We all stand with Adam Goodes today.
The Age has thrown its support behind Sydney Swans player and former Australian of the Year Adam Goodes today with a moving cover calling upon its readers to stand up against racism.
“Together, we can prevent any further blight. By seizing the opportunity to buttress awareness of the insidious dangers of racism, we can – we must – collectively generate an eventual benefit for the nation.” The Age wrote, encouraging leaders within the AFL and wider community to unite against racism.
Read more: We should not be booing Adam Goodes. We should be celebrating him.
The Age’s editor-in-chief, Andrew Holden, explained the cover, saying “we have taken this unusual step because we believe that racism is inherent in the abuse that Goodes has suffered and we all have a duty to help end this travesty.”
In the editorial accompanying the piece, The Age went on to say: “We take it as self-evident that vilifying any person on the grounds of race is a dreadful and harmful act that not only reflects terribly on the perpetrator, but is corrosive of our very community. The attacks on Goodes in recent times have reached such a level that they are reflecting poorly on our entire nation. We all have a duty to help end this travesty – and prevent repeats – by having the courage and decency to call out such behaviour as a racist disgrace. It certainly has no place in a nation that would pride itself on being diverse, multicultural and, above all, fair.”
The #IStandWithAdam hashtag on Instagram is full of support for Adam Goodes. Post continues after gallery.
“Many AFL players this weekend will make a public show of their support for Goodes. We applaud them, and we urge our readers to stand with them as part of a national declaration that this sorry chapter is not only closed, but that it cannot be repeated if we are to be truly able to say our nation is based on respect, decency and fairness.”
The Sydney Swans took on the Adelaide Crows today at the SCG. Goodes did not participate in the match, but his presence on the ground was felt.
Read more: In 3 minutes, Charlie Pickering perfectly explains why booing Adam Goodes IS racist.
A highlights package of Goodes’ career was played before the first bounce, in addition to a banner carrying an anti-racism message.
Yesterday, a joint statement released by the captains of the 18 AFL clubs called for an end to the booing that has plagued Goodes’ over recent months.
“Enjoy the game, celebrate the success but don’t boo, jeer or taunt players because of who they are or what they stand for.” the statement read.
Will you be supporting Adam Goodes today?
For more, try:
We should not be booing Adam Goodes. We should be celebrating him.
Jesinta Campbell makes a powerful point about the booing of Adam Goodes.
Adam Goodes isn’t playing the victim. He is being silenced by thugs.
Top Comments
Thank god I'm a NRL fan - I go to every game and hear plenty of booing - it's pretty harmless, you don't like the call or the score etc. but I have never heard ANY kind of racist banter. I would hazard a guess that anyone booing a player would not be in any way racist but perhaps because they are on the opposing team?? I absolutely don't condone any kind of racism ever!!
Got to love the NRL in this.
The Indigenous All Stars game before the season starts regularly has our Indigenous players celebrating a try with some cultural dancing. It's always cheered by the whole crowd. That game is one of the best advertisements for inclusion out there. My very white mother owns an Indigenous All Stars jersey and loves wearing it. When asked by a family friend why she, with no Aboriginal blood, owns that jersey instead of the NRL All Stars one she happily replies, "because most of my favourite players are in the Indigenous team."
Watching the football game tonight and there was a lot of booing going on and Adam Goodes wasn't even playing, in fact it was North Melbourne and Carlton!! OMG the racism was just terrible!! Ok I am being sarcastic but there was a lot of booing and no it wasn't for racist reasons. It was because the crowd didn't like how a player was playing the game or the fact that a player used to play for Carlton and now plays for North Melbourne etc etc. I can't believe we are being told not to boo at the football, common people this is Australia and this is football we are talking about.....maybe some people just need to toughen up and ignore the negatives out there and just do what they are being paid to do.....play football and leave the politics for when they retire from the game.
Great post Cara and at last an honest look at 'booing-gate'.
No they are not testament that hard work will get you anywhere. Don't get me wrong, they have all worked hard to achieve what they have, but they are also naturally gifted on the footy field. Don't forget all the Liam Jurrahs, Relton Roberts etc- young Indigenous men who have the skill and talent, but who also have such strong ties to land/family/obligations in their community, that living in a city like Melbourne us just too difficult. All the non-Indigenous players who have 'made it' are also very talented. Hard work alone does not get someone drafted and a successful football career. These people are very lucky.
Funny that. Was that booing being directed at one specific person every time that one specific person picked up the ball? There's normal booing and then there's bullying.
Now Adam Goodes is being attacked personally. It is not good natured sports ribbing. Whether or not it is racist (which I believe it is by the way), it IS bullying. It's crossed a line and it has to stop.
Indigenous injustices didn't occur 200 years ago then stop. Australians need to better educate themselves on Aboriginal history and why the legislative injustices that were continued up until late last century are still impacting on health outcomes, life expectancy, employment and education outcomes in Aboriginal society today. The scales were so far out of balance against Aboriginal Australians for so many years that there does need to be greater focus on closing the gaps now. You can't just choose to wipe the slate clean and say let's all start again from this point in time when not everyone is starting on a level playing field.