kaiserchief13
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- Jul 12, 2011
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In USA they ban celebrations in many sports to stop inciting the crowd. Seems like the complete opposite here if aboriginals can go around throwing spears at opposition spectators and then have a sook over boosWhen Goodes did his initial spear throwing, I thought "What a knob" and thought he was being ridiculous and stupid.
I even thought about it for a while a few days later and still came to the same conclusion.
I thought the booing would eventually subside and we could all go back to what we were doing. But it didn't subside. it got worse until it culminated to a crescendo in Perth on Sunday.
So I actually sat down and thought about it again and this is where I can say that Adam's actions challenged me to rethink everything. As a society we applaud stands against racism as long it's on our (the white man's) terms. Goodes confronts this and challenged my perceptions by taking it a step further. He wants to stamp out racism and defend his people the way he wants and this is where I changed my tune.
Lewis Jetta stood up for a mate on Sunday. other players stand up for their teammates by means of fighting, wrestling and 'flying the flag'. A short war dance is far less violent way of standing up for a mate than a jumper punch.
What does this all mean? Well probably nothing for anyone, but for me I finally 'get it' when I didn't at first.
Why should Adam Goodes stop doing what he's doing because it may upset people? If people actually thought about why he is doing it, instead of jump to silly conclusions then I think they would understand a little better.
The only person's actions I can control is my own. Richmond don't play a home against Sydney this year, but I would not boo Adam Goodes and neither would my children if they came with me. That's a start.
I really, really, really hope the booing stops.