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This is the thirty eighth posting in this ongoing, if not somewhat ad-hoc column called "Ruminations From My Veranda".
For anyone not familiar with my ad-hoc column, these are just the issues. thoughts, matters that are floating about in my head as I sit on my veranda with a wine. I don't do background research, I don't post pictures or links, they are simply my "ruminations"!
I am sitting in the sun on my verandah, after being banished inside for a long time by one of the coldest winters for a long time. It's really, really nice to be out here with the sun streaming through the cafe blinds that keep the wind off me. Today they aren't really necessary as there is no wind. Just sun and the birds. Oh, and the sound of chomping as Lenni, one of my two German Shorthaired Pointers, is getting stuck into a bone she has dug up.
But it is really nice, and I am appreciating the warmth on me, the brightness of the sun in the clear sky, and the drop of red. An honest red, made by Rothbury Estate, it's a 2013 Vintage Bell Cab Sav Merlot. I tend to shy away from the three grape blends, but this is eminently quaffable and when you haven't been on the veranda for a couple of months - quaffing is very enjoyable.
What isn't so enjoyable is a conversation I have been having on Facebook. Adam Goodes. The Sydney AFL player. The indigenous footballer. The man of the moment when it comes to all conversations based upon racism! Now I'm not going to sit here and start to publicly declare "I'm not a racist". I let me actions speak for me. I have worked with indigenous teenage kids who had dropped out of the school system in Coffs Harbour. I have worked with and helped in the skill development of indigenous welfare workers. I have been accepted into the home of one of Melbourne's most loved Aboriginal leaders, and interviewed him and enjoyed his friendship and hospitality.
By the end of this rumination, it is quite possible that some readers will say I am "racist". if that happens then this has been an unsuccessful rumination. I think the best way to begin this is to say that June and I have been talking for some times about what has been said regarding Adam Goodes and "booing", and we have formed our opinions. Indeed everyone is entitled to do that, and I suspect most people who have followed the story have an opinion.
The Channel 9 Footy Show posted a picture of all AFL Captains who posed in support of Adam on Facebook. As you might expect the response was a mishmash of informed debate, hysteria and idiocy. So I thought I'd use that picture on my own Facebook page, and to put the following thread up.
I commend the AFL Captains for showing some solidarity - regarding the Goodes booing issue. But I posed the question - "Is it possible to boo a player without being a racist! I believe the answer is yes! AFL and before it VFL, football has always been a game of passion - and cheering and booing players and umpires has always been a feature.
Can you imagine Captain Blood - Jack Dyer, reacting like this when he was booed (which was probably nearly always every match -as he was usually clobbering someone), but seriously - if they are racist comments then they should be stamped out, and the person "stomped on" very quickly. The problem is that this has grown out of all proportion and I have to say it, i think Adam Goodes will get booed even more now - not less.
The average AFL fan is NOT a racist, but they do not like being told what to do when it comes to something like this. I am trying not to make any judgements on Goodes, his motives, his fears his concerns - but really, there is an old saying, "Don't enact a law if you can't police it".
Who and how is a "no booing" policy going to be policed. Yes the powers to be will expect the "good-will" of spectators to come into play - but reading the hundreds, and still growing, responses to this issue on the Channel 9 page - I'd say this policy has NO chance of being accepted by fans. Maybe Adam simply needs to focus on his game, and ignore the fans?"
Now I will take out names (except mine), but here is how the responses went.
"M": It's a pig-ignorant lynch mob mentality. The booing, in Goodes' case. True colours.
"F": I don;t think they're booing him because of his race, otherwise why aren't they booing other indigenous players? I believe they're booing him because they think he's a jerk and a crybaby. But I may be wrong.
"L":That's what they think and I'd hope that you didn't contribute to the proliferation of such thinly veiled racism F.
Me: Racism is to set aside a person on the base of their ethnicity! AFL players have been booed since the game commenced. Adam Goodes is a professional player, he "may" have been booed at some stage because of his ethnicity - who really knows? But, it would seem that people are now booing him because of a (at least perceived) over-reaction. Frank makes a good point - if this booing is on a racist position, why aren't they booing Buddy, or Steven Motlop or Cyril Rioli. There are 71 listed indigenous players in the AFL - and the noise would be deafening and, thank god - it isn't happening! This isn't about race!
"L" [puts up a link to an article} - We’ll Decide When We’re Being Racist, White People Tell Black People.
"Me": ..and white people tell white people who are catholic, jewish, muslim, and asian folk tell white people, and WASPS tell non-WASPs, and fascists tell communists, and communists tell fascists, and . . . .
"F": I thought we all marched all those years ago for equality? Equality means being treated like everyone else. No special treatment - like everyone else. I'm sure if I carried on like Adam Goodes and did war dances at opposition supporters I'd be booed too. Unfortunately I wouldn't be able to play the race card.
L": that's what shocks me. Marching doesn't cut the mustard. Take a long look in the mirror and you may see a tacit racist. The reason they don't boo Cyril is because off field he is shy and retiring. Aussies like their prominent aboriginals that way. Sadly, privileged old white men are threatened by a strong young black man.
"M:" Waleed Ali put it perfectly and it resonates with what you just said above L
"L": I anticipate that Goodes will come through all of this stronger than ever. I suspect that he will emerge as a great leader off the field and make further contribution to the healing of this great nation.
