AFL knock back Gaza humanitarian aid advertising at Adelaide Oval

[radiojake]

Thread highlights why they knocked it back.

I'm sure if it was contentious to support the ANZAC's/ADF Reserves they'd be in a similar boat. Because you know, supporting our troops is totally the same as the Isreal-Palenstine conflict.

Support for the military arm of the state is inherently political -

That's why the AFL's 'official stance' of aid to Gaza being 'of a political nature' is hypocrisy and what I'm pointing out --

If they came out and said 'We support Israel, and thus don't want any promotion of the humanitarian crisis in Gaza', atleast then we could say they weren't being hypocrites...

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

Yeah, not like Hamas has in their charter statements about wiping out not just Israel, but Jews everywhere.

Or that Israel has observed every ceasefire, and Hamas has broken every one.

I think as the United Nations rightly pointed out that when discussing a ceasefire, it helps if Egypt and Israel include Hamas in these discussions.

 

[radiojake]

Politics have no place in football. ...

Haha ok then - What's this about?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/codes-set-aside-rivalries-to-fight-pokie-reforms-20110925-1krf4.html

from 2011:

A cashed-up alliance of rival footy codes has joined Clubs Australia's fight against the federal government's poker machine reforms in a move anti-gambling campaigners are labelling a disgrace.

During grand final week the AFL and NRL are planning to run television advertisements against mandatory pre-commitment technology for high-intensity pokies.

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

way to miss the point, this is a footy forum 90% of people don't know understand or actually give two shits about gaza, nor do most australians. no matter what carefully worded polling question try to make out. statistically you will find more people who are or know indigenous Australians and gay people and have some understanding of the issue.

Gaza, hate to break it to all the minorities associated with (this in this country both sides are minorities) people have very little understanding or care about the issue, because despite being the loudest pack of campaigners in the room, the on going war between these two is viewed as no more important then any multitude of conflicts around the world to most aussies.

I get it for some people this is highly emotive, in fact some people have pointed out the conflict with sudan how would the AFL react? what they fail to grasp is why there is no appeal for the people in south sudan is the same reason the AFL said no to gaza. The vast majority of people don't give a shit and generally the ones that do care more about the politics then actually helping people.

Strangely enough we do, there is a large component of both Jewish (with supporters in both sides of the issue), not to mention a large number of Arabic people who have friends trapped in Gaza.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

israel v palestine is like geelong vs melbourne 2011, such is the disparity in resources and support. if the afl wanted to make a statement on gaza humanitarian situation it should have done so during that game to get the message across!

 

[Dogs_r_barking]

What borders would the Palestinians be happy with?

As I said (and you cut from where you quoted me) the Hamas Charter says, "There is no negotiated settlement possible. Jihad is the only answer."

Given that, what borders do you think they'd be happy with?

Palestinians have been proposing a two state solution for some time now, discussions usually break down when more settlers move into occupied territories, I don't think it is the Palestinians opposed to two states more like Israel who wants to take over all the Palestine (and kill all the Arabs, as was urged by Israeli ministers during the week).

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Haha ok then - What's this about?

http://www.smh.com.au/national/codes-set-aside-rivalries-to-fight-pokie-reforms-20110925-1krf4.html

from 2011:

That's not political to me, it just so happens that the opponents of the reforms need to go after the Government because the Government are ones wanting to implement reforms.

It's greedy, leeching campaigners wanting to make sure they can continue being greedy, leeching campaigners.

Like Michael said to Sonny in The Godfather, 'It's not personal, it's just business'.

 

[radiojake]

Publically campaigning against a government policy ≠ 'political nature'
Allowing advertising asking for humanitarian aid = 'political nature'


Right - Glad I got that covered...

 

[the_interloper]

Maybe a half time Israel v Palestine cage match could work?

 

[mrpez]

Palestinians have been proposing a two state solution for some time now, discussions usually break down when more settlers move into occupied territories, I don't think it is the Palestinians opposed to two states more like Israel who wants to take over all the Palestine (and kill all the Arabs, as was urged by Israeli ministers during the week).

Thats a pretty simplistic view of things, and anyone who preaches the blame purely on one side is either blinded by their faith, or not truly across the issues involved.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

World Vision apolitical... ROFL.

Not saying the fundraising doesn't have merit, but WV latching onto latest high profile cause which will get plenty of support from the anti Israeli lobby as opposed to perhaps highlighting the suffering of Christians in South Sudan & Nigeria.

Oh look, suddenly I am making the issue politico-religious, just what the Afl wants to avoid.

Yes poor poor Israel. My heart bleeds.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Yeah, not like Hamas has in their charter statements about wiping out not just Israel, but Jews everywhere.

Or that Israel has observed every ceasefire, and Hamas has broken every one.

What a load of shit. Not even an hour into the 7 hour ceasefire Israel was bombing and killing children.

 

[Lunchlady Doris]

Just going by opinions on here it looks like the afl has done the right thing. A lot of emotion and opinion based on not a lot of fact. Two countries at battle and we want to promote saving just one? The banner is emotively charged against one side and should have been written more neutrally.

