Booing Adam Goodes.

[whythelongface]

So tar every white person because, hey, they're all white. At the same time tar every black person because, hey, they're all black and it's outrageous. Such a simplistic view.

and hasn't that been happening to aborigines since white man came to these shores. Such a simplistic view.

[whythelongface]

It makes about as much sense as most of the media commentary on the subject, i.e. none. But rational discussion gets trampled under the boots of the cries of racist by sycophantic apologists and their simple minded followers.

I've steered clear of the discussion because both sides are equally imbecilic for the most part, and sensible discussion is quietly hiding in the dark hoping it's not next on the list to be accused.

But hey call me and those who cry racist sycophantic apologists and simple minded. That's just what we are after all.

[Greystache]

and hasn't that been happening to aborigines since white man came to these shores. Such a simplistic view.

That's a ridiculous justification for what is simply another form of racism. This sort of response is why it's pointless even trying to have a reasonable discussion on this subject.

[whythelongface]

That's a ridiculous justification for what is simply another form of racism. This sort of response is why it's pointless even trying to have a reasonable discussion on this subject.

What the fact that aborigines have been mistreated and are still being mistreated and looked upon as second class citizens. It is the truth. There are people in our society who strongly hold the view that aborigines aren't as equal to white people because of the colour of their skin. If you can't see this then you must be living in another world. All Goodes is trying to do is let people know that racism towards aborigines is real and that people are called names simply because of the colour of their skin.

[Murphy'sLore]

No one is saying that all white people are racist. But we do live in a racist society, and Goodes is describing his reality and the reality experienced by people of colour in this country every day of their lives.

[ledge]

It's all gone way over the top .. Who started this it's racist stuff? The media because they wanted to make a story and now they are saying it's wrong.
The media put it in goodes head it was racist, he jumped on it.
Now the public just boo because it makes headlines.
If the AFL, the media and Goodes ignored it , it would have disappeared by now, now they blow it up even bigger.
It's a game it's the way supporters vent, years ago you called players, umpires female and male anatomical parts.
Umpires get booed all the time Razor Ray has copped more than Goodes in a game than goodes has all his life.
Just play footy and let it be. Boo is not racist !

[Murphy'sLore]

Not ALL booing is racist. But this booing has got to the point where it it is either knowingly racist, or dumbly supporting racism.

[bornadog]

It's all gone way over the top .. Who started this it's racist stuff? The media because they wanted to make a story and now they are saying it's wrong.
The media put it in goodes head it was racist, he jumped on it.
Now the public just boo because it makes headlines.
If the AFL, the media and Goodes ignored it , it would have disappeared by now, now they blow it up even bigger.
It's a game it's the way supporters vent, years ago you called players, umpires female and male anatomical parts.
Umpires get booed all the time Razor Ray has copped more than Goodes in a game than goodes has all his life.
Just play footy and let it be. Boo is not racist !

Don't you think crowds started it by making racist comments over a long period of time.

[westdog54]

Don't you think crowds started it by making racist comments over a long period of time.

Its really become a circular, chicken vs egg argument.

Goodes will claim that he stood up for himself when he received racist abuse.

His detractors will claim the bookings started when he singled out a 13 year old girl and started pontificating about Racism.

A relentless screaming match ensues.

Its become tiresome.

[Ghost Dog]

He's already announced he plans to go into politics after he hangs up the boots. Maybe the rabble are just getting in early?

[Remi Moses]

I think this debate went to the shallow end of the pool when Milne came into conversation.
Really? Do we need to go there?
There's a sheep mentality added with a racist element to this issue.
Funny how he got booed after the speech, and yet some still hang their hat on his on field behaviour ?
I'm not surprised there's some in this country who don't like their thought process challenged.
Goodes is saying something that sits uneasy, and most like swept under the carpet.
Pretty sad

[westdog54]

I think this debate went to the shallow end of the pool when Milne came into conversation.
Really? Do we need to go there?
There's a sheep mentality added with a racist element to this issue.
Funny how he got booed after the speech, and yet some still hang their hat on his on field behaviour ?
I'm not surprised there's some in this country who don't like their thought process challenged.
Goodes is saying something that sits uneasy, and most like swept under the carpet.
Pretty sad

Yep, don't seem to recall him being booed prior to being named Australian of the Year. Pretty sure his on-field antics didn't start then.

[LostDoggy]

That sinking feeling when you want to weigh in on the debate and try to educate people whose opinions and thoughts on the game you generally respect and admire, but you know it's just a waste of time — they've made up their minds that they aren't racist, cannot be racist, so go get stuffed and shut up — so you delete it and get back to work.

Gee I hope Adam Goodes has more energy in him to keep up the fight.

[bornadog]

Here is a view from our own Rawtoast:

The AFL has failed Adam Goodes with its reluctance to condemn booing as racist

The AFL must address sickening and dehumanising abuse in the interests of justice, player safety and legacy.

The AFL has a cultural crisis on its hands. Spectators booing passionately is a long-standing privilege at the heart of the game of Australian rules football. Indigenous players are also central to the game and the stories that the AFL tells and sells. But if the AFL wants to keep Indigenous players central to the game it must act now. The crisis cannot continue. Not when so many spectators have turned the art of booing into an act of racial hatred.


Australian rules football has long been famous for the provocative passions of its fans. Indeed, the term barracker most likely came from the still-current British verb to "barrack" – to jeer or shout abuse. Previously, when directed at Indigenous players, this "barracking" was frequently racist and full of venom and hate. The term "black" itself was used as if it were a grave insult.