"M": Guy Rundle in todays Crikey:
"Football as played or watched is play and release, an expression of human freedom. Imagine the energy and focus, the self-abnegation it takes to spend the afternoon instead booing one man every time he gets the ball." Also from Crikey - "the booing of Adam Goodes is in the main, being done by mindless sub-intellectual football fans for no good reason other than they can and they think it is fun. Whether or not it is racist is beside the point. These booing, braying, mindless morons are, at the end of the day, that most ugly phenomenon of human behaviour, the MOB". Yep
"Me": There was never any indication in the start to this thread that there are not mindless people, there are not racists and that the world is a peachy place. The issue was, can you boo at the football and not be a racist!
"F": Hear, hear, Rob. Just because you disagree with someone's actions, or comments or behaviour doesn't make you a racist. Or a Nazi. Or anti-semitic or any other label that's convenient to throw when you want to shut down an argument. I believe there are only two races of people on this earth, good people and assholes. And guess what? All races have 'em. And by the way that wasn't a racist comment.
"M": Depends who you are booing, and why.
"Me": ...and Mark, how are you going to determine motive? ...and why who? Do you believe that racism only affects Indigenous people?
"M": Meh
"Me": And what does Meh mean?...and why who? Do you believe that racism only affects Indigenous people?
"M": Means I need to get on with my day.
"F": I've been booed a few times in my life.Didn't think it was because I was Australian though. But now I'm thinking perhaps it was.
"Me": I'm sorry, I have seen a few words about racism per se, and that is hard not to argue against in terms of setting aside anyone simply on the basis of their ethnicity - but really No one has mounted any credible support for "trying" (being the operative word) to stop fans booing at any sport! The problem with any policy/rule or regulation that says you can't boo at an indigenous player, muslim player, catholic player, collingwood player etc is, that you need to determine motive. Unless the person actually speaks against the person in a manner that is considered by our law as being racist - all you are doing is making assumptions! remember that phrase from the 80's? "The problem when you assume, is that you make an ass out of u and me!" A boo is a sound, it "may" be a racist taunt, but remember what Nat KIng Cole sung in "As Time Goes By". A kiss is just a kiss" Maybe, a boo is just a boo!
"F": Why don't people boo all indigenous players then? I guess the reason is perhaps that they like them. And perhaps the reason they boo Adam Goodes is that they don't like him. I'm starting to think Adam Goodes is the racist.
"M": Which brings us back to doh..."
"S": It's easy to handle racists taunts as a member of the white majority but if you are member of the indigenous community it's a completely different ball game . We are a racist country and if you don't think so you live in fantasy land .We deny our history that is steeped in the blood of our first nation people .The booing of Adam Goodes is just an excuse for the racist elements of our society to engage in .Very easy to dismiss the booing and saying it's because of his personality etc that's just bullshit .
"F": I boo Nick Riewoldt because he's tall, handsome and blonde.
"Me": Oh dear - yet again this thread was NOT about racism per se. It was about whether booing - all booing is a racist response! As soon as any element of racism is raised people seem to loose logic and just want to work so hard at defending what is both defensible - racism, but indefensible - the right to discuss the matter. There is no argument that as a "muslim", i would be bear the brunt of racist taunts. There is no doubt as an indigenous person i would bear the brunt of racist taunts. There was no doubt that as a pom in primary school in the 1950's, I was the brunt of racist taunts! It exists, it is wrong. I wish I could wipe it out immediately. But to constantly assume that because some idiot boos an AFL player because they are black, blue, large, short, gay or straight - and that they are doing so because they are ignorant and behaving in an unacceptably racist manner, that, therefore everyone else that boos must be a racist. Wood floats. Ducks float. Therefore all ducks are made of wood! Sorry, illogical!
At this point there were no more replies. Now the positive thing about these exchanges were that to my knowledge each of these people know each other, and each were able to express their thoughts without too much in the way of taunts or "slamming'. But what it does highlight for me is, that it seems impossible to have a discussion on any action or issue that has a racist overtone, without logic disappearing and suspicions being voiced that anyone who may have a point of view that does not support what "might" be the popular position, is a racist.
I would like to believe that my comments above make it very clear that in my world, there is no room for racism. There is also no room for homophobia, there is no room for child abuse, there is no room for violence be it against woman or men of any age. This should not mean that if i believe there is a position that might be contrary to the popular beliefs on any of these issues I should fear of speaking my mind, less I be accused of being a racist, homophobic etc. You get the idea.
I am reminded of what Steve Jobs once said. "Don't let the noise of others' opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition".
I have spoken my thoughts, they are not limited to this short rumination, but after all, these are just the thoughts that are currently bumping around in my head, and the more I think about how people react, the more sometimes, just sometimes they take the edge of the wine. I think there comes a point when you know your "inner voice" has had its say, so stop, and enjoy the sun, the wine, the veranda and my dogs.
My last word is that I do feel for Adam Goodes and indeed any person who has had to bear the brunt of a racist attack. I hope he continues on, but I also hope that he can close his ears to those with closed minds. Finally I hope that we do not over-react and label all fans as racist because of a few!
The issue won't go down like the sun this evening, that's for certain!