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Over the last week or so the statement that forms the title of this article would probably qualify as the most used phrase on talk back radio and television in Australia. Overwhelmingly and extremely depressingly, caller after caller came on air and the venom and hatred towards Adam Goodes and his handling of the racist incident in the game against Collingwood was laid bare. There is nothing to be gained from rehashing the events of the day and in deference to Adam and others I believe that it is unnecessary for us to do this.

Let us however put some perspective on the whole issue. The use by the teenager of the term in this instance is racist and unquestionably so. Even the cheats’ way of research via “Google” will take you to Wikipedia that lists the term as one of many racial slurs that can be levelled at people of dark skin. What I found intriguing is the reaction of the Australian public in this case when compared to the outpouring of anger a few years ago (2007-2008) over the incident on the cricket field in the test match between Australia and India. In that instance, Harbhajan Singh from India was accused by some Australian players chiefly Matthew Hayden of having called another Australian player, Andrew Symonds, a “monkey”. Symonds, for those not aware of it is dark skinned, being of West Indian/English heritage. He wears the dreadlocks and does not fit the stereotype of an Anglo Celtic origin Australian Cricketer. As soon as Singh is alleged to have used the term, Hayden has supposedly said to him words to the effect that “that was racist”. This matter was then referred to the relevant authorities after considerable grandstanding and theatre on the cricket pitch. At that time the media examined the alleged racist nature of the term purported to have been used by Singh. The Sydney Morning Herald then ran a headline that said Cricket’s Day of Shame” and then discussed the issue in some detail.

The overwhelming conclusion drawn by the media at the time was that the term was racist when levelled at people of dark skin. The media called unabatedly for decisive punitive action to be taken against Singh. For reasons that are not relevant to this article, the matter was quickly quelled. Part of the reason for this was the flexing by the Indian cricket authorities of what was fast developing into a substantial muscle in the cricketing world.

Contrast this with the reaction that is currently being trotted out in the popular media. Goodes is being vilified by commentator after commentator and caller after caller with suggestions that he needed to “toughen up” and that these comments were commonplace in Australian sport and therefore in some inconceivable way, justifiable!

Based on what we know of the term that was used in this incident, the only conclusion that we can draw is that Goodes’ reaction was entirely appropriate. The average mainstream Anglo Celtic member of the public has no concept of what racism and vilification Goodes has gone through his entire life. And this too in his own country! The indigenous population of Australia has undergone much more severe forms of racism than most others in the world. They have had crosses to bear since the first days of English occupation of this country. This racism continues to be perpetrated against them well over 200 years later in Australia. There are policies of government that continue to have racist edges to them and clearly disadvantage the Aboriginal population because of their culture, skin colour etc.

Goodes has consistently indicated that the comment made by the teenager took him back to his childhood and the racist bullying that he endured as a child. He has also said that he had not fought back when he was younger. However, the status he has today is that of a very high profile leader of his community. Whatever he did to combat this issue was going to be of considerable value in the battle for reconciliation that the wider Aboriginal communities are having. It has to be said that Goodes acted in a very dignified manner. Whether the police reaction and behaviour was appropriate or somewhat over- zealous is not in Goodes control. He was mindful of the fact that the perpetrator was a child and was more in need of counselling than punishment.

Goodes’ treatment of the matter was the drawing in the sand of a very substantial line. This line will hopefully never be breached again by anyone in Australia. We will now all be more mindful of our actions and words and hopefully, think through the implications of whatever we may say. 

It must be said that the actions of the Collingwood President, Eddie McGuire, were reasoned and very sensible. He offered his club’s apology immediately and undertook to take whatever action was necessary to bring some closure to the sorry matter.

Finally in discussing this matter, the position that I took was one that I had alluded to in other articles I have written here. I am not the person to whom the comment was directed. It is not possible for me therefore to feel the racism that Adam Goodes felt.  Therefore the only position we can take is that if Adam felt belittled and vilified by that comment then we have to provide solace and understanding to inform him that the teenager’s view is not one that is widely held. And we need to place procedures and practices in place to try and educate that child’s view. In various incidents of this nature that I have dealt with involving vilification of the Australian Aboriginal people, I have always recommended the implementation of restorative justice programs. In this particular case this would involve the teenager being required to volunteer in an Aboriginal service delivery organisation so she can attempt to understand the disadvantage this community has in their own country. Hopefully, the AFL and Collingwood football clubs can suggest this form of action.