a final together because I unfortunately will be one of the many fans booing. Not at Adam Goodes. But some friendly, ex-club rivalry directed at the big number eight standing next to him.
Adam Goodes story comes back to one question: Why?