Pies players should show support for Goodes

[thompsoc]

[Wokko]

[Lazza]

[Wokko]

[jackcass]

[jackcass]

This was our line in the sand, an opportunity to acknowledge the sins of the past, make our apologies and move forward positively toward true reconciliation as 1 Australia.

13 February 2008:

Prime Minister (Hon Kevin Rudd MP): Mr Speaker, I move:

That today we honour the Indigenous peoples of this land, the oldest continuing cultures in human history.

We reflect on their past mistreatment.

We reflect in particular on the mistreatment of those who were Stolen Generations - this blemished chapter in our nation's history.

The time has now come for the nation to turn a new page in Australia's history by righting the wrongs of the past and so moving forward with confidence to the future.

We apologise for the laws and policies of successive Parliaments and governments that have inflicted profound grief, suffering and loss on these our fellow Australians.

We apologise especially for the removal of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander children from their families, their communities and their country.

For the pain, suffering and hurt of these Stolen Generations, their descendants and for their families left behind, we say sorry.

To the mothers and the fathers, the brothers and the sisters, for the breaking up of families and communities, we say sorry.

And for the indignity and degradation thus inflicted on a proud people and a proud culture, we say sorry.

We the Parliament of Australia respectfully request that this apology be received in the spirit in which it is offered as part of the healing of the nation.

For the future we take heart; resolving that this new page in the history of our great continent can now be written.

We today take this first step by acknowledging the past and laying claim to a future that embraces all Australians.

A future where this Parliament resolves that the injustices of the past must never, never happen again.

A future where we harness the determination of all Australians, Indigenous and non-Indigenous, to close the gap that lies between us in life expectancy, educational achievement and economic opportunity.

A future where we embrace the possibility of new solutions to enduring problems where old approaches have failed.

A future based on mutual respect, mutual resolve and mutual responsibility.

A future where all Australians, whatever their origins, are truly equal partners, with equal opportunities and with an equal stake in shaping the next chapter in the history of this great country, Australia.

Someone needs to break the news to Adam Goodes.

[yin-YANG]

Yeah the apology was long overdue -- John Howard had the same issue as the Fonz and found it just too tough!

But there is a long way to go Jackass - have you caught any of the media this year re the plans to remove Indigenous Australians from remote communities. I recall Abbott said it was a lifestyle choice for people to live in those areas. He has no idea about the importance of country and the connection to the land for Indigenous Australians and I suspect there are many others in Australia who think as he does.

I am rapt to see so many people in our footy community and broader society come out and support Goodes - from our players to Prez and hopefully our cheersquad and supporters in a few weeks time when we play em

[jackcass]

[Pies4shaw]

That raises a fascinating - and very fundamental - question, though: if you feel that strongly about the issue but you're not booing him (either incidentally or repeatedly), then what is the motivating factor that drives large numbers to do so, week in week out? It's surely not some shared perception that his particular approach is not assisting the reconciliation process.

[jackcass]

[RudeBoy]

[jackcass]

[RudeBoy]

Given Adam Goodes' experience of often being called a 'monkey' or 'ape', it was to be expected that he would consider those comments racist, regardless of whether the girl meant it that way or not.

Here's his comment about 'the face of racism'. He is simply stating the facts. I don't think Goodes has any reason to apologise to anyone. In my opinion, however, the police and the media's treatment of the young girl was outrageous.



From 27 May 2013.

'To come to the boundary line and hear a 13-year-old girl call me an "ape", and it's not the first time on a footy field that I've been referred to as a "monkey" or an "ape", it was shattering,' he told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.

Goodes told the Melbourne Herald Sun afterwards that, 'Racism had a face...and it was a 13-year-old girl - but it's not her fault,' said Goodes.

'That's what hurt me so bad... when I turned around, I just saw this young face and... it was just sad.

'That's why I had to leave the arena, it just broke my heart.'

Early on Saturday morning, Goodes took to his Twitter feed to announce that the girl had been in touch with him, apologising for her actions.

[yin-YANG]

If the boos were all about the 13 year old girl shouldn't there have been more boos back in 2013 or 2014… but instead they are happening now in 2015?

Although there are some who are hiding their dislike - maybe even hatred for Goodes behind the protection of the young girl the reality is very different. They are not defensive they are on the attack.

[Bob Sugar]