Eddie Comments, 'Not-So-Goodes'
Wow. What a crazy week for sport! What with all of the Adam Goodes drama this week I felt like something should be written up for Isolated nation and while I'm not well versed in sport- I feel passionately about the situation surrounding and wanted to voice my opinion. I realise mine is just one voice amongst many- but here we are regardless.
For those of you living under a rock that don't know what happened- during Sydney's win over Collingwood last round, in the dying minutes, a barely 13 year old, misguided young girl screamed at Goodes from the grandstand- labelling him an 'ape'. If you've seen the footage, you can see he's pretty shocked, and he immediately points her out and she is dragged removed from the ground. Now Adam handled that entire situation admirably- many of us were blown away by the grace and class that he, and those around him showed- it was a horrible situation that to make matters worse, happened in the middle of the Indigenous round. What a mess! Goodes continually reiterated that it wasn't the girls fault, and he's partly right- racism needs to be taught. The girl has since apologised and is apparently traumatised by the whole situation, having allegedly no idea the consequence of her actions. It was certainly a hard way to learn a lesson and she's definitely being made an example of- and I certainly hope others her age learn from the example.
Then, today multiple sources have appeared quoting Eddie McGuire, Australian TV personality and the President of Collingwood FC, who previously condemned the actions of the girl- saying that Goodes should be promoting an up and coming production of a 'King Kong' musical. Now I think I speak for everyone in Australia when I say- WHAT WAS HE THINKING?!
There is no place for racism in today's Australia, not in the workplace, or TV, or sport. We are constantly wrestling with what is politically correct and acceptable but generally we all agree that to vilify and discriminate against another race of people is unnecessary and wrong. Now I get that some people have reasons for those opinions. I get that- and I'm not opposed to people having their own ideologies. I am opposed to people being nasty to each other though, enough stuff goes on in our world without everyone having to deal with racism as well. We need to start spreading acceptance, because if kids as young as 13 are still displaying these horrible personality traits then we are doing something wrong. Be nice to each other, think before you speak, respect other people, SMILE FOR GODS SAKE and if you don't have something positive or nice to say, keep ya bloody traps shut and talk about the weather.
Thoughts? Comment below or tweet us: @isolatednation or @perthsoundchic. We want to hear from you! Until next time!
Emma Bradstock
