Alleged Leniu incident.

[The Who]

I grew up and went to school in the 70's.

I got called a wog relentlessly. I dealt with it because, frankly, I didn't have a choice.
I didn't enjoy it. The insinuation that I was somehow a lesser human because of my Greek heritage was offensive.

Yes, no physical harm came to me by being called a wog. (Some harm came to a few of the name callers, but I won't go there). But you would hope that in 50 years, we've moved forward.

I'm no woke lefty. I can assure you all of that. But no good can come of deriding someone because of their race. So can we just leave it where it belongs ? In the past.

Good post. So describing them by their race, colour or religion is OUT. I think we can all agree with that. But what about sarcasm, if it is clever? Or funny? Many comics make their living from taking 'digs' at people. Personally, I love clever sarcasm, and I'm probably guilty of trying to create it too often. It seems we have reached a tipping point about what is now unacceptable. But who decides? What's clever or funny to some is seeming to infuriate others. And the "others" seem to be, generally speaking, of the younger generation.
For example: what if Leniu had verbally zeroed in on Mam's distinct hairstyle and said: get your finger caught in an electric socket Ezra? Certainty it's the sort of quip you'd hear on the Hill at Brookie at every match.
Would that be laughed off as 'gamesmanship' in today's PC society?
Sport, and life in general, is much more complicated these days.

 

[BOZO]

eagleron said:
In some ways I think JWH is a liability for the Roosters, he's always had a short fuse and the older he gets the shorter it seems to be, he's the perennial tough guy who simply can't help reacting to the most minor of provocations,


Whilst on the subject of Intimidation feathered friend @eagleron

I found and interesting article from Peak Performance Sports Mental Training for A Competitive edge

Using Intimidation to Your Advantage​

“The intimidation factor” is commonplace in competition. Some athletes will seek to get a mental edge by taking you out of your game.

Intimidation takes many forms such as:

–Trash talking before a game
–A brush-back pitch to shake up a hitter
–An extra shove after a whistle was blown
–Stare-downs or crazy antics

No matter what intimidation is used, the goal is the same… To try to get in your head and take your focus away from the game.

When you give into intimidation, you become agitated, angry and anxious which eats away at your confidence.

If you focus on the antics of a rival then you are not attending to what you need to do to perform at your peak.

Intimidation challenges an athlete’s level of mental toughness.

One thing to remember… If you can learn the power of focus, you can turn a fellow competitor’s attempt at intimidation to work in your favor.

Intimidation exists in every sport and was visibly on display in the ready room prior to the semi-final heat of the 200 butterfly in Rio.

Defending Olympic champion, Chad le Clos, tried his best to intimidate and gain a psychological advantage over his rival, Michael Phelps, the most decorated Olympian of all time.

Le Clos shadowboxed in front of Phelps as the two were mentally preparing for their semi-final showdown.

PHELPS: “I just had music going on in my head. I had thoughts going on in my head, spitting water a little bit all over the place, so I was in my own zone.”

Phelps was stoic as he stared forward and listened to his headphones. At one point, Phelps couldn’t help but notice le Clos’ antics, but Phelps used the intimidation as motivation.

Phelps used the intimidation attempt to fuel his performance rather than allowing his emotions to run wild.

PHELPS: “There was so much emotion and so much build up for that race. I don’t want to say it’s revenge, but that’s what it was. There wasn’t a shot in hell I was losing that race and if I did I was leaving everything in the pool.”

Not only did Phelps win the semi-final, beating le Clos by over a second. He went on to take the gold medal winning the final by 4-hundredths of a second.

Intimidation exists because it works for some, but as Michael Phelps proved, it doesn’t have to work on you.

 

[Top End Eagle]

Not sure if it is irony but I find anyone who generalises with the use of the work "Woke" is pretty out of youch

Then you're deflecting and are fortunately insulated by your sociodemographic position from instances of this type of thought control and real world over correction of historical wrongdoing by a rabbid combustion engine powered by the destruction of the best of western prosperity.

