Feelings

Feelings are never right or wrong. Nobody can help how different situations make them feel, and you shouldn't ever feel guilty about your feelings. However, we all make a choice about how we react to a situation and to our feelings, and it is our BEHAVIOUR that others will judge us by (not our feelings).

The Adam Goodes saga (29 July 2015)

I can’t believe the media hype around Adam Goodes’ war dance celebration following the goal he kicked against Carlton, and the booing that has followed.  If you haven’t seen the footage check it out: http://www.afl.com.au/video/2015-05-29/adam-goodes-unique-celebration or here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=32PZWtjbtq0

The best example I can recall of something like what Goodes did is this:  www.youtube.com/watch?v=Fn83uDUle3o  It’s an inflammatory celebration, and no wonder people booed afterwards.

Goodes has acknowledged that it was a made up dance (not a traditional Aboriginal dance), and that it was directed at the Carlton fans.  I can certainly understand Carlton fans being offended, as it can easily be interpreted as an ‘up yours’ type of celebration, and not that different to showing Carlton fans his middle finger.

Goodes has been a great ambassador for the AFL, and well deserving of his two Brownlow Medals and Australian of the Year honours.  He also happens to be an Aboriginal who rightly stands up against racism.  But in my opinion these facts are unrelated to the booing he has been receiving.  Sure, some idiots might be booing Goodes for race related reasons, making them racists.  However tarring all those people booing with the same brush (as the Sydney Swans, and now the AFL have done in recent media releases) is unfair.  I believe the majority of those booing Goodes are doing so because they don’t like his actions, and feel the ‘war dance’ was unnecessary, and inflammatory.  It is a similar reason fans boo players after a behind the play hit.  Without booing, how else do fans show that they are unhappy?  Fans have been booing umpires after a poor decision for years, and we haven’t made a big deal out of that.  The umpires also haven’t complained or felt that they were being racially vilified.

Through all of this drama it has become clear that many people think that when a person does something that is incorrectly perceived as racist, then they are unquestionably a racist, simply because of the perception.  For example, if one person says to another ‘I like your hair’, and the recipient of the compliment is offended because they feel their hair is representative of their nationality/heritage then by their definition the person giving the compliment is a racist.  That is incorrect.  Racism is about the BELIEF and INTENT behind the action or a comment, and not how it is perceived.  Learn the facts people:

Racist - A person who shows or feels discrimination or prejudice against people of other races, or who believes that a particular race is superior to another. [Oxford Dictionary]

So not everyone who boos at the footy is a racist, even if the player or umpire perceives it that way.

Whether or not you believe the booing is unsportsmanlike or racially motivated, it is sad that it has become this big of an issue.  I can’t believe this has affected Goodes to the extent where he is considering not playing this week, or even retiring!  A tougher bloke would ignore the booing and play on, letting his actions on the field do the talking.  Goodes’ reaction to the booing and playing the race card has now made a mountain out of a mole hill, and may see one of the AFL’s great players leave the game early.  It has also changed many AFL fans opinion of him.  All in all it’s a bit sad really.

I hope that Adam Goodes gets the help he needs to deal with what he is going through.  I hope he continues playing, and standing up for what he believes in.  I also hope he gets some perspective.

Shopping mall sales people (10 July, 2015)

Hey, ridiculously good looking girls and sharp dressed boys in the centre of the shopping mall isles.  I don't envy you your job, and it can't be easy, but please don't step in front of me attempting to stop me in my tracks to sell me something as I undertake a mission to get to the green grocer and back in my 30 minute lunch break.  I don't have time and I don't care if you're selling the best broadband deal on the planet, or trying to save children from poverty.  When I'm shopping for those things I'll do it online or walk into the relevant store.  As it turns out I'm happy with my local internet provider and my family already sponsors two children through reputable charities that don't spend 50% of our donations on admin and marketing (paying salaries for the likes of you annoying people).  So by all means sit/stand at your stall and smile at passers by with your incredibly white teeth (are you all models doing this on the side to supplement your income?), but please don't approach us, step in front of us, or try to engage us in inane small talk so that you can begin your very structured sales pitch.  It shouldn't be allowed, and I'll applaud any shopping centre management lease agreement or council by-law that prevents you spoiling my lunch break.

Rant over, I need to get back to work.