Adam Goodes - Australian of the Year

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Frog best delete your last.

Well dome Adam Goodes on AOTY.

[Hannibal 5,814]

We perpetuate more of a divide the more we focus on skin colour.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

We perpetuate more of a divide the more we focus on skin colour.

Agreed. Which is why the racial makeup of the board is irrelevant.

[monoccular 17,574]

He has done well and is a good example for many of his community

But I do agree that his reaction to the 13YO was over the top, and was played on far too long in the media

Probably as worthy as recipient and any, and far more worthy than some

[rolly 149]

Crawford must be spewing

[btdemon 482]

Again, some people on this site are so quick to point out what they see as "special treatment" for members of the indigenous community. I'm not aware of all of the work that Adam Goodes has done achieved in the community and I'm guessing many here aren't either, but I suspect there is a reason that he has been chosen beyond the fact that he is a magnificent footballer and wonderful role model to people of every ethnic background.

The posters who respond to 'dog whistling' are very tiresome and make me feel sad.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

We perpetuate more of a divide the more we focus on skin colour.

Exactly. Australian Aborigines were doing perfectly well until the left started rabbiting on about racism. I blame it all on Gough Whitlam.

[Jarka 767]

Yeehaw...

Your post is so mind numbingly stupid I'm sure delicious irony is completely lost on you.

[monoccular 17,574]

Exactly. Australian Aborigines were doing perfectly well until the left started rabbiting on about racism. I blame it all on Gough Whitlam.

Not so certain that one could really say "doing perfectly well" but also not so sure that the focus on PC and labelling too many things as "racist" has helped them at all either.

And having worked with indigenous folk quite a lot over the past few years, I also doubt that Rudd's "apology" has been all positive; in fact in some ways it has been the opposite.

[jazza 1,323]

Exactly. Australian Aborigines were doing perfectly well until the left started rabbiting on about racism. I blame it all on Gough Whitlam.

your right,they only lasted 50,000 years without racism ,and were said to be the strongest race of humans to walk on the planet

the last 200 years the poor buggers have ran off the rails somewhat

researchers havent come up with a reason as yet,tony abbotts government is looking into the reason

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

Goodes is an amazing footballer whose best is up there with the very best of the game. One of my favourite players to watch of all time. He also happens to be an articulate, passionate, thoughtful and famous advocate for a racial minority that is beginning to heal and reconcile with the multi-racial majority.

But an AOTY he is not. He has responded to racial abuse incidents: he has not been a broad based, hard-working advocate for the broader indigenous community for long enough.

The young man with the bottled water program, or the man working with the bionic eye program seem to have been overlooked due to a lack of fame and a lack of political power in their sphere of influence. Fame and form have triumphed over substance yet again.

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Yes, his magnificent role in pointing out and highlighting a thirteen year old girl on national television for saying something stupid was both brave and fearless.

What baffles me is why you feel you need to post such sarcasm on a thread that is rightly congratulating a member of the human species who is promoting positive change, understanding and compassion throughout the country we live in.

As for the likers of your post, I wouldn't be surprised if you're in the 40+ age bracket. It would explain the level of ignorance that you all possess and lack of awareness that's present.

Do you feel you need to be recognised on a larger scale? Are you insecure? What's the deal mate?

Goodes has gone beyond just 'going through life' as an AFL footballer, and if you weren't so insecure and had a half a clue, you wouldn't feel the need to post your sarcastic rubbish.

Edited January 26, 2014 by stevethemanjordan

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

Goodes is an amazing footballer whose best is up there with the very best of the game. One of my favourite players to watch of all time. He also happens to be an articulate, passionate, thoughtful and famous advocate for a racial minority that is beginning to heal and reconcile with the multi-racial majority.

But an AOTY he is not. He has responded to racial abuse incidents: he has not been a broad based, hard-working advocate for the broader indigenous community for long enough.

The young man with the bottled water program, or the man working with the bionic eye program seem to have been overlooked due to a lack of fame and a lack of political power in their sphere of influence. Fame and form have triumphed over substance yet again.

I'm split on this. 22+ however million people and the best we can do is pick a footballer who does a bit of part time Indigenous work (he's hardly off the charts in charity work) and then is some kind of anti racism campaigner because he blew up on national tv over a comment he should've ignored.

But then he is actually a decent guy and deserves it more than the likes of Adam Gilchrist and Mark Taylor.

[Elusive Tunbridge 795]

But an AOTY he is not. He has responded to racial abuse incidents: he has not been a broad based, hard-working advocate for the broader indigenous community for long enough.

The young man with the bottled water program, or the man working with the bionic eye program seem to have been overlooked due to a lack of fame and a lack of political power in their sphere of influence. Fame and form have triumphed over substance yet again.