Or your just an old lefty fart

 

[MuzztheEagle]

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function"
I'd wager that there's two very different arguments going on in peoples mind's here;
One is that PC culture has gone too far and the other is that racism (and with it, racist comments) are never acceptable. I'd also suspect that for almost all on the anti-pc side of the argument that they would be opposed to almost all aspects racism - but that this shouldn't drive us to a point of PC policing gone mad (which many think we have reached).
Likewise, I imagine there are many on the anti racism side who wouldn't have a problem enforcing rules without applying nuance to the situation. E.g. If the ref had pulled up the comment (rather than it being reported by the person it was said to) would we still want to see Leniu punished?
I doubt this will help....but I hope it gives everyone a little more of a grey are to have more of a constructive conversation.
Another thing I'll add is this (because I think many are looking back on the past with a rose tint). If someone had crossed a line with the "friendly" banter 30+ years ago...what would the likely outcome have been? I'm pretty sure someone would have gotten sorted out (If I had ever called an aboriginal kid a monkey when I was in highschool, I'm sure I would have ended up in an ambulance not long after). But, thankfully IMO, those days are gone. We don't need or want the threat of violence hanging over people to make the world a better place. But we do need to keep things in check....we just need to keep the right balance to ensure things don't tilt too far in one direction...and that means people need to be able to see issues in shades of grey rather than black and white.

 

[BOZO]

Pre fight Conference
Two Fighters
One Championship Title belt
One Mission
and that is Both fighters seeking the Psychological edge to mentally Destroy their opponent before the fight begins

 

[rj90]

What a load of whining narcissist garbage… I only pulled up your initial post because you added in vilification with likely not even knowing what it means… you are the one gas lighting.
How can someone vilify some one in a one on one exchange it’s not like he called him a monkey on instagram or something… dead set drama boy you are

Yeah good one champ, attack the poster, that always works.
Why do your mob always get so personal lol.
Your refusal to address the points I raised and go straight to insults is pretty telling.

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

Yeah good one champ, attack the poster, that always works.
Why do your mob always get so personal lol.
Your refusal to address the points I raised and go straight to insults is pretty telling.

How do you know my mob etc lol completely delusional… calling out someone actions is not an insult except for my slur on being a drama boy… in all honesty that is kind. You must feel so big and important when you tell the likes of Bozo how out of touch he is etc… like some kind of social media narcissist….

 

[BOZO]

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function"
I'd wager that there's two very different arguments going on in peoples mind's here;
One is that PC culture has gone too far and the other is that racism (and with it, racist comments) are never acceptable. I'd also suspect that for almost all on the anti-pc side of the argument that they would be opposed to almost all aspects racism - but that this shouldn't drive us to a point of PC policing gone mad (which many think we have reached).
Likewise, I imagine there are many on the anti racism side who wouldn't have a problem enforcing rules without applying nuance to the situation. E.g. If the ref had pulled up the comment (rather than it being reported by the person it was said to) would we still want to see Leniu punished?
I doubt this will help....but I hope it gives everyone a little more of a grey are to have more of a constructive conversation.
Another thing I'll add is this (because I think many are looking back on the past with a rose tint). If someone had crossed a line with the "friendly" banter 30+ years ago...what would the likely outcome have been? I'm pretty sure someone would have gotten sorted out (If I had ever called an aboriginal kid a monkey when I was in highschool, I'm sure I would have ended up in an ambulance not long after). But, thankfully IMO, those days are gone. We don't need or want the threat of violence hanging over people to make the world a better place. But we do need to keep things in check....we just need to keep the right balance to ensure things don't tilt too far in one direction...and that means people need to be able to see issues in shades of grey rather than black and white.

