Re: Adam Goodes

[rinso17]

An adult million dollar football celebrity and a minor who enjoys all the social privilege of a jumper wearing Collingwood supporter. One is humiliated in front of half a dozen people the other is called out in front of an audience of millions.

Not impressed with either action but I know who I expected better from.

To me that's the real point. Who will suffer most from this situation? The famous grown man or the naieve little girl.

Grow up Goodes!,,

 

[tigertime2]

Find it absolutely mesmerising how anyone with a skerrick of understanding around this issue can think it's been handled the wrong way. I unreservedly commend Goodes, McGuire and Demetriou for the way this has been both tackled and managed since.

How on earth can any of you expect Goodes to do nothing in those circumstances. He's done what's right. Nothing more and nothing less. McGuire acted decisively and gave a clear message that this isn't tolerable but it must be handled so that some learning happens rather than a witch-hunt. Exactly as it should be.

By 1pm the following day, it's been brought into public focus (as it happened publicly) but where the damage was done a private apology has also been made. Swift, decisive, appropriate.

Guys, we have Indigenous Round not just as a chance to celebrate our Aboriginal champs of the past. It's a vehicle for something bigger. Genuine reconciliation is something we should all be interested in - and that shouldn't be conditional.

Words, even those of a 13 year old, reflect thinking. Thinking reflects values. Values reflect families. Families reflect communities. While these words go unchallenged we can expect racism to be a cancer in our community for eternity.

Bravo to all involved last night and this morning. Couldn't possibly have been done better.

Hopper I appreciate it is Indigenous round and living in a community with a lot of indigenous people I have clearly seen both sides of this whole issue - Good and bad from Australians of ALL backgrounds. what if this was Trent Cotchin stopping a match to have a crowd member escorted out of the ground because someone called him CHIMP - would Cotchin have the same power and authority that Goodes has? calling people names is not a good idea even calling Cotchin chimp is derogatory and demeaning and I think Goodes was personally offended by what the Girl said but how does that make it a rascist act? How can someone have the power to stop a match and have someone evicted and Goodes wants to be very very careful pointing out the faults in others when he hits people to injure them behind play. To me it looks like Goode has made a monumental mistake and no-one is game enough to call Goodes out on it.

 

[nwonash]

For those that are not aware how the word Ape is racist term used in the 1960's to described people with dark coloured skin. It's a very low act to call someone this and is still very offensive. Cast your mind back a few years able when Andrew Symonds was called a money on the field, it was deemed racist but the ICC didn't have the balls to do anything about it.

I think Adam Goodes has handled the situation very well.

I actually felt the pain that Goodes suffered last night. My son is in grade 6 and is only 12 years old. He is a constant victim of racist taunts and bullying at school. Rather than making a stand like Goodes did last night, he walks away. When my son comes home, he generally goes to his room and cries. I know that some people are uneducated about bullying and racism. They wouldn't have a clue what it's like. Unfortunately as my son is a consistent victim, I know the mental effect it has on him.

 

[Smoking Aces]

All cudos to him but seriously, who would ostracise a 14 year old girl anyway? The issue here is with her mentors, her parents? For a 14yo to make comments like this, she's obviously been exposed to this language enough times to think it's ok. Really do feel sorry for the youngster. There are yobbos hurling racial abuse every week at the footy, they'r the ones we should be making examples of. as for social prosecution, her face was plastered all over the TV. She'll get her social persecution. Hopefully she'll come out of it a smarter person.

Agree Goodie. What astounds me is that when she was escorted off the ground no parent/guardian followed her out.

Back to Goodes, when he was doing his press conference today my 8 year old kids were glued to the TV listening to what he was saying. We have talked about this topic in the past but my kids got to see a real life experience of how racial abuse can hurt people.

 

[premiers2011]

Hopper I appreciate it is Indigenous round and living in a community with a lot of indigenous people I have clearly seen both sides of this whole issue - Good and bad from Australians of ALL backgrounds. what if this was Trent Cotchin stopping a match to have a crowd member escorted out of the ground because someone called him CHIMP - would Cotchin have the same power and authority that Goodes has? calling people names is not a good idea even calling Cotchin chimp is derogatory and demeaning and I think Goodes was personally offended by what the Girl said but how does that make it a rascist act? How can someone have the power to stop a match and have someone evicted and Goodes wants to be very very careful pointing out the faults in others when he hits people to injure them behind play. To me it looks like Goode has made a monumental mistake and no-one is game enough to call Goodes out on it.

