Please indulge me my opinion
Until Australia's "First Peoples" have their voice to Parliament fully ratified, we as a country can't feel like we have given them their full justice. The players are making their stand, just like Eureka which we whitey aussies celebrate.
The poms took their land, invaded and slaughtered wholesale tribes.
There was never a Treaty or formal recognition given that they owned and inhabited Australia first.
NZ have recognised, and more importantly validated, that principle. They gave themselves the legal and moral ability to move on. They have cultural problems with it as well but it's a workable solution. We haven't given Australia that chance.
Ryan James telling of how his mother was not recognised as a human, let alone a voter or rightful citizen of her own birth country, tells you the deep hurt and injustice felt by Aboriginal peoples.
That sense of misplacement and resentment won't be going away just cos we don't agree with the anthem not being sung.
This game is seen as a celebration of 2 unique cultures that are integral to the playing of rugby league. Those players see the discrimination every day of their lives in their country home towns and their people's lives. How can we understand all the bad experiences that have been ingrained into their heritage. We can't. Cut 'em some slack.
We need to discuss and solve the far greater problem and then the singing of the anthem might have some relevance.
I know most of you are enraged and think they get special treatment and we agree education is the key to pulling themselves up and getting on a level playing field.
But who here would not have a chip on their shoulders if your ancestors were conquered, shot, chained up worse than dogs in neck braces, women raped and put into domestic servitude, starved out if they didn't comply, children taken away, no vote, displaced from homeland onto a mission as unpaid slaves. Their whole culture and family structures completely trashed and they were left with nothing of their values to keep or hold onto. Way of living completely broken. None of us would know how that felt. Of course that despondency and depression with their lot has been passed down from generation to generation. We never broke the cycle of injustice and hardship placed upon these people and we destroyed their kinship to help recover.
It's only been very recent that they have had a chance to get education and opportunities and come into their own.
Lets start having a 2 way conversation about how we ended up in this situation. It's not good enough anymore to tell them to harden up and forget the past. It needs a full and frank reconciliation.
If they don't want to forgive and forget until they get full recognition of the injustices done to them, and if that means they feel betrayed, and hypocritical, by singing a national anthem that does not fully recognise the past inflicted on them, well so be it.
It's a shame they don't want to sing it. Is that a reflection on them or is it a reflection on the way they feel their people have been disadvantaged and badly treated.
These guys are the elite of their people playing rugby league and they want to advance their families outcomes while they have this platform.
Just my opinion. It's in line with my views of real, kitchen table justice. I won't be arguing with anyone or entering into debates and everyone is entitled to disagree and see it their way. As the resident snowflake on here, I just wanted to give my view.
Cheers all.
