Goodesy Again

[S.S. Bleeder]

I think the fact that you're initial reaction is to get so worked-up and defensive over it is one of the ingrained problems within our current society.

Stan Grant labels me a racist and now you despite knowing nothing about me. You are the problem.

[dimelb]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

S.S. Bleeder, one of the many things I like about this board is that all opinions can get an airing, including those I disagree with, such as your own. I think it is a shame that the exchange of views so often descends into mutual vituperation and the mods have to intervene and cut it off, so while I have a different opinion I'll try to by as objective as possible in responding.

I disagree with your view. There is still quite a lot of racism around, even in this multicultural success story of Australia, and we need to accept it when someone finally says "I'm not going to take it any more." It is not only white people who say Adam should toughen up: I know of at least one aboriginal woman who thinks that, and says that her kids get it all the time. I think I understand where she is coming from but we need to do better.

I don't think people such as Stan Grant or Adam Goodes are blaming all current Australians for "what happened 200 years ago"; the issue is a little more complex. Paul Keating (and perhaps Don Watson!) got it right when he said in the famous Redfern Speech, "We are the ones who took the land" or words to that effect - I'm quoting from memory. He didn't mean you and I and everyone else alive today, he meant European settlers who are our ancestors. The unanswered problem is that we "whitefellas" of various hues have benefited enormously from the displacement of aboriginal people while on the whole they have suffered; the figures for life expectancy alone bear this out.

Money alone will not fix the problem. I think Noel Pearson is right in pushing for better education for aboriginal people to bring them increasingly into the mainstream of Australian life, and I'm pleased to see that the GO Foundation has gone down that road. However there remains the issue of aboriginal settlements which so far as I can tell have only been addressed clumsily at best. We and they and all Australians need to work more co-operatively on an issue that all too often has become a running sore.

I hope all this doesn't sound too preachy. I am reminded regularly that I can do more also. It's just that I think this whole issue is the dark heart of our otherwise praiseworthy society, in which I am profoundly grateful to belong.

[graemed]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

I would not wish to taint this topic with a flame attack but can I just reply to your position but stating that there is such a thing as collective responsibility and I am sure that this was the thrust behind the comments and opinions expressed by Stan Grant.

[Vonsteinman]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

Given that this comment is allowed to stand, with trepidation, I ask you to at least justify the comment in bold....?

[Ludwig]

We, as Swans supporters, have become familiar over the years with the story of Adam Goodes' life, that his mother was part of the stolen generation, and the racial discrimination he lived with and how it persists even though his football career has ended, e.g. the 'David Jones' comments. With Stan Grant's speech we have the story of another successful aboriginal person relating the pain his family endured because of racism. Both of these stories are reminders of the personal tragedy so many Indigenous Australians have suffered, even those who are among the most successful.

Not every Australian is racist, of course. Many are simply ignorant of our history, because it's been palliated to present a more noble view of Australian history. This has been a great disservice to White Australians, many of whom take the presentation of the historical facts as a personal attack. It should rather be taken as an enlightenment and lead to a better understanding of the position of Indigenous Australians. As Stan Grant said, we don't have to be racist: 'We are better than that'. Adam Goodes didn't deserve to be booed. He's a great Australian. We are better than that.

As a White Australian, I don't want to hear Adam Goodes booed. I don't want to read the racist comments at the end of articles. It pains me deeply. I wasn't responsible for any of it, but I still feel the shame of being a citizen of a country where such things happen. History is what it is. We can't change it, but we, the current generation of Australians can change our attitude. I want to be a citizen of a country I can be proud of. But I can't feel proud until we treat all of our people with the dignity they deserve.

[stellation]

Stan Grant should be utterly ashamed with that speech. The fact is that there is very little racism these days and labelling all current Australians with the tag of what happened 200 years ago is a disgrace and extremely offensive. An absolute MISS for every Australian, especially Swans' fans.

I respectfully disagree.

