Good racism is a bad idea

One of these 'leaders' appeared on TV to say the constitution viewed Australia as starting in 1788. That is truly amazing ignorance for someone who had just participated in a meeting to change the constitution. The constitution actually views the Australian nation as starting in 1901, because it did. Before that there was a collection of colonies on a land mass known as Australia since Governor Macquarie first started using the term, and before that there were hundreds or thousands of separate aboriginal tribal or clan areas.

'Recognise' is a pale repetition of the 'Sorry' campaign. That was a great success and clearly an important step by the Rudd government. But the importance of such events is supposed to be in the improvements to white understanding of the history of aboriginal oppression and so greater tolerance, and in making aboriginal people feel more positive and inclined to make the most of their opportunities.

Some evidence of real achievement from the Sorry campaign might justify the 'Recognise' campaign but I am not aware of any and the activists seem much happier talking about racism that solutions to the real financial and social problems of aboriginal people.

Goodes himself has been more active than most in dealing with real problems. His work with a fellow former football star in improving the lives and prospects of aboriginal kids has apparently been very successful.

Goodes and the cause of aboriginal advancement would fare much better if we all heard much more about that work and much less about invented war dances and criticism of ordinary Australians for their lack of sympathy for wealthy, successful people who have decided to focus on the aboriginal side of their multicultural heritage.

The worst possible idea is for all indigenous players to start doing war dances. That would negate all the great work done by the AFL over recent decades. Positive messages work while aggressive, negative acts do not.

Aboriginal people should not become tools for self-righteous white people whose main aim is to prove how morally superior they are to the rest of us.

Goodes has a tremendous record of achievement in various fields. He represents the best elements of different cultures. Poor decisions in a good cause have marred his legacy. Hopefully he will play out the year and focus on his positive agenda.

I hope people will not boo Goodes if he plays, but also he should not provoke opposing spectators, and neither should any other player. And maybe people can learn that trying to impose good racism while saying all racism is evil is not a good idea.