I guess, for me, the chickens came home to roost a number of years ago.
I have a friend who I came to know through my housemate at Gladesville. We used to brew our own beer and I'd often see him and my housemate up in the shed drinking beer in the afternoon after I got home from Uni.
As time went on, he spent more and more time at my house. He basically lived up in the shed (some might call it mooching), but he was so respectful towards my girlfriend and I.
Not only that, he would mow my lawn, prune the roses and fruit trees, and busied himself with general housework when he knocked off work.
Often, I would wake up on a Saturday morning, bleary eyed and hung over, and he'd have the BBQ out. He'd gone to the shops earlier in the morning - and he'd greet me with, "Morning brother! You want breakfast?"
Long story short, I came to really like the bloke, but one night, we were all having a beer up in the shed, and I started to bang on about "Abo's" and about "their attitude brings all the negativity on themselves". I mentioned how much I disliked the term "invasion day" and made the point that "had it not been for white colonisation, you'd all have been put to the sword by the Japanese by now, so, pick your poison."
He let me rant for about 15 minutes with his head bowed. He then said, "mate, can you please stop calling me an Abo? I'm a proud Koori man".
I hadn't realised until that moment how much my words, however well intentioned, were really hurting my friend. I had no reason whatsoever to guilt him by association with the negative stereotypes that we often see portrayed in the media. I also realised how often he'd probably heard such a rant.
I don't think I'm a bad person but what I essentially did was engage in an unintended act of racism.
When Adam Goodes called this sort of behaviour out at his AOFTY speech, I recalled my words that night, up in my late Grandfather's old shed, who was raised by Aboriginals and taught me the traditional ways when we went on our bushwalks together.
So that's why I think it is so wrong that we boo Adam Goodes. We are not bad people as a nation, but there are some unintended consequences of our blase attitudes towards Aboriginals.
If his head is now bowed, like my friend's was, we must stop.
Replies
Don't be a c**t.
I respect your story BM its a good one but i fail to see how it can be linked to the Goodes story.
Im certain you couldnt be assuming everyone booing is doing it for racial reasons, i'd say a very small percentage are.
Its certainly not unintended racism, most are booing because they simply dont like the guy and he has bought it on himself imo.
That's a lot of people's opinion. And I firmly hope that the vast majority who hold it - and I would include you in this Snake - actually believe it.
But I reckon there's quite a few people who are using Goodes' past 'indiscretions' as the reason why they boo him, where in fact, I think that they are demonstrating their true negative opinion of Aboriginal people.
Well done Bourbon man, that was a good read, you're obviously a bloke with respect and values.
Thanks TD. I normally like bagging you and you me - but I appreciate your kind words.
I posted this blog sincerely - knowing that I was opening myself up to personal criticism. Thank you.
Great Blog Bourbon Man. As a man of colour who came to Australia as a child due to the apatheid regime in South Africa I appreciate your words....
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