That is a very articulate written post @MuzztheEagle . Not many of us on here have that great articulation and it is very impressive . Anything extraordinary is impressive
We all have our views on here as you say
But None of us that I can see are for racism on here

 

[rj90]

How do you know my mob etc lol completely delusional… calling out someone actions is not an insult except for my slur on being a drama boy… in all honesty that is kind. You must feel so big and important when you tell the likes of Bozo how out of touch he is etc… like some kind of social media narcissist….

Oh yes, nothing brings me greater joy than calling out the ignorant and out of touch. Why else would I come here?

Tell me, what makes you so different from me then? Did you feel big and important calling me out on the vilification comment or insinuating I was a racist?

 

[BOZO]

Yeah good one champ, attack the poster, that always works.
Why do your mob always get so personal lol.
Your refusal to address the points I raised and go straight to insults is pretty telling.

I did not perceive our feathered friend @Uber Eagle 72 was attacking you @rj90
Like my self he was disagreeing with you
We might not agree with you but we Both love you our Manly brother
Even if you do not love us back

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

"The test of a first-rate intelligence is the ability to hold two opposed ideas in mind at the same time and still retain the ability to function"
I'd wager that there's two very different arguments going on in peoples mind's here;
One is that PC culture has gone too far and the other is that racism (and with it, racist comments) are never acceptable. I'd also suspect that for almost all on the anti-pc side of the argument that they would be opposed to almost all aspects racism - but that this shouldn't drive us to a point of PC policing gone mad (which many think we have reached).
Likewise, I imagine there are many on the anti racism side who wouldn't have a problem enforcing rules without applying nuance to the situation. E.g. If the ref had pulled up the comment (rather than it being reported by the person it was said to) would we still want to see Leniu punished?
I doubt this will help....but I hope it gives everyone a little more of a grey are to have more of a constructive conversation.
Another thing I'll add is this (because I think many are looking back on the past with a rose tint). If someone had crossed a line with the "friendly" banter 30+ years ago...what would the likely outcome have been? I'm pretty sure someone would have gotten sorted out (If I had ever called an aboriginal kid a monkey when I was in highschool, I'm sure I would have ended up in an ambulance not long after). But, thankfully IMO, those days are gone. We don't need or want the threat of violence hanging over people to make the world a better place. But we do need to keep things in check....we just need to keep the right balance to ensure things don't tilt too far in one direction...and that means people need to be able to see issues in shades of grey rather than black and white.

Good balanced perspective.. agree calling someone a monkey 30 years would have got you a bloody nose at best….

 

[frank stokes]

If someone had crossed a line with the "friendly" banter 30+ years ago...what would the likely outcome have been? I'm pretty sure someone would have gotten sorted out (If I had ever called an aboriginal kid a monkey when I was in highschool, I'm sure I would have ended up in an ambulance not long after). But, thankfully IMO, those days are gone. We don't need or want the threat of violence hanging over people to make the world a better place.

Is it bad that I miss the acceptance of ‘justified’ violence?

I always found it made a person think twice about the impact of their actions… I copped some good floggings (gave the odd one too) because I responded to words with violence and you know what? I often felt sore but I never felt sorry…

Racism sux, words are just words, people can be d*ckheads and the world has gone soft… Personally I reckon all these things are correct at the same time…

 

[BOZO]

Racism sux, words are just words, people can be d*ckheads and the world has gone soft…

Good Afternoon @frank stokes
Your Poetic Point of view puts every thing into Perspective
Racism sux, words are just words, people can be d*ckheads and the world has gone soft

 

[Uber Eagle 72]

I did not perceive our feathered friend @Uber Eagle 72 was attacking you @rj90
Like my self he was disagreeing with you
We might not agree with you but we Both love you our Manly brother
Even if you do not love us back

Hey mate in order to love someone you need to love yourself first. Not sure our younger friend is there yet he is too busy picking on everyone’s else’s faults rather than looking within…

 

[BOZO]

Hey mate in order to love someone you need to love yourself first. Not sure our younger friend is there yet he is too busy picking on everyone’s else’s faults rather than looking within…

You are so right feathered friend . The Greatest love is self love as every feeling and emotion come from within .
I hope we can all be an inspiration to our young feathered friend and motivate him in the right loving way

 

[Disco]

Okay this thread is getting out of hand, maybe we all need a time out.

