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The Indigenous Council of the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) was not consulted on Thursday’s decision to scrap the national anthem before home state matches, nor on the overthrow of the decision a few hours later
ARL Indigenous Council President Katrina Fanning says it’s no surprise there was such a reaction, but she was surprised at the speed of the backflip
It would be wonderful if sporting events included a moving rendition of an anthem that spoke for all Australians, writes Richard Hinds
« It was an interesting and quick turnaround on a pretty big decision… I would have thought people had thought about these consequences, » Fanning told The Ticket
The Daily Telegraph reported that the anthem would not be played with a reader poll quickly showing that 89% of respondents were critical of the decision, prompting an appeal from the Prime Minister’s Office to the ARLC President, Peter V’Landys
Shortly after, at a press conference, NRL chief executive Andrew Abdo said the game had « listened to the fans » and announced the overturn of an unpopular decision
« I don’t know if you would use it as another political solution – that a one hour litmus test on social media would be proof enough for you to solve a political problem »
Earlier in the year, the board was involved in discussions with the ARLC over whether the anthem should be played at all representative matches or only those involving the national team, or during days of significant importance such as Anzac Day or the grand finale
« As a native Australian, the problem is that [the anthem] really only talks about how long people have lived in this country for two hundred years, » Fanning said
« He speaks of us as a young nation… and the reality is that the truth is that we are the oldest living culture on Earth
« There is a part of it that totally ignores our long term connection to this place and certainly the freedoms that were subsequently taken from us the ability to live outside the country
« Still in a more modern sense, the disproportionate levels of representation in the justice system and that sort of thing [make] those words for many Indigenous Australians a little hard to sing along
« There are other parts of the verses which may not be sung during these events, but which also point to a time which concerns dispossession and not the truth about the history of this place »
During the All Stars 2019 game in which the State of Origin players were selected, the media noticed that some players, including newbie Latrell Mitchell, were not singing the anthem and reported the story again once the Origin series has started
« I don’t think there is anything in the actions of these young men that disrespected the hymn or other people, » she said
« I think there is a very misconception that Indigenous athletes in particular can only have an opinion that people are comfortable with
« The media in particular, but also social media, feel like they are a little behind Latrell, they then use him to attack other decisions he makes
« Or [they’re reporting] other stories that wouldn’t sell so many items, or get so many clicks, without adding that racial element that speaks to a potentially deeper issue in this country »
« What’s important here is to keep the conversation going and to be balanced, not always to have only the most extreme points of view, » she said
« I think there are a lot more Australians who are not as passionate in one way or another who are silent on this, and part of the problem is the silence of so many. uncomfortable people, not wanting to choose a side
« They see what happens when someone speaks out and doesn’t want to be the target
« The Rugby League has never shied away from tackling social issues and they have improved a lot over the years, so sometimes it takes a little courage, a little bravery
« Like marriage equality [message] a few years ago in the grand finale, which also drew some interesting comments in the media, but it was the right thing to do
NRL’s support for players who decide not to sing the national anthem before State of Origin I demonstrates that it is showing leadership in Indigenous affairs, writes Richard Hinds
President of the Indigenous Council says that by not being consistent with the issue of the hymn it becomes « problematic » for everyone
« It will probably be difficult for change to happen in the near future, it will kind of delay the path, but I think the most positive thing we can take away is to get more Australians to talk about the anthem «
When asked if she had a message for V’Landys or for Prime Minister Scott Morrison, she replied that more conversations were needed
« I would tell them both that things went really fast today, but this conversation needs to be longer and deeper, » she said
« If the hymn stays, we have to change people’s attitudes – not singing it doesn’t make you unpatriotic, just like singing it doesn’t necessarily [mean] you have a bad opinion of Aboriginal Australians
« I know we are exploiting this in a better conversation rather than » I won and you lost «
This service may include material from Agence France-Presse (AFP), APTN, Reuters, AAP, CNN and BBC World Service which is copyrighted and may not be reproduced
AEST = Australian Eastern Standard Time, which is 10 hours ahead of GMT (Greenwich Mean Time)
Home State Series, Australian Rugby League Commission, Peter V’landys, Australia, Peter FitzSimons, anthem
Global News – UA – Anthem home state national has positive backflip, says ARLC Indigenous Council president
SOURCE: https://www.w24news.com