I think you may have missed the point a little bit Tigertime.

Goodes being called an Ape compared to Cotch being called Chimp are totally different in most people's view.
I can't speak for indigenous people but I think they feel the Ape comment may refer to the colour of the skin as well as the general look of the person.

I think the whole situation has been handled brilliantly by all involved and will only do good things for getting the racism message out there.

I bet anyone young or old will think twice before saying something like this again. whether it be at the footy, in the school yard, in a pub or in public anywhere.

 

[Smoking Aces]

I hope the girl can pick up the phone and apologise to Goodes. She can/will learn a lot out of this.

 

[Scoop]

Find it absolutely mesmerising how anyone with a skerrick of understanding around this issue can think it's been handled the wrong way. I unreservedly commend Goodes, McGuire and Demetriou for the way this has been both tackled and managed since.

How on earth can any of you expect Goodes to do nothing in those circumstances. He's done what's right. Nothing more and nothing less. McGuire acted decisively and gave a clear message that this isn't tolerable but it must be handled so that some learning happens rather than a witch-hunt. Exactly as it should be.

By 1pm the following day, it's been brought into public focus (as it happened publicly) but where the damage was done a private apology has also been made. Swift, decisive, appropriate.

Guys, we have Indigenous Round not just as a chance to celebrate our Aboriginal champs of the past. It's a vehicle for something bigger. Genuine reconciliation is something we should all be interested in - and that shouldn't be conditional.

Words, even those of a 13 year old, reflect thinking. Thinking reflects values. Values reflect families. Families reflect communities. While these words go unchallenged we can expect racism to be a cancer in our community for eternity.

Bravo to all involved last night and this morning. Couldn't possibly have been done better.

The AFL gets a lot wrong but they have not done a thing wrong with this.

I hope the girl can pick up the phone and apologise to Goodes. She can/will learn a lot out of this.

She did this morning. Goodes put it via Twitter.

 

[Arghoslent]

I thought all humans were primates.

 

[TigerForce]

For those that are not aware how the word Ape is racist term used in the 1960's to described people with dark coloured skin. It's a very low act to call someone this and is still very offensive. Cast your mind back a few years able when Andrew Symonds was called a money on the field, it was deemed racist but the ICC didn't have the balls to do anything about it.

I think Adam Goodes has handled the situation very well.

I actually felt the pain that Goodes suffered last night. My son is in grade 6 and is only 12 years old. He is a constant victim of racist taunts and bullying at school. Rather than making a stand like Goodes did last night, he walks away. When my son comes home, he generally goes to his room and cries. I know that some people are uneducated about bullying and racism. They wouldn't have a clue what it's like. Unfortunately as my son is a consistent victim, I know the mental effect it has on him.

Yeah it's all to do with the Neanderthal look that dark coloured people have and it still shows, and will always show, why people still have that ignorant 'bad habit' in their mind to abuse people in the way they look. It's a terrible 'spur of the moment' habit people have and I've copped this a lot of times during my high school years.....and possibly still do a bit today as I'm not the best of looks for a bloke ;D

We can educate kids as much as we like, but once they reach the teen years, it's that same old mentality that gets into their mind someway somehow and still go out and shout racial abuse or other types of abuse. I've seen this transformation from kids and it's really sad. This is a global problem due to so many different races.

 

[Jason King]

For those that are not aware how the word Ape is racist term used in the 1960's to described people with dark coloured skin. It's a very low act to call someone this and is still very offensive. Cast your mind back a few years able when Andrew Symonds was called a money on the field, it was deemed racist but the ICC didn't have the balls to do anything about it.

I think Adam Goodes has handled the situation very well.

I actually felt the pain that Goodes suffered last night. My son is in grade 6 and is only 12 years old. He is a constant victim of racist taunts and bullying at school. Rather than making a stand like Goodes did last night, he walks away. When my son comes home, he generally goes to his room and cries. I know that some people are uneducated about bullying and racism. They wouldn't have a clue what it's like. Unfortunately as my son is a consistent victim, I know the mental effect it has on him.

I am not surprised a large chunk of the white anglo's don't get it. They are too busy claiming these types of slurs are part of life and Goode's should just cop it like a man (another great sexist sentiment held by the dinosaurs by the way). What a disgrace some of the whites of Australia are.