I think we can all agree

Racism = bad
Humour, sarcasm, banter = still good
Spencer Leniu = Not nessecarily bad
Spencer Leniu allegedly calling and indigenous player a monkey = most certainly bad

Play on, lets talk footy

 

[Top End Eagle]

As someone who chugged a few with Godfrey Tanner in my youth, then left for Brisbane and found himself working with a lot more Pasifika types than the esteemed University of Seahorses exposed me to, and having grown up in Inverell and playing between Owie and Ray Ray in terms of my age (Preston played soccer until he destroyed our Wombats in the 97 Group 19 GE, l'd have only played with him if was playing 'up a grade' to cover no shows and injury) but playing a lot of rep footy with a host of indigenous blokes over the years, then having a stint in Katherine as a twelve year old, and living on Groote Eylandt and in Nhulunbuy as a teacher for ten years I think I have a bit of an insight you probably have an inkling of or might have no familiarity with whatsoever.

But since it's a forum I'll give you my two bob's worth.

So many of the Samoan, Maori guys I worked and socialised with in my younger 'between uni' (it was during the Howard Years when you could push a broom on a construction site for a thousand a week or continue to go to lectures with what we would now title entitled, but used to have a sense of gratitude for their accommodations free of any real academic excellence in the tertiary schools that produced the country's leaders) days were categorically 'semi- racist' towards our indigenous populations when the topic was brought up.

This is me just telling the truth. Not karma farming or sugar coating.

This was twenty years ago mind you, so....well I'll try and demystify the concept of retro-jection for some of you without coming across as an ass who had the opportunity to go to a university in a western democracy in a stable period of said western propagandist growth (we had twelve good years from Berlin to 9/11).

Now as a twenty year old I hadn't seen such overt racism, not even around a pub dry bar in a country town. And I was sure if it was because these people were here as economic migrants. A lot of the introduction to indigenous Australians they would have had would be in the major cities that economic migrants head towards, and unfortunately much of that association is with urban first nations people's and a lot of the well documented societal issues these peoples have had following their displacement from the land and their sense of belonging (if you fish and hunt anywhere you will know what I'm saying).

These Samoan guys worked to provide for their families and were living in a foreign, albeit welcoming, country and I'm taking a bit of a pop-psych leap/liberty here (only qualifying that statement so I don't come across as trying to speak for a culture I'm not a part of, today's world right?) but there's definitely an ethos of picking on a weak link to ladder climb, despite the fact that the concerns faced by both minority groups have resonant similarities.

That's human nature, not a judgement, and the NRL should,l hope, understand this if it has really strong leadership. Most of the Pasifika families I interacted with in a social regard, their homes were on the lower socioeconomic spectrum.

Seeing 'familiar minority race others' who enjoyed more government assistance, but still didn't align with the hegemony because of physical and racial attributes, has had in my opinion a predictably divisive outcome.

The Paris Lenui stuff is horrendous, but the problem is no-one will actually stand up and discuss the real issues at play.

As a teacher with a history degree (I haven't had the opportunity of a history class full of sixteen year old minds for over a decade, but have had a pre-school in Ski Beach where I was swamped three days a week by kids who wanted to sing anything we put on the projector at the top of our lungs) I also know that the Spencer Lenui and Latrell Mitchell's of this world weren't in the elective year eleven and year twelve modern history classes.

I'd think they wouldn't have a clue what Jim Crow was but they damn sure know who Russel Crow is.

I have no truck with racism, but I'm pretty into education and non reactive corrective measures.

Can you see how this issue is seperating people
here who have a dominant (as in the thing that joins everyone posting) interest?

That's what racism is engineered for.

