Adam Goodes - Australian of the Year

[hardtack 10,556]

Less than two hours to go and Australia Day's over.

Then this thread goes away too.

Australia Day was over almost twenty two and a half hours ago; feel free to make it go away any time you like.

[McQueen 17,865]

Yeah I'm just so sick of hearing 'victims' complain about the dispossession of their traditional lands, the destruction of their culture, their marginalisation from modern society and the genocide of their people. I really wish they would just get over it, I'm all burnt out on compassion fatigue. Haven't we been made to feel bad for long enough??

Yeah, I feel so bad for being an every day true Australian and for contributing to making what this country is today.

Get over yourself, Dr G. I'd hazard a guess you've never been out of the city.

[John Crow Batty 8,871]

Yeah, I feel so bad for being an every day true Australian and for contributing to making what this country is today.

Get over yourself, Dr G. I'd hazard a guess you've never been out of the city.

You, we, actually make something? Edited January 27, 2014 by america de cali

[biggestred 5,108]

Rabble. Rabble rabble rabble rabble rabble

[Demonland 72,450]

"Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." - Albert Einstein

Thanks for providing the quote and thanks to the ignorant and immature schoolboys (they're obvious) who put this site to shame by proving that Einstein was 100% correct.

Some of you will get no further warning before an infinite ban is put into place.

This is worthy of consideration - Adam Goodes the right man for Australian of the Year

[Je Roos Salem 661]

Mostly enjoyable thread to read through. Though I too am a bit split minded over the importance/morality of the encounter with the 13 y.o, it's hard to deny Goodes isn't a great, hard working, community minded and kind individual, so the fact he gets an award for being a good person who does good work is ok with me. Even if he has the award was only due to the incident, the incident itself was big enough to highlight an issue and the fact Goodes was the one who pointed, for better or for worse, I think gives him a level of importance to receive this award due to the impact it had

[45HG 1,558]

Mostly enjoyable thread to read through. Though I too am a bit split minded over the importance/morality of the encounter with the 13 y.o, it's hard to deny Goodes isn't a great, hard working, community minded and kind individual, so the fact he gets an award for being a good person who does good work is ok with me. Even if he has the award was only due to the incident, the incident itself was big enough to highlight an issue and the fact Goodes was the one who pointed, for better or for worse, I think gives him a level of importance to receive this award due to the impact it had

As Gilchrist said, people may debate whether he is the right person for the award - but no one could honestly argue that he's the wrong person for it.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Not stolen, old chap. Borrowed. They can have it back after we are finished with it.

Wow. The sad thing is I'm sure you're not even being a little sarcastic.

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Yeah, I feel so bad for being an every day true Australian and for contributing to making what this country is today.

Get over yourself, Dr G. I'd hazard a guess you've never been out of the city.

I'm not sure what this even means or what context it has to the conversation? So you're saying because you feel like you contribute to "making what this country is today" and you're an "everyday true Australian" (jingoism at its finest) that any genocide committed against the traditional inhabitants of the land can be swept under the rug and ignored?

No one is saying the recognition of the Indigenous people and the atrocities committed against them has to come at YOUR expense, crazy that someone could be so egotistical.

Edited January 27, 2014 by Dr. Gonzo

[stevethemanjordan 6,952]

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace - Dalai Lama

[Its Time for Another 4,225]

To the contrary Bob.

A footballer who has been playing quality football since the last century wins a prestigious national award is very much a football topic and the reaction here sadly reflects what many people in this community think about his award and in some cases reveals that we're not as tolerant a society as we would like to be.

What's there to moderate among this? Rather than ban bad thought I would rather that the inane comments be kept up on the site to demonstrate how stupid and unthinking some people can be and hopefully to help us all learn something more about hatred and prejudice. (However, there is a line and if it gets crossed, the poster won't be around for a long time).

The person who I quote below was not without his human frailties and did wrong things in his lifetime. Neither is Adam Goodes perfect, yet nevertheless, the debate here convinces me more than ever that he's the perfect choice for this year's Australian of the Year.

I have to say WJ that I have found the debate on this topic a surprisingly illuminating window into our society. What a rich ground for Sociologists etc. I fear that the more bigoted comments are much more representative of a lot of our society than we would like to admit. I hope and pray I am wrong but I doubt it.

Whether Goodes likes it or not. And I am sure he likes it, he became the face of discrimination last year. I can't think of another example, probably in our history, where the issue of discrimination has been brought more to the front of the national consciousness than that event last year. Notwithstanding Nicky Winmar. Why not take the opportunity to build on the saturation press coverage to further the cause for a year. It's not like there is only ever going to be one Australian of the Year. There will be plenty of opportunity for the type of alternative candidates people have mentioned here. Virtually all of those categories have been richly represented in the past. But what Indigenous personalities have and at such a prime moment in time.

Where was the debate about last year's Australian of the Year. I mean come on, seriously, Ita Buttrose.

[daisycutter 29,627]

it's a pity you made an impassioned speech against discrimination but had to end it off with an undeserved crack at ita buttrose

sociologists indeed

[Little Goffy 14,584]

Well, Ita Buttrose was only given the award as a cross promotion for a TV series, y'know.