 

[tigertime2]

I am not surprised a large chunk of the white anglo's don't get it. They are too busy claiming these types of slurs are part of life and Goode's should just cop it like a man (another great sexist sentiment held by the dinosaurs by the way). What a disgrace some of the whites of Australia are.

I have not missed the point and neither has my wife who was walking down a street in a Victorian town with her friend and they were attacked by an Aboriginal gang in the 1970's - her friend was bashed and she was threatened with physical harm - racism is real for sure but it is not a one way street. By the way she has many aboriginal friends and our sons play with some great Indigenous team mates.

 

[bruntonave.]

living in a community with a lot of indigenous people I have clearly seen both sides of this whole issue

What is the other side?

 

[seven]

I'm guessing the woman sitting next to her was her mum.
Surprised how didn't react when the girl said that.
If it was me and I called someone a so so, regardless of race, I would have been backhanded.

 

[Tigermad2005]

Others would have been saying the same thing about him but did not get heard.

 

[tigergollywog]

I have not missed the point and neither has my wife who was walking down a street in a Victorian town with her friend and they were attacked by an Aboriginal gang in the 1970's - her friend was bashed and she was threatened with physical harm - racism is real for sure but it is not a one way street. By the way she has many aboriginal friends and our sons play with some great Indigenous team mates.

I was once set upon by a guy with red hair walking a salamander. Goddam lizard-fish lovin' rangas.
Funnily enough, some of my best mates are sauce heads. None of 'em are into amphibians though.

 

[Smoking Aces]

She did this morning. Goodes put it via Twitter.

Good hear. Cheers Scoop.

 

[FredH]

How can someone have the power to stop a match and have someone evicted and Goodes wants to be very very careful pointing out the faults in others when he hits people to injure them behind play. To me it looks like Goode has made a monumental mistake and no-one is game enough to call Goodes out on it.

Goodes neither asked for the game to be stopped nor asked for the girl to be evicted. He just poined out the girl to the nearbty security bloke and told him what she had said. The umpires could have continued the game. The security people could have just spoken to the girl and left it at that. Their choice on how they handled it. Goodes didn't appear to demand anything from the umpires or from security.

I am glad that the girl was evicted - and has now apologised. Seems she has learnt something positive from the episode. Goodes did the right thing - and hopefully the whole affair ends up having a beneficial effect of the girl's behaviour towards others.

 

[Soda]

Find it absolutely mesmerising how anyone with a skerrick of understanding around this issue can think it's been handled the wrong way. I unreservedly commend Goodes, McGuire and Demetriou for the way this has been both tackled and managed since.

How on earth can any of you expect Goodes to do nothing in those circumstances. He's done what's right. Nothing more and nothing less. McGuire acted decisively and gave a clear message that this isn't tolerable but it must be handled so that some learning happens rather than a witch-hunt. Exactly as it should be.

By 1pm the following day, it's been brought into public focus (as it happened publicly) but where the damage was done a private apology has also been made. Swift, decisive, appropriate.

Guys, we have Indigenous Round not just as a chance to celebrate our Aboriginal champs of the past. It's a vehicle for something bigger. Genuine reconciliation is something we should all be interested in - and that shouldn't be conditional.

Words, even those of a 13 year old, reflect thinking. Thinking reflects values. Values reflect families. Families reflect communities. While these words go unchallenged we can expect racism to be a cancer in our community for eternity.

Bravo to all involved last night and this morning. Couldn't possibly have been done better.

Great post Hopper, I also thought it was very well handled by all. Disappointed in some attitudes on here and echo Jason King's sentiments below. Ignorance still abounds.

 

[Soda]

I actually felt the pain that Goodes suffered last night. My son is in grade 6 and is only 12 years old. He is a constant victim of racist taunts and bullying at school. Rather than making a stand like Goodes did last night, he walks away. When my son comes home, he generally goes to his room and cries. I know that some people are uneducated about bullying and racism. They wouldn't have a clue what it's like. Unfortunately as my son is a consistent victim, I know the mental effect it has on him.

That is shocking nwonash cannot believe this still occurs. Have you confronted the school?

 

[Tigers of Old]

Seems there's still a real lack of understanding in Australia re racism even on this thread. Sad.