Japan is one of the most racist countries you will ever visit but theres an understanding that thinking you are that much better than anyone else gets you Nagasakied. Not too many hegemonic groups around the world have learnt that lesson.

Just breathe and think about how many more flies are caught with honey than vinegar.

Friends.

Wubbalubba Dup Dup!

 

[BOZO]

As someone who chugged a few with Godfrey Tanner in my youth, then left for Brisbane and found himself working with a lot more Pasifika types than the esteemed University of Seahorses exposed me to, and having grown up in Inverell and playing between Owie and Ray Ray in terms of my age (Preston played soccer until he destroyed our Wombats in the 97 Group 19 GE, l'd have only played with him if was playing 'up a grade' to cover no shows and injury) but playing a lot of rep footy with a host of indigenous blokes over the years, then having a stint in Katherine as a twelve year old, and living on Groote Eylandt and in Nhulunbuy as a teacher for ten years I think I have a bit of an insight you probably have an inkling of or might have no familiarity with whatsoever.

But since it's a forum I'll give you my two bob's worth.

So many of the Samoan, Maori guys I worked and socialised with in my younger 'between uni' (it was during the Howard Years when you could push a broom on a construction site for a thousand a week or continue to go to lectures with what we would now title entitled, but used to have a sense of gratitude for their accommodations free of any real academic excellence in the tertiary schools that produced the country's leaders) days were categorically 'semi- racist' towards our indigenous populations when the topic was brought up.

This is me just telling the truth. Not karma farming or sugar coating.

This was twenty years ago mind you, so....well I'll try and demystify the concept of retro-jection for some of you without coming across as an ass who had the opportunity to go to a university in a western democracy in a stable period of said western propagandist growth (we had twelve good years from Berlin to 9/11).

Now as a twenty year old I hadn't seen such overt racism, not even around a pub dry bar in a country town. And I was sure if it was because these people were here as economic migrants. A lot of the introduction to indigenous Australians they would have had would be in the major cities that economic migrants head towards, and unfortunately much of that association is with urban first nations people's and a lot of the well documented societal issues these peoples have had following their displacement from the land and their sense of belonging (if you fish and hunt anywhere you will know what I'm saying).

These Samoan guys worked to provide for their families and were living in a foreign, albeit welcoming, country and I'm taking a bit of a pop-psych leap/liberty here (only qualifying that statement so I don't come across as trying to speak for a culture I'm not a part of, today's world right?) but there's definitely an ethos of picking on a weak link to ladder climb, despite the fact that the concerns faced by both minority groups have resonant similarities.

That's human nature, not a judgement, and the NRL should,l hope, understand this if it has really strong leadership. Most of the Pasifika families I interacted with in a social regard, their homes were on the lower socioeconomic spectrum.

Seeing 'familiar minority race others' who enjoyed more government assistance, but still didn't align with the hegemony because of physical and racial attributes, has had in my opinion a predictably divisive outcome.

The Paris Lenui stuff is horrendous, but the problem is no-one will actually stand up and discuss the real issues at play.

As a teacher with a history degree (I haven't had the opportunity of a history class full of sixteen year old minds for over a decade, but have had a pre-school in Ski Beach where I was swamped three days a week by kids who wanted to sing anything we put on the projector at the top of our lungs) I also know that the Spencer Lenui and Latrell Mitchell's of this world weren't in the elective year eleven and year twelve modern history classes.

I'd think they wouldn't have a clue what Jim Crow was but they damn sure know who Russel Crow is.

I have no truck with racism, but I'm pretty into education and non reactive corrective measures.

Can you see how this issue is seperating people
here who have a dominant (as in the thing that joins everyone posting) interest?

That's what racism is engineered for.

Japan is one of the most racist countries you will ever visit but theres an understanding that thinking you are that much better than anyone else gets you Nagasakied. Not too many hegemonic groups around the world have learnt that lesson.

Just breathe and think about how many more flies are caught with honey than vinegar.

Friends.

Wubbalubba Dup Dup!