[dejavoodoo44]

Yes, Ludwig, and I do think that one of the things that sent the professional bigots of some sections of the Australian media, into frothing at the mouth, rant mode, against Goodesy, was his publicly praising John Pilger and his film, Utopia.
Exhibit A: a Bolt article from the time, that is full of the convoluted sophistry, that appeals to those who seem to have not the slightest inclination to think about the issues for anything longer than ten seconds, or so.

http://blogs.news.com.au/heraldsun/andrewbolt/index.php/heraldsun/comments/my_european_ancestors_did_not_steal_or_rape_goodes_should_speak_for_his_own/

Also, I suspect the comments section is probably quite representative of the opinions of those who were particularly keen to boo Adam.

[dimelb]

Adam as an aspect of a wider concern:

Our Best National Trait Is Also Our Worst?|?Anthony Sharwood

[Primmy]

You tell them Mr D.

And when I referred to the booing of Adam in 2011, I am talking about what I was hearing on 2011 game replays I just happen to indulge in on dark and windy days recently. It was happening then.

Our Best National Trait Is Also Our Worst?|?Anthony Sharwood

And this is a gem of an article.

- - - Updated - - -

[Conor_Dillon]

Stan Grant labels me a racist and now you despite knowing nothing about me. You are the problem.

How have I labelled you a racist?

[KTigers]

I think many Australians like to kid themselves that racism isn't widespread in this country. It gives them a bit of a warm inner glow, and
so when people do question this fanciful notion they run to the nearest milk crate, jump up on it and start protesting outrage that they have been labelled a bigot. However hard you may try I think it's very hard to treat everyone totally equally. Most people mix with other people like themselves and so it's almost impossible to understand other groups of people that you have very little to do with. Probably the best you can do is acknowledge that you don't really know much about people outside of your own circle and not jump to conclusions about an entire race or group of people every time one of them does or says something you don't agree with. I don't think Stan Grant or Adam are calling every white
person in Australia a bigot, they are just asking for a bit of understanding. You've only got to spend a little time in central Australia to realise the circumstances a lot of aboriginal people live in are not ideal. There is something not right about that level of poverty existing in a country as well
off as Australia. Highlighting issues like they do isn't damning the whole country it is just saying things could certainly be better and maybe people shouldn't kid themselves that everything is going swimmingly for every group in the country.

[rojo]

I think many Australians like to kid themselves that racism isn't widespread in this country. It gives them a bit of a warm inner glow, and
so when people do question this fanciful notion they run to the nearest milk crate, jump up on it and start protesting outrage that they have been labelled a bigot. However hard you may try I think it's very hard to treat everyone totally equally. Most people mix with other people like themselves and so it's almost impossible to understand other groups of people that you have very little to do with. Probably the best you can do is acknowledge that you don't really know much about people outside of your own circle and not jump to conclusions about an entire race or group of people every time one of them does or says something you don't agree with. I don't think Stan Grant or Adam are calling every white
person in Australia a bigot, they are just asking for a bit of understanding. You've only got to spend a little time in central Australia to realise the circumstances a lot of aboriginal people live in are not ideal. There is something not right about that level of poverty existing in a country as well
off as Australia. Highlighting issues like they do isn't damning the whole country it is just saying things could certainly be better and maybe people shouldn't kid themselves that everything is going swimmingly for every group in the country.

Well said KTigers.

[Bloods05]

Let's all just gather round the Australia Day barbie and enjoy some delicious racist snacks.

Would you like to try these delicious racist snacks with your Australia Day barbie? | First Dog on the Moon | Opinion | The Guardian

[dejavoodoo44]

Let's all just gather round the Australia Day barbie and enjoy some delicious racist snacks.

Would you like to try these delicious racist snacks with your Australia Day barbie? | First Dog on the Moon | Opinion | The Guardian

Shheeez! I don't remember eating all that!

[Bloods05]

Shheeez! I don't remember eating all that!

Exactly Stan Grant's point. We imbibe it with our mothers' milk.