They weren't asked to promote saving anything. There are 10s of thousands of homeless people that need emergency aid - who gives a **** what side of an imaginary line they are on?

 

[Herne Hill Hammer]

Publically campaigning against a government policy ≠ 'political nature'
Allowing advertising asking for humanitarian aid = 'political nature'


Right - Glad I got that covered...

Political Party A - Vote for me, I'll introduce reforms because pokies are sucking the life out of our suburbs and other small business. Children are going hungry and families are losing their homes.

Political Party B - Vote for me. I'll keep things as they are because the pokie industry employs people and the clubs do so much good by donating back to local community organisations.

That's political.

Clubs and Hotels Association, let's attack party A because they want to eat into our obscene profits. Purely business / greed driven.

 

[I am Jack]

The AFL has managed to stuff up a competition that has been running equally for over a 100 years.
I think the last thing the AFL needs is to weigh in on a delicate and complex matter like the Gaza strip.
I don't think Vlad would've knocked this proposal back, but I think Gil has done the right thing for the AFL.

 

[Juggs Magnetic]

Perhaps Palestine could use the billions it already receives in international aid to help its population, and the concrete it receives from Israel to help rebuild all the houses that have been destroyed, rather than using it to build more tunnels.
If Hamas prioritized the safety of their civilians over their hatred of Israel, who knows, the Gaza strip could actually be a pretty nice place by now.
Say what you want about Israel (probably best not to) but they put a pretty high emphasis on the safety of their people.

As for the AFL, best to stay out of this one.

 

[underthestars]

They weren't asked to promote saving anything. There are 10s of thousands of homeless people that need emergency aid - who gives a **** what side of an imaginary line they are on?

"Save Palestine; Save Gaza”

 

[DaVillaBlues]

It has been revealed that Hamas weren't responsible for that horrific atrocity of the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, but Israel went ahead with this revenge strike anyway in Gaza.

The IDF and Netanyahu are always looking for an excuse to bomb the Palestinians and their homes and blame it on Hamas.

Noam Chomsky, who is jewish himself, has written many fair, decent and balanced accounts on the Israel/Palestinian conflict, look it up, well worth reading.

 

[Big_Birdy]

It has been revealed that Hamas weren't responsible for that horrific atrocity of the kidnapping and murder of three Israeli teenagers, but Israel went ahead with this revenge strike anyway in Gaza.

The IDF and Netanyahu are always looking for an excuse to bomb the Palestinians and their homes and blame it on Hamas.

Noam Chomsky, who is jewish himself, has written many fair, decent and balanced accounts on the Israel/Palestinian conflict, look it up, well worth reading.

Source?

And using Noam Chomsky as a fair and balanced report? The same Noam Chomsky who claimed the US presence in Greece after World War II was the same as the Russian occupation of Poland? Righto.

 

[strauchnyy]

Anyone actually think that the aid would even get to the Palestinians in need??

More likely to end up in the pockets of Hamas terrorists or put towards tunnels and rockets aimed at Israeli civilians, which feeds this cyclical conflict (as proven in the past)...

As someone said, the arguments in this thread illustrate exactly why it is not a good idea. It would polarize a sect of footy fans.

Where are the calls for aid to Syrian refugees or Sudan? Why is this (much, much smaller) conflict chosen?

For once, a good decision by the AFL.

 

[ziad]

This.

Sorry, but there are two sides to this conflict, and people being killed on both sides here.

Right call from the AFL, this isn't the right place to be getting political.

agreed

 

[BobbyMorri]

Stay the hell away from the conflict is the best way to deal with it. if it seems you take a side, then you are in for a rocky side. it can be the smallest thing which sets it off.

for example this
http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-19861023

Gaza football fans have defied a Hamas order not to watch a match between Spanish giants Barcelona and Real Madrid. Hamas, which governs Gaza, is angry that an Israeli soldier attended the game. But thousands watched the 2-2 draw on TV. Jon Donnison explains why the fixture matters so much in Gaza.

Of course, AFL doesnt matter in the middle east itself, but the relevant sides exist in Australia. its just not worth it; its too hot of a potato to handle.

 

[The 747]

Well done AFL.

The occult anti-Semitism in this country has reared its ugly head since the start of the lastest conflict.

A call for humanitarian aid to Palestinians = anti-Semetism. It would be laughable if so many people werent dying due to this demented worldview.

 

[dumb]

don't think it's their place for a few reasons, partly the afl's preference for picking the low-hanging fruit of societal issues. they aren't into politics, they want the nice goodwill return on their ad expenditure $'s that only soft kills can gather. that things are problems need to be already widely accepted by the populace for a corporate organization such as the afl to be willing to draw attention to it. wait for the tide to turn in favor of homosexuality a little more before the afl bothers with it, for example.

 

[JohnnyFontane90]

i'm very happy the AFL has finally decided not to be the moral arbiter of our society for a change. i just wish they would take the 'it polarizes people so we're not gonna touch it' view more often.

But i can't help but think that the Palestinians had all the advanced weaponry and it was innocent Israelis that were getting killed at a rate of 20-1 to their cross-town counterparts, then they may be singing a very different tune.