I am wondering why we trivialise indigenous racism in Australia?

[i-need-a-martini]

Adam Goodes has copped it twice this week - once from a kid and then by an adult who should know better.

I feel so ashamed of this country at this moment. I am sick of hearing a sentence start with "I am not racist but..." before the person launches into a race based attack on indigenous people (or Asians. Or Muslims).

What I have found the most interesting about the Goodes incident is how many people made excuses that made him look like the antagonist. Almost as if making racist remarks about indigenous people is no big deal. Treating him as if his feelings, his views (and everything about him) is unimportant. And I am staggered at how many people know so little about the history of racism a history that so many generations of indigenous people have had to go through.

And now Eddie Mcquire has shown us that racist comments against indigenous people is lurking just on the tips of our tongues waiting to be blurted out without refrain. 

I can't help but agree with this: One of the most savage responses to McGuire came from Magpies backman Harry O'Brien, who admonished his president, declaring he was ''extremely disappointed''. ''In my opinion race relations in this country is systematically a national disgrace,'' he said. 
Read more: http://www.smh.com.au/afl/afl-news/eddie-offers-to-stand-aside-20130529-2nc63.html

I agree with that last line - it is a national disgrace.

[izabsmiling]

Are you a Casual Racist 

An Australian, an Irishman and a South African walk into a bar.

Were you gearing up for a little chuckle then?

If you were, you're racist, and that's no joke, says one expert from the University of Sydney.

read more;http://www.theherald.com.au/story/1538709/are-you-a-casual-racist/?cs=12

Urban Dictionary defines casual racism as "the art of being slightly racist in a casual fashion. It's when one doesn't really hate people of another colour" but still laughs at jokes at their expense.

That's the type of ignorance that needs to be tackled head on, said Professor Shane Houston, the University of Sydney's Deputy Vice-Chancellor (Indigenous Strategy and Services).

Professor Houston was the first Aboriginal person to be appointed to such a senior role at any Australian university.

He said most Australians recognised instances of overt racism in which, for example, a person was denied a job or access to housing because of the colour of their skin.

However, he said that society tended to tolerate jokes or statements by those who didn't realise they were causing offence.

But he said if one person was offended by a joke, it was racist.

"People need to understand that it's not okay to laugh at other people or to discriminate against other people just because they are different and they are in a minority," he said.

[i-need-a-martini]

YOU might.... I DON'T!

I am not racist, just as so many people here have shown they are not...  

I suspect you like to imagine the rest of us are when it is actually you who is racist.

Are you serious? And where specifically did I call YOU racist? Yes - where did I say "You. Darki, are racist.".

I'm not racist either but I made it clear that it was a collective "we" that was not specific to anyone on here. Ie. it is a figurative use of speech. It is not specific.

How many more times do I have to explain something as basic as this?

😐

[poddster]

In this case should in not be "speciesism"?

I was under the impression that an "ape" or "King Kong" does not belong to any race but is a different species to homo sapians.

So pleas enlighten me, when was the merger of that species to any particular race? Oh and to which race?

[izabsmiling]

In this case should in not be "speciesism"?

I was under the impression that an "ape" or "King Kong" does not belong to any race but is a different species to homo sapians.

So pleas enlighten me, when was the merger of that species to any particular race? Oh and to which race?

you think it was offensive to apes ? 

[poddster]

you think it was offensive to apes ? 

I have heard no complaint from the species of ape. you?

[the_bob_delusion]

I think Joono you are the only one seeing my point.

Imagine if Goodes was Jewish. And a 13 year old (or anyone) yelled "You should be gassed" cause she wasn't happy about the way he was playing football. Perhaps she didn't quite understand the significance of that comment. Because she (and others in the community) don't know the details of the atrocities against the Jewish race although they most likely know that they have been discriminated against over the years.

The Jewish Goodes can't believe his ears. He is visibly upset. Explains in an interview what that comment means to him personally and to his (Jewish) people. So that even those who have no idea that the significance of "gassed" now have an inkling. 

Would we be making the same excuses then? Would we have people saying the Jewish Goodes should "man up"? Would we all somehow come up with a reverse racism story in the hope of justifying our own racism? Would we be saying "These people need to earn their respect"? Would we still be saying "Why do they have to bring up things from the past that don't apply to me?"

Of course not.

But somehow the same rules don't apply to our indigenous people. We still don't show them respect even after all that we have put them through. That's the disgrace.

(NOTE: and I say "we" collectively as a nation and don't mean everyone obviously.)

Not the same thing Martini. You should know that. A kid would likely call anyone with beard or hairy an Ape. It's rude. Doesn't make it racist. 

Say "You should be gassed" is not an innocent comment. Not the same comparison. You should know that.

People are confusing being rude vs being racists.

With Eddy, being tasteless vs being racist.

When I see racism. I look at intent.

[para-sights]

I think it was possibly said in innocence but can alsee understand the possibility of it having racial undertoneS as comparing someone as a sub species off human a throwback to the apes or as someone primitive. You couldn't call an African American a "porch monkey" without some overtones to it. 

[cueperkins]

All this misplaced outrage just detracts from the real issue of systemic discrimination in this country....

For instance, is anyone as outraged that Indigenous people are still NOT being Recognised under the constitution of their own country?  I am.  In National Reconciliation week no less?  I wonder how much the Main stream media has covered that more serious outrage by comparison to their typical superficial puddle jumping witch hunt?  Not much.

"The Government says it will not call a referendum on recognising Indigenous Australians in the Constitution until it can be sure the vote will be successful" May 26, 2013

http://www.abc.net.au/news/201...

It seems that Systemic discrimination is OK because nobody seems as outraged over that for instance??..  if only...... It's the Constitution...it's Mabo.....it's the Vibe.

Djapana - Sunset dreamin

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v...

[poddster]

 a sub species off human a throwback.....

I thouight that that was a prerequisite to be a footballer 🙂

[jethro_woolfe]

I thouight that that was a prerequisite to be a footballer 🙂

Poddo , mate Hi. 🙂 a lot of footballers are respectable people, not communists or anything. anyway , just saying. cheerio.