Ralphy wrote:IMO he was just saying what everybody is thinking about the Aboriginals, in that its the truth
This little sentence is a perfect example of why lies about
anyone in well-read tabloids should not be allowed to stand unchallenged. I'm part of 'everybody', as we all are, yet it is clear that I and a lot of others on this forum DON'T think that way about 'the Aboriginals'
- well done for finding and using the 'riginal' part -
It's in a newspaper, shouted by a snake which according to some here doesn't even believe it HIMSELF, and all of a sudden, It's
'The Truth'. I know he was only doing his job, (just like Porky Bolt, it seems), but Mordy; well done, I salute you for not allowing more lies to stand as facts.
St.Kenny wrote:fact is.....many individuals with an absolute morsal of aboriginal blood in their vains yet choose to amplify their native Australian connection in order to profit from the vast array of benefits can now breath a huge sigh of relief knowing that an ex st.Kilda player has sat in judgement and gagged a vocal critic of this immoral practice ....yeah we should all be proud of Mordy for doing this
![Rolling Eyes :roll:](./images/smilies/icon_rolleyes.gif)
Many? Absolute morsal? (morsel) Vast array? Gagged? Really?
Look, I suppose I agree with the concept that if you have had the privilege of being raised as a white Australian and none of the prejudice of being identified as black Australian, or even those 'with a touch of the tar brush' as they thankfully no longer say knowingly, then yes, it's pretty immoral to enter competitions designed to recognise and celebrate Indigenous contributions to society. But, as Our Man Mordy pointed out, the nine plaintiffs concerned
have had the stigma of being raised or identified as Aboriginal.
He didn't gag a critic of this immoral practice, he stopped someone peddling incendiary untruths. If this was about one of the Hun's other journalists making up his* own facts about our proud football club, wouldn't you be happy to see a judge tell that journalist they weren't allowed to lie about anything to do with St Kilda? Unfortunately we're having trouble getting support for a Anti-Defamatory Footy Fact Law, but in the meantime, let's celebrate the fact that at least racially-prejudiced lying is illegal.
Perhaps now is the moment to remember that the reason these awards and prizes exist is to find great achievers within the Indigenous population, who can then be recognised and given their place in history, to give others in the same community something they feel part of to aspire to. If you do some research and even ask around, it's apparent that very few black kids look at history books full of Great White Men & Women and imagine a place for themselves alongside them. Most feel alienated from that, whether it's Australia, the UK, Europe, the US, or anywhere else where the words of posterity have been written with white hands.
It shouldn't be about skin colour or culture, or even ancestory, but it often is. Why do you think so many black kids in Australia identify with hiphop and gangsta culture, rather than rock music? When kids look in the mirror and imagine themselves as someone great, if there is no one like them already in that position, there at least needs to be no visibly entrenched obstacle. It doesn't matter if these great people aren't full-blooded anything. Not many people talk about the fact that Bob Marley and Barrack Obama, as just 2 examples, are as white as they are black, bloodwise. Black kids identify with them. They have become 'Black Heroes'. Don't we need more black heroes in Australia? Something that gives kids something they think they
can be, rather than more things they feel they will never be allowed to be? Thankfully, the AFL recognised this a few years ago and are leading the way with inclusive policies designed to encourage other communities to take part, not just Eurocentric ones. The more heroes that
all kids can relate to and aspire to, the better our future will be.
*'or her' not necessary - I don't think there are any female footy journalists at the Herald Sun; uh-oh, another can of worms...