I admire your view on suitability for AOTY - but if you look at the list, fame and form always trump other virtues. For those who think Goodes' contribution to indigenous advancement is limited to going off at a mouthy spectator, you really have no clue. But AOTY is like an Oscar - no-one would ever believe that it goes to the most deserving.

[DeeSpencer 26,082]

I admire your view on suitability for AOTY - but if you look at the list, fame and form always trump other virtues. For those who think Goodes' contribution to indigenous advancement is limited to going off at a mouthy spectator, you really have no clue. But AOTY is like an Oscar - no-one would ever believe that it goes to the most deserving.

I think there's a certain degree of safety in awarding it to a respected celebrity or public figure as they are likely to protect the legacy and carry the pressure (if there is any).

[DemonFrog 1,356]

Frog best delete your last.

Well dome Adam Goodes on AOTY.

Why?

[Jarka 767]

What baffles me is why you feel you need to post such sarcasm on a thread that is rightly congratulating a member of the human species who is promoting positive change, understanding and compassion throughout the country we live in.

As for the likers of your post, I wouldn't be surprised if you're in the 40+ age bracket. It would explain the level of ignorance that you all possess and lack of awareness that's present.

Do you feel you need to be recognised on a larger scale? Are you insecure? What's the deal mate?

Goodes has gone beyond just 'going through life' as an AFL footballer, and if you weren't so insecure and had a half a clue, you wouldn't feel the need to post your sarcastic rubbish.

I'm referring to almost every media article who is reporting on his award has the picture of him pointing at the 13 year old.

But of course instead of discussing the topic why don't you just insult me again, I'm sorry, how old are you? Not old enough to discuss a topic without throwing insults and tantrums.

Have a nice day

Edited January 26, 2014 by Jarka

[rjay 25,092]

What baffles me is why you feel you need to post such sarcasm on a thread that is rightly congratulating a member of the human species who is promoting positive change, understanding and compassion throughout the country we live in.

As for the likers of your post, I wouldn't be surprised if you're in the 40+ age bracket. It would explain the level of ignorance that you all possess and lack of awareness that's present.

Do you feel you need to be recognised on a larger scale? Are you insecure? What's the deal mate?

Goodes has gone beyond just 'going through life' as an AFL footballer, and if you weren't so insecure and had a half a clue, you wouldn't feel the need to post your sarcastic rubbish.

Easy goes on that one 'steve'. Argue your point, this has nothing to do with it.

edit: Steve Jordan just turned 57, looks like all over 40's can't be that bad.

Edited January 26, 2014 by rjay

[Maldonboy38 6,406]

I admire your view on suitability for AOTY - but if you look at the list, fame and form always trump other virtues. For those who think Goodes' contribution to indigenous advancement is limited to going off at a mouthy spectator, you really have no clue. But AOTY is like an Oscar - no-one would ever believe that it goes to the most deserving.

His contribution to indigenous advancement is not limited to going off at a mouthy spectator - it is simply not broad or deep enough to give him a priority for his indigenous work over the hundreds of others who do far more than he does.

[PJ_12345 1,098]

DL keyboard warriors at their finest; someone does more community service than most people on this forum combined but still find the nerve to criticise.

The award as a whole is flawed, it's silly to appoint one person Australian of the year over others. All should receive an order and that's it. But as for comments such as he does it part time in a sense it's half arsed are inane.

As for the 13 year old girls comments... It was the indigenous round, emotions were high, what she said was wrong, and FFS he wasn't trying to shame her in front of the nation he was trying to show the security guard who said the comment so they could deal with it - it was the president of the club she supported which shamed her and went overboard.

[Whispering_Jack 30,673]

The award is Australian of the Year. It's not specifically for a person's work with one community. It's the subjective view of those on the panel. I think he stands as a worthy winner having come from a background of family hardship and deprivation to a point where he has risen to the top echelon in his field of endeavour as well as standing out as a worthy person in the community. I'm comfortable with it and if people must think there is a conspiracy or a negative issue involving race or colour in the decision to bestow this honour on him, it reflects on them more than anyone else.

[Hannibal 5,814]

... if people must think there is a conspiracy or a negative issue involving race or colour in the decision to bestow this honour on him, it reflects on them more than anyone else.

In what way ?

[What 18,810]

worst Australian of the Year ever

He pointed out and embarrassed a 13 year old girl in front of 50k people

what a hero!

[hardtack 10,627]

While I think Goodes is fine as an AOTY, I just don't see why we have to have these awards in the first place.... what is the point of Australian of the Year, Father of the Year etc etc... totally meaningless in my opinion.

[hardtack 10,627]

worst Australian of the Year ever

He pointed out and embarrassed a 13 year old girl in front of 50k people

what a hero!

Yeah, I'm sure that was something he gave a lot of consideration to at the time... never mind the fact that it brought a much larger issue into focus.