Very Interesting point of view @Top End Eagle
Great work !

 

[The '47ers]

As someone who chugged a few with Godfrey Tanner in my youth, then left for Brisbane and found himself working with a lot more Pasifika types than the esteemed University of Seahorses exposed me to, and having grown up in Inverell and playing between Owie and Ray Ray in terms of my age (Preston played soccer until he destroyed our Wombats in the 97 Group 19 GE, l'd have only played with him if was playing 'up a grade' to cover no shows and injury) but playing a lot of rep footy with a host of indigenous blokes over the years, then having a stint in Katherine as a twelve year old, and living on Groote Eylandt and in Nhulunbuy as a teacher for ten years I think I have a bit of an insight you probably have an inkling of or might have no familiarity with whatsoever.

But since it's a forum I'll give you my two bob's worth.

So many of the Samoan, Maori guys I worked and socialised with in my younger 'between uni' (it was during the Howard Years when you could push a broom on a construction site for a thousand a week or continue to go to lectures with what we would now title entitled, but used to have a sense of gratitude for their accommodations free of any real academic excellence in the tertiary schools that produced the country's leaders) days were categorically 'semi- racist' towards our indigenous populations when the topic was brought up.

This is me just telling the truth. Not karma farming or sugar coating.

This was twenty years ago mind you, so....well I'll try and demystify the concept of retro-jection for some of you without coming across as an ass who had the opportunity to go to a university in a western democracy in a stable period of said western propagandist growth (we had twelve good years from Berlin to 9/11).

Now as a twenty year old I hadn't seen such overt racism, not even around a pub dry bar in a country town. And I was sure if it was because these people were here as economic migrants. A lot of the introduction to indigenous Australians they would have had would be in the major cities that economic migrants head towards, and unfortunately much of that association is with urban first nations people's and a lot of the well documented societal issues these peoples have had following their displacement from the land and their sense of belonging (if you fish and hunt anywhere you will know what I'm saying).

These Samoan guys worked to provide for their families and were living in a foreign, albeit welcoming, country and I'm taking a bit of a pop-psych leap/liberty here (only qualifying that statement so I don't come across as trying to speak for a culture I'm not a part of, today's world right?) but there's definitely an ethos of picking on a weak link to ladder climb, despite the fact that the concerns faced by both minority groups have resonant similarities.

That's human nature, not a judgement, and the NRL should,l hope, understand this if it has really strong leadership. Most of the Pasifika families I interacted with in a social regard, their homes were on the lower socioeconomic spectrum.

Seeing 'familiar minority race others' who enjoyed more government assistance, but still didn't align with the hegemony because of physical and racial attributes, has had in my opinion a predictably divisive outcome.

The Paris Lenui stuff is horrendous, but the problem is no-one will actually stand up and discuss the real issues at play.

As a teacher with a history degree (I haven't had the opportunity of a history class full of sixteen year old minds for over a decade, but have had a pre-school in Ski Beach where I was swamped three days a week by kids who wanted to sing anything we put on the projector at the top of our lungs) I also know that the Spencer Lenui and Latrell Mitchell's of this world weren't in the elective year eleven and year twelve modern history classes.

I'd think they wouldn't have a clue what Jim Crow was but they damn sure know who Russel Crow is.

I have no truck with racism, but I'm pretty into education and non reactive corrective measures.

Can you see how this issue is seperating people
here who have a dominant (as in the thing that joins everyone posting) interest?

That's what racism is engineered for.

Japan is one of the most racist countries you will ever visit but the understand that thinking you are that much better than anyone else gets you Nagadakied.

Just breathe and think about how many more flies are caught with honey than vinegar.

Friends.

Wubbalubba Dup Dup!

Apologies @Top End Eagle, I'm veering way of track here but having spent many a year in the NT myself, Pine Creek, Katherine and Jabiru (all in mining) I cracked up at the last bit about catching flies. Don't need honey or vinegar up there, the buggers just attack you relentlessly in every orifice, as you know.

