While I usually leave the Aussie Footy following to my husband, I couldn’t help turn my attention to Sydney Swans player and 2014 Australian of the Year anti-racism advocate, Adam Goodes.
He scores a goal during a Friday night match and celebrates on the field with a dance.
A war dance if you will.
Something that was inspired by the young indigenous players of the under 16’s Flying Boomerangs.
Meaningful, passionate and a nod to his indigenous background.
But it starts to intimidate people – football fans and sports commentators alike. It sends social media into overdrive and all of a sudden – his act is seen as “just too much”.
So confronting in fact that ‘continual boofhead’ Eddie McGuire suggested that Goodes should’ve given everyone a “heads up” beforehand.
Can you just see it?
In the heat of excitement in scoring a goal, a man who is so proud of how far he’s come in his career, who wants to acknowledge all those who helped him get there…
“Oh, by the way, Eddie. I’m now gonna do a bit of a dance. In a packed SCG. To be broadcasted on live prime time TV. Now, you ready???”
Just as I’m trying to recover over the lack of acceptance we have in our society, out comes the news of Caitlyn Jenner.
Beautiful and brave Caitlyn.
Overall, her welcome to the world was warm and embracing, yet, there were still the stupid snide comments.
“Of course it was photo shopped!”
“Ha! She leaves her ex wife Kris in the dust!”
“Her outfit on the Vanity Fair cover looks somewhat, Playboy Bunny-esque”
There are those who can’t seem to react beyond anything more than with casual sexism because they don’t know what else to say.
How about saying nothing?
I don’t remember the source but I once read an article where the author felt the word “tolerance” shouldn’t be used because it just sounded like a cop out; that it still allows hate or dislike to exist.
“Racial tolerance” reads “I don’t like your people or where you’re from, but I guess I can deal with you being around.”
“Transgender tolerance” reads “I really think what you’re doing is super weird and I won’t try to stop you. Just don’t get me involved.”
Personally, I think we stick with tolerance. I say, let’s use it abundantly because then when ‘tolerance’ starts to naturally roll off our tongues and in what we see, we have hope in reaching the next level: acceptance.
One article I did read and remember was written by John Pavlovitz. I don’t have the foggiest who he is other than he’s a pastor from North Carolina.
What I do know is when it comes to the importance of acceptance – not in just a passive sense – but to truly stand alongside people and celebrate with them their differences and choices, these words ring true.
“One of the greatest gifts you can give another human being is to really see them.
Not who you wish them to be, not the version of themselves that makes you the most comfortable, not the one that is the most convenient for you, but the most authentic self they can muster”
So, until everyone joins in, just keep doing your dance, Adam.
What did you think of the war dance argy bargy? What’re your thoughts on Caitlyn Jenner’s public coming out? How do you perceive the term “tolerance”?
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