Actually, I have sometimes mixed feelings about Ita Buttrose, in that some of her magazines were hardly the vanguard of women's rights or even dignity. But, crucially, they did at least generate conversation about topics which a lot of conservative-raised women had never been able to express or hear about before.

Besides, we can call the award to Ita a kind of belated award for smashing the glass ceiling, and a very belated nod to the generations of women in Australia who worked so hard to create a meaningful career at the same time as being expected to meet all the demands of 'womanlyness'.

Maybe there's a bit of that to Goodes' award too. Although on that count you'd think they'd give it to Michael Long... except he is disqualified for the hit on Troy Simmonds in 2000 GF.

[daisycutter 29,627]

Well, Ita Buttrose was only given the award as a cross promotion for a TV series, y'know.

Actually, I have sometimes mixed feelings about Ita Buttrose, in that some of her magazines were hardly the vanguard of women's rights or even dignity. But, crucially, they did at least generate conversation about topics which a lot of conservative-raised women had never been able to express or hear about before.

Besides, we can call the award to Ita a kind of belated award for smashing the glass ceiling, and a very belated nod to the generations of women in Australia who worked so hard to create a meaningful career at the same time as being expected to meet all the demands of 'womanlyness'.

Maybe there's a bit of that to Goodes' award too. Although on that count you'd think they'd give it to Michael Long... except he is disqualified for the hit on Troy Simmonds in 2000 GF.

goffy, your comments on ita would have more relevance if you were a woman (unless your profile description is a ruse)

[Dr. Gonzo 24,235]

Where ignorance is our master, there is no possibility of real peace - Dalai Lama

Australian society is dominated by ignorant arrogance and arrogant ignorance.

[Biffen 12,944]

goffy, your comments on ita would have more relevance if you were a woman (unless your profile description is a ruse)

She was name checked in a Cold Chisel Song.

She ran the Womens Weekly FFS

She was loved by inmates everywhere.

Why are we even dithcuthing thith.

[daisycutter 29,627]

well letth wait and thee what bbo thinkth

[dpositive 1,670]

as they say lordweaver one man's dreamtime is another man's catholicism

to the supreme being they are all manifestations of the same delusion

i'll leave you to ponder on that

If we could only leverage of the delusion market and promote the dream time (a unique Australian story) as the oldest and truest religion, construct similar financial structures as existing religions and develop international outreach and education centres we could solve many issues.

[jabberwocky 2,301]

Australian society is dominated by ignorant arrogance and arrogant ignorance.

Must be hard for blackfellas to get respect. Seems in some people's eyes it doesn't matter whether you're on welfare and drinking casks down the park or getting to the top of your chosen field and winning Australian of the Year.

As for arrogance and ignorance I agree. There are those who through conditioning and a lack of education form stupid ideas and there are those who form them regardless.

The former probably deserve our compassion and are the type of people that Goodes and others are addressing through campaigning against racism.

[DEE fence 5,029]

I look at the award as emphasising how much of a nong eddie is... Goodes was just a suitable vehicle for the message (and a brilliant footballer). But seriously racism does exist in Oz, we're not the worst or best, BUT it is a cancer in any society and I don't want it in ours. Sport does happen to be one of the best vehicles for changing hearts and minds. I too am over sports people being held up as character models, it's generally a mistake, however if the prize committee thought this was a good way to address an issue they thought was topical I reckon they got it about right. I don't think it was a call for self-flagellation and sack-cloth or a need for anyone to feel guilty.

[Hannibal 5,814]

I look at the award as emphasising how much of a nong eddie is... Goodes was just a suitable vehicle for the message (and a brilliant footballer). But seriously racism does exist in Oz, we're not the worst or best, BUT it is a cancer in any society and I don't want it in ours. Sport does happen to be one of the best vehicles for changing hearts and minds. I too am over sports people being held up as character models, it's generally a mistake, however if the prize committee thought this was a good way to address an issue they thought was topical I reckon they got it about right. I don't think it was a call for self-flagellation and sack-cloth or a need for anyone to feel guilty.

You'll find that the most racist people in this country are often newish immigrants.

[stuie 7,374]

You'll find that the most racist people in this country are often newish immigrants.

Please be sarcasm...

[Swampfox 190]

Isn't it great that we live in a country where your not imprisoned, stoned or shot for having an opinion

Adam Goodes is a worthy winner amongst many that were nominated

I am just glad Lara Bingle didn't win

[Biffen 12,944]

You'll find that the most racist people in this country are often newish immigrants.

I don't disagree with you Han.

I've had lots of discussions with Greeks and Italians who want the door closed on Asians.

Many of these southern European Gents have done very well here too.(and have been good at beating the Taxman).

I"m not for open immigration,just a replacement quota that is adhered to.

Personally ,I would like to move to Paris and live there but they are not going to let me in without papers and cash and a very long wait.

So I'll stay here and continue my struggle against my political oppressors.

[stuie 7,374]

Personally ,I would like to move to Paris and live there but they are not going to let me in without papers and cash and a very long wait.

Just a fantastic understanding of what it is to be a refugee... Wouldn't expect anything less.