 

[frank stokes]

As someone who chugged a few with Godfrey Tanner in my youth, then left for Brisbane and found himself working with a lot more Pasifika types than the esteemed University of Seahorses exposed me to, and having grown up in Inverell and playing between Owie and Ray Ray in terms of my age (Preston played soccer until he destroyed our Wombats in the 97 Group 19 GE, l'd have only played with him if was playing 'up a grade' to cover no shows and injury) but playing a lot of rep footy with a host of indigenous blokes over the years, then having a stint in Katherine as a twelve year old, and living on Groote Eylandt and in Nhulunbuy as a teacher for ten years I think I have a bit of an insight you probably have an inkling of or might have no familiarity with whatsoever.

But since it's a forum I'll give you my two bob's worth.

So many of the Samoan, Maori guys I worked and socialised with in my younger 'between uni' (it was during the Howard Years when you could push a broom on a construction site for a thousand a week or continue to go to lectures with what we would now title entitled, but used to have a sense of gratitude for their accommodations free of any real academic excellence in the tertiary schools that produced the country's leaders) days were categorically 'semi- racist' towards our indigenous populations when the topic was brought up.

This is me just telling the truth. Not karma farming or sugar coating.

This was twenty years ago mind you, so....well I'll try and demystify the concept of retro-jection for some of you without coming across as an ass who had the opportunity to go to a university in a western democracy in a stable period of said western propagandist growth (we had twelve good years from Berlin to 9/11).

Now as a twenty year old I hadn't seen such overt racism, not even around a pub dry bar in a country town. And I was sure if it was because these people were here as economic migrants. A lot of the introduction to indigenous Australians they would have had would be in the major cities that economic migrants head towards, and unfortunately much of that association is with urban first nations people's and a lot of the well documented societal issues these peoples have had following their displacement from the land and their sense of belonging (if you fish and hunt anywhere you will know what I'm saying).

These Samoan guys worked to provide for their families and were living in a foreign, albeit welcoming, country and I'm taking a bit of a pop-psych leap/liberty here (only qualifying that statement so I don't come across as trying to speak for a culture I'm not a part of, today's world right?) but there's definitely an ethos of picking on a weak link to ladder climb, despite the fact that the concerns faced by both minority groups have resonant similarities.

That's human nature, not a judgement, and the NRL should,l hope, understand this if it has really strong leadership. Most of the Pasifika families I interacted with in a social regard, their homes were on the lower socioeconomic spectrum.

Seeing 'familiar minority race others' who enjoyed more government assistance, but still didn't align with the hegemony because of physical and racial attributes, has had in my opinion a predictably divisive outcome.

The Paris Lenui stuff is horrendous, but the problem is no-one will actually stand up and discuss the real issues at play.

As a teacher with a history degree (I haven't had the opportunity of a history class full of sixteen year old minds for over a decade, but have had a pre-school in Ski Beach where I was swamped three days a week by kids who wanted to sing anything we put on the projector at the top of our lungs) I also know that the Spencer Lenui and Latrell Mitchell's of this world weren't in the elective year eleven and year twelve modern history classes.

I'd think they wouldn't have a clue what Jim Crow was but they damn sure know who Russel Crow is.

I have no truck with racism, but I'm pretty into education and non reactive corrective measures.

Can you see how this issue is seperating people
here who have a dominant (as in the thing that joins everyone posting) interest?

That's what racism is engineered for.

Japan is one of the most racist countries you will ever visit but the understand that thinking you are that much better than anyone else gets you Nagadakied.

Just breathe and think about how many more flies are caught with honey than vinegar.

Friends.

Wubbalubba Dup Dup!

Enjoyed reading your take TEE and you pose some interesting questions regarding potential socio-economic rivalries between marginalised groups…

My much less nuanced life experience is that the world is full of d*ckheads and they are not limited to, or defined by, the colour of their skin or the groupthink of their culture…