Essendon investigating allegations of racial abuse at Dreamtime match

14 comments so far

• Unfortunately every club has its share of racists, nincompoops and morons. Even Richmond and Essendon, having initiated the Dreamtime, still have supporters and members who are incapable of common sense, decency and humanity. We will never eradicate this sort of behaviour, but we are learning to call it for what it is. Good on the Essendon people who reported these bozos.

  Commenter

  Apples

  Location

  Ivanhoe

  Date and time

  May 30, 2016, 6:03PM

  • It is called freedom of speech. Everyone has the right to be a bigot if they should choose. Suppose i am going to cop it now.

    Commenter

    Al

    Date and time

    May 31, 2016, 10:51AM

  • Al, freedom of speech has limitations. It has never included the right to racial vilification.

    Commenter

    Vanessa

    Date and time

    May 31, 2016, 12:12PM

  • @Al, most bigots I've come across behave pretty much like out of control bullies in the school yard; once they cop some of their own medicine, they whine, complain and complain that it isn't fair. The Liberal party's Freedom Commissioner thought it ok for people to be bigots too, until he was attacked by the bullies within his own party. In any case, in Victoria it is against the law to racially vilify. The same goes for religious vilification. That basically means you cannot behave in a way that incites hate, contempt or ridicule of another person's race or religion.
    It's old fashioned @Al, but may I suggest you walk a mile in the other person's shoes?

    Commenter

    Apples

    Location

    Ivanhoe

    Date and time

    May 31, 2016, 12:48PM

• Agree. Strange thing is if I was a Rascist. Then I'd just say, I will not attend Indigenous round. I'll never understand rascism. If you're going to judge, judge an individual on his or her actions. Not skin colour, race or religion.

  Commenter

  Go Blues

  Date and time

  May 30, 2016, 9:17PM

• This is a terrible thing but there is a silver lining. The outrage that this will spark and the ramifications will send a clear message that Australia rejects racism. Together with Senator Peris' tribulations with the chiro we may just shake the notion of casual racist country.

  Commenter

  Stratti

  Date and time

  May 31, 2016, 7:43AM

• While I don't condone this person's behaviour, isn't there a better solution than revoking their membership? Wouldn't education be a more appropriate initial step? By simply banning someone from the footy, it won't stamp out their racist views. Exposing this person to greater diversity may give the person a better chance of changing their attitude, and they may think twice about using such offensive language next time.

  Commenter

  Pie in Canada

  Date and time

  May 31, 2016, 11:21AM

• @Al I would like to see how you construct an ethical framework that enshrines "being a bigot" as an unalienable right and being able to play footy without copping racial abuse as optional. Does freedom speech in your framework also give me the right to lie to a policeman for example?

  Having just got back from OS, where as a white male I got my first (slight) taste of racism I can tell you it hits you in the guts much harder than you would expect. I can't even imagine what it would feel like for Aboriginal people in this country, knowing their great (great) grandparents were raped, killed and treated like dogs on their ancestral land, and still have to put up with being booed by bigots while playing footy in 2016.

  Commenter

  Snapsta

  Location

  Melbourne

  Date and time

  May 31, 2016, 11:22AM

• What I have always found fascinating about Aussie rules is that it was invented by the Caucasian but the Indigenous players are, per capita, so superior. Considering their percentage of the population they are represented 10 x more than the Causcasian is at the highest level. They are born to play the game. Probably a few jealous bigots out there.

  Commenter

  Just sayin'

  Date and time

  May 31, 2016, 1:08PM

  • Good to see racists removed from footy. But seriously what does it matter that its efc or rfc supporter base who dobbed them in? Or for that matter what team they barrack for?

    Commenter

    Barney

    Date and time

    May 31, 2016, 9:58PM

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