In the 1980s Aboriginal Australian Rules footballers were often taunted with racist comments when playing on the field. Woe betide you if you do that now. You will be found by guards and cctv at paid grounds, and you will be piled on by social media, and banned from football venues.
In that time Aboriginal player Nicky Winmar made a stand and pulled up his player jumper and pointed to his dark skin. The photo is a classic, and I read it as 'I am a black Australian Aborigine and I play football really well. This is the colour of my skin, and youse can all get fucked".
He went on me win many accolades and honours.
How horrible it has been to learn he has been convicted of three cases of assault against women. His name has quickly been removed from the AFL Hall of Fame. Two statues of him have been taken down.
It is so awful that a hero to many has been taken down but it is deserved. We don't use racial abuse anymore, nor do we abuse women.
It seems Nicky, you blotted your copy book beyond redemption. So sad, you stupid dickhead.
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ReplyDeleteassault of any sort can never be justified, let alone against women.
Quite so, and thanks.
DeleteWill the AFL be consistent in this moral stand? And where will the lines be drawn?
ReplyDeleteI'm glad they're making an example of him and there's more work to be done
They need to be now Kylie, as they have set a precedent, a bed the AFL must now lie in.
DeleteWhat a shame, and shamefully common. ~sigh~ Be well!
ReplyDeleteYes and yes Darla.
DeleteAnd there are a number of high profile white men who have escaped the shame of this exclusion from so called halls of fame . Why
ReplyDeleteI don't know. I hope the precedent has been set.
DeleteAnonymous poses a good question. This story reminds of the case of Sherman Alexie (The Absolutely True Diary of a Part-Time Indian) the man had it all really. A successful writing career, a strong voice for the Natives. Money. Fame. Education. In the end, he seemed to revert to what he knew as a child growing up in abject poverty, surrounded by rampant alcoholism and domestic violence. It does not excuse the behavior, of course, but it might help to explain it.
ReplyDeleteDebby, so many are products of their upbringing. It's a reason but not an excuse. The power over women by men is huge, mentally and physically. Rather than women fighting back alone, let decent men fight back too.
DeleteRacism is the pits.
ReplyDeleteDiane, thanks. It is indeed.
DeleteIt is a shame that he has done this, but as "anonymous" says many white men do similar and I would hope they get the same treatment Nicky got. I'm speaking for Australia here since the other country seems to be a lost cause on the matter.
ReplyDeleteRiver, I am not sure about other countries. I would guess in the UK laws are strong, and in a number of European countries, but that is not a huge number of the world's population.
DeleteHe fell from Grace and so many young ones looked up to him in the past, such a pity he has disappointed all.
ReplyDeleteMargaret, I as an adult looked up to him. Losing faith in heroic figures is rough.
DeleteSince the AFL Hall of Fame opened in Australia 30 years ago (1966), only two national stars have been removed for their illegal non-football behaviour. Both were proud Aboriginal men: Nicky Winmar and Barry Cable.
ReplyDeleteAll the other footballers who were gaoled were found guilty of cocaine trafficking; fraud; and a meth fueled crime spree across a capital city. Two more famous footballers drank triple the legal limit of alcohol and smashed into parked cars. None of these white men were removed from the AFL Hall of Fame!
Justice is notoriously NOT even-handed.
ReplyDelete