Iconic photos of Winmar's gesture sparked a national conversation similar to the one we are having now. The year was 1993, International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and optimism for change abounded.


Twenty-two years ago Nicky Winmar​ responded to the hateful abuse that he was receiving from Collingwood barrackers by lifting his footy jumper and pointing with pride to his dark skin. Winmar's gesture, together with the actions of Michael Long, Gilbert McAdam, Michael McLean and others led an initially reluctant AFL to place a limit on the barracking of spectators. Racist abuse and many (but not all) other forms of hate speech were banned.


The AFL has become a safer space for Indigenous footballers as a result. Gone for most were the anonymous letters with death threats that were a feature of the 1980s and 1990s. And the number of Indigenous players on AFL teams increased dramatically. At the same time instances of explicit racism decreased markedly, though they did not disappear.


However, the current booing of Adam Goodes, a champion of the game, has the tone, venom and hate that the anti-vilification rule was set up to prevent.


Those who boo Goodes claim their actions are not racist. Yet when pressed, the reasons that they – and those who defend them – give, come back to a burning anger with Goodes. They are offended that he had the temerity to call out the recent racist abuse which he has received. They are affronted that he was made Australian of the Year. And they are furious that he used this platform to draw attention to the continuing racism and disadvantage experienced by Indigenous Australians.


Goodes' race, in other words, is central to the great antipathy being directed at him.


The Age's columnist Waleed Aly said on television recently that crowds were booing their discomfort with Goodes as a strong, unapologetic Aboriginal man. Aly is correct, but when you listen to the crowds they are also booing their hate. To those who have experienced aggressive dehumanising abuse, it is a sickening sound.


The compelling, iconic photos of Winmar's gesture sparked a national conversation similar to the one we are having now. The year was 1993, International Year of the World's Indigenous Peoples, and optimism for change abounded. The day the photos were published, the Federal Minister for Immigration and Ethnic Affairs – Nick Bolkus​ – celebrated Winmar's gesture as standing "for the way ahead in Australia" and called for the AFL to "act aggressively to wipe out such racism".


Now, in 2015, the year of Reclaim Australia rallies, no such federal support or leadership has been offered. Where are the calls from Canberra for unity and reconciliation? The AFL still needs to act strongly to counter the racist booing. Not least because Indigenous people and communities are experiencing the booing as a direct racist attack, and as the AFL's most senior Indigenous official, Jason Mifsud, noted, the game might lose a coming generation of players.


Up to now the AFL has reacted with characteristic caution, with chief executive Gillon McLachlan reluctant to state that the booing has racist elements to it. In so doing the league has thus far failed Goodes, and it took the intervention of his teammate Lewis Jetta​ to spark any public action.


Booing will remain part of the game, but the AFL cannot afford to let booing as racial hate continue unabated. Issues of justice, player safety and legacy are at stake. Instead the AFL needs to work with clubs, Indigenous leaders and communities and footy barrackers for reconciliation that goes beyond talking about how wonderful the AFL is and creates pathways for conversation, understanding and change.


Already the Western Bulldogs have called on members to sign and follow a Be Loud, Be Fair pledge to never abuse, degrade or disparage others. More is still needed. All fans need to understand the import of their actions, and the hurt and damage that any forms of racist abuse causes.


The time has come for the AFL to once again walk the talk against racism.


Matthew Klugman, from Victoria University, and Gary Osmond, from the University of Queensland, are the authors of Black and Proud: The Story of An Iconic AFL Photo, which won the 2015 Multicultural NSW Award in the NSW Premier's Literary Awards.

[Sedat]

Ironically, the people that started ramping up the booing in the first place, Hawthorn supporters, are probably the supporter group that I have some semblance of empathy for - they could justifiably point to 2-3 cheap-shots from Goodes' knees on Hawthorn players in the last few seasons (which were dirty actions, although Hodge, Mitchell and Lewis have since paid those cheapies back with interest). But even then, how long does the booing really need to last for? Surely the statute of limitations has expired by now, and payback on GF day last year was as complete and humiliating as you can get. Maybe Hawk supporters hate him so much because Goodes was a match-winner on one leg in the 2012 GF. To that I say enjoy your 12 flags in 50 years and now it's time to STFU.

For everyone else who say they are booing Goodes based on his treatment of the 13yo Collingwood supporter and his Australia Day speech, that is (no matter how well-intentioned) booing him based on his race. He stood up to being called an ape (some say it was heavy-handed but Goodes was the person wronged in that instance and had the right to deal with the issue whatever way he liked), and his Australian of the year comments were a basic human right that he had every right to convey (and it is hard to argue with much of the content to be honest). I don't think people who boo him based on these two issues is necessarily a racist, but by booing him for these two issues they only succeed in legitimising the real racists out there booing Goodes because he is black and outspoken, of which I'm sure there is a decent chunk of people doing the booing.

I am completely ambivalent to Goodes as a footballer and person. But I recognise his basic right to stick up for his race. I do agree wholeheartedly with Greystache in that the polar extremes of the argument are being given far too much oxygen and stifling any chance for positive discussion on the topic. The media wouldn't mind that one bit as they are adding petrol to the story and giving it another few weeks of airtime.

And where was the principles of the AFL in all of this 3 months ago? They are just a bunch of grubby opportunists who have leaped onto a cause that they should have led with - if Lewis Jetta did not let his actions do the talking on the weekend, this issue would have not caught like wildfire this week. Speaking of the AFL, where is their condemnation of the female footy fan who was smacked in the crowd at the Dogs-Pies match on Sunday? Or is violence against women only paid lip-service by the AFL? The AFL really are a grubby organisation devoid of principles and genuine leadership.