In his column today the ‘Julius Streicher’ of the Australian extreme right and convicted racist Andrew Bolt desperately attempts again to defend the young girl that racially vilified AFL footballer Adam Goodes.
Bolt characterises her as simply being a “thirteen year-old girl who was possibly misunderstood, given that the bearded Goodes is hirsute and the girl said she did not know ‘ape’ can have a racist connotation”. Describing Goodes as ‘hirsute’ is in itself demeaning in the context that Bolt uses the descriptor since Goodes is far from ‘hirsute’ (abnormally or overly hairy); he merely has a beard just like many men of all races.
As for the assertion that “she did not know ‘ape’ can have racist connotation”, the fact is that her intent was not to laud Goodes (would she have used the word ‘ape’ if she wanted to heap praise on him?) but to insult him by inferring that he was an inferior being. She didn’t consciously think to herself; ‘I know; I’ll racially abuse him. That should demonstrate my loathing and contempt for him’, but, rather, she intuitively chose to racially abuse him demonstrating not only her loathing and contempt for him anyway but also refecting the kind of social environment she was raised in.
The likes of Bolt are responsible for perpetuating that social environment in Australia.
Do these white folks filling up the comment columns truly believe they can dictate to Aboriginal people what they should and shouldn't/can and can't find offensive? It's beyond comprehension that people don't understand the problem here. Ignore the racist side of things for a minute. A fellow human being was called a name he found offensive and he said 'I don't like being called that name.' Who is anyone, particularly Andrew Bolt, to say, 'No. no, it's OK, you should be OK with that.' I can only put it down to a cultural laziness – an attitude that says, 'Look, this is how we are, if you don't like it, the problem lies with you.' And it's not about political correctness 'gone mad' as many report. It's about decency. It's about saying, 'Dude, sorry that made you feel uncomfortable FOR WHATEVER REASON. Now I know that's upsetting to you, I won't say it again.'
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