Time to assimilate

Unlike our unaccountably timid prime minister, let’s not pussyfoot around with the booing of Adam Goodes. It is not simply about the man.

There have been many players booed on and off, for many reasons: deliberate disrespect, switching from one club to another, faking injuries, sheer incompetence or even a silly hairdo. But the Swans’ veteran number 37 was guilty of none of these. His so-called crime was to celebrate his Aboriginality.

True, he did it in a rather defiant manner: a mock war dance could be considered confronting to some of the more sensitive patrons. The odd boo might have been understandable and forgivable. But for the attacks to drag on for weeks makes it clear there is something uglier and more basic going on, and that can only be called racism.

Right-wing apologists insist that Goodes brought it all on himself by over-reacting when a 13-year-old girl called him an ape. But even if that had been the case – and the record shows that it wasn’t so simple – that was not when the serious booing started. It was Goodes’ triumphant demonstration of his heritage that provoked the widespread public hostility.

The antipathy to Goodes is not that he is a bad individual – to the contrary, as his long and impressive record both in and out of football attests. And perhaps that’s the real problem. It is because he is an uppity black man, one who needs to be put in his place. And the abuse is working – it has reportedly made him confused and unhappy, and he has even contemplated leaving the game he loves.

Fortunately the response, if somewhat belated, has been considerable. His indigenous AFL colleagues have banded together, as have others. It has taken longer for the wider community. One suggestion is that Aboriginal players follow Goodes’ example and perform their own dances when they kick a goal, and this seems a worthwhile idea.

But now it must go further – why should not all Australians join in? Make it an inclusive, national event – a war dance before every game. And not only the AFL games – bring in other codes, especially Rugby League and Rugby Union.

There is of course a precedent, and one hallowed and revered: the New Zealand haka, a celebratory prelude for each test match involving the All Blacks and now also the Kiwis. Surely Australian sides could follow the same model with the same gusto and generate the same degree of patriotic fervor.

The idea has been tried, in a somewhat hesitant manner: for a few games featuring the Wallabies, the singer John Williamson tried to enthuse Wallaby crowds with his version of Waltzing Matilda. But it never really caught on. A more dynamic performance, in the Adam Goodes style, might just do the trick.

And whatever conservative critics may claim, there would be nothing divisive about it.   When the All Blacks perform the Haka, it’s not just for the Maoris among them – there are Polynesians, Melanesians, Micronesians, Asians – even (gasp) Caucasians, Pakeha, white men.  It is an inclusive statement, for all New Zealanders.

So let’s get with our own local culture. After all, it’s about time some of us immigrants finally assimilated.