July 01, 2003
FIGHTING WORDS
C-grade boxer Anthony Mundine is ragging on Olympic champion Cathy Freeman in the LA Times:
"Running can only do so much," Mundine said. "You think, 'Cathy is a great runner, she won a gold medal.' But in 20 years' time, 30 years' time, they'll say 'Cathy was a good runner.' But they won't say, 'Cathy stood up for her people. Cathy fought the system.' My fists can do the talking, but they can only go so far. Your words can last for eternity.
"She's been born with great athletic ability and the will to succeed in her sport. But beyond those boundaries, to take all of that pressure on yourself and be a leader of her people and be someone who fights for truth — she's not thinking that way. She's not born in that way."
Mundine may believe that he possesses a sophisticated understanding of racism, but he hasn’t grasped even an elemental notion of sexism; at another point in the story he refers to Freeman as “a really nice young aboriginal girl”. Cathy Freeman is 30 -- two years older than her dismissive adviser. Race-fixated historian Colin Tatz also tells Freeman what to say and think:
"Cathy's aboriginality has been the prime focus of her total persona, not just by her, but by the media and everyone else. If the aboriginality is so much a part of where she is today, she has an obligation to say something. She can't shake it off and say, 'My aboriginal life has nothing to do with my present life or my future life.' "
She doesn’t say any such thing, and never has. And as for this “she has an obligation to say something” bullshit ... well, Cathy sums it up pretty neatly:
"All I know is that people can see I am proud of my indigenous culture, of where I'm from," she said, a note of exasperation in her voice. "I've flown the aboriginal flag, alongside the Australian flag. Even a 3-year-old child can see that I'm proud of who I am and where I'm from."
Well said. And she didn’t have to say a thing.
(By the way, what's up with the lower case “aboriginal”? In the circumstance of referring to a particular people, it’s a proper noun, surely. Gerard Wright, the author of this piece, is Australian. He knows this. Maybe the LA Times house style is racist!)
Posted by Tim Blair at July 1, 2003 02:43 AMShe's never presented herself as a racial token, just someone with incredible drive and a great personality. A shame some resent that. (Here, put this chip on your shoulder, Catherine!)
Posted by: The at July 1, 2003 at 08:05 AMTim, I don't know if strategy or serendipity caused you to place this item next to the one on George Bush, but they certainly do go together.
The link is that both Bush and Freeman in their own way emphasise deeds over action.
Without having to say a word, Cathy has done far more for Aboriginal self-respect than any amount of bullshit from "the sleeper" Mundine.
While self-described friends of Aboriginals such as Mungo Macallum vomit up phrases like the "special needs" of Aboriginals, Cathy has beaten the best in the world on equal terms.
More power to Cathy, I say.
Posted by: The Mongrel at July 1, 2003 at 11:03 AMAnthony "The Man" Mundine is highlt qualified to talk about this and other issues, having beaten up several old geezers. I believe his next opponent has forgone taking any appearance money for the fight, as it will affect his pension eligibility.
While Cathy Freeman doesn't seem to make too much fuss about her heritage, the media certainly does; perhaps it salves their concience to produce the odd positive story about indigines among the constant footage of broken glass in Bourke.
Ahem. Anthony Mundine on 9/11:
They call it an act of terrorism, but if you can understand religion and our way of life, it's not about terrorism. It's about fighting for God's laws. America's brought it upon themselves (for) what they've done in the history of time.
Posted by: Angie Schultz at July 1, 2003 at 11:21 AMThese words "Aboriginal" & "Aborigine" are confusing. In Latin America the "Native Americans" or "Amerinds" or whatever one calls them in English are known as "los aborigenes." "Aboriginal" really just means "there from the start." Why don't you call Australian Aborigines "Australs" (a complimentary back-formation) or some such distinctive term.
Posted by: ForNow at July 1, 2003 at 11:22 AMWhere I work, the term insisted upon is "Aboriginal Australian", as distinct from "non-Aboriginal Australian".
Posted by: BruceT at July 1, 2003 at 11:25 AMMundine may know racism, but he knows a hell of a lot more about sexism. Remember the kerfuffle when Stan Grant left his wife for Tracy Holmes - Mundine dismissed it by saying polygamy was part of aboriginal tradition, and as an Aboroginal woman, Grant's wife just had to cop it. Islamo-fascists idealise a world that takes us back to the Middle Ages, but allows us to hang on to our AK-47s and Toyota Hiluxes, so maybe that's where Mundien gets all his great ideas about the role of women.
Posted by: Steve S. at July 1, 2003 at 11:52 AM"Koorie" is another common term. It's all a bit cringy at the moment, as the socialists are busy supervising nouns, as if the Aboriginal population will suddenly disintegrate if addressed incorrectly. The biggest challenge for the Morally Superior is keeping Aboriginal people up to date with the latest Morally Correct fashions, in cases where they don't have access to dinner parties in Paddington and South Yarra.
Posted by: The at July 1, 2003 at 11:57 AMSo he knows about racism eh?
A lad who went to a selective school for talented sportsman, played rugby league for St George and now would be a millionaire in his own right, due to boxing complains of racism?
Exactly HOW has Mundine been oppressed or held back because of his background? A background that he uses at will to further his own publicity.
Posted by: nic at July 1, 2003 at 12:17 PMNote to "The" - "Koorie" is the name given by Aboriginal people to themselves in Victoria and most of NSW (I don't know about South Australia, the West, the Territory or North Queensland). In northern NSW and southern Queensland, at least, the corresponding term is "Murrie". If our local black folks hear whites callng them "Koories", they generally pick them for a southern wanker, somtheing on which they and the local whites - or "Miglos" (spelling?) - would doubtless agree.
TFK
Posted by: Bob Bunnett at July 1, 2003 at 12:37 PM"Miglos:" is a new one for me.Has anybody ever compiled a list of words (PC or non-PC) in other languages for whites? eg ferenghi, gweilo, farang. Others?
Posted by: Rob at July 1, 2003 at 12:53 PMIn Hawaiian, "haole" used to mean foreigner but, last I hear, is mainly used to mean a white or a blonde.
Posted by: ForNow at July 1, 2003 at 01:26 PM'Pakeha' is used for New Zealand whites. I have heard that it is a corruption of a profanity much used by the British sailors. I think the French were referred to as 'wiwi's
Posted by: Steve at July 1, 2003 at 04:03 PM"Horrie" is a pakeha colloqualism for Maoris.
A Far North Queensland one used for Aboriginal management types, especially ATSIC types from down south is "Coconuts"- brown on the outside, white on the inside.
Cathy FREEMAN should use her profile to advance the cause of Aboriginality (Whatever the fuck that is) in the same way other prominant Aboriginals have.
You know, great men like Geoff CLARKE, 'Sugar' Ray ROBINSON and Anthony MUNDINE. They have all done a wonderful job.
Names Aboringnals have for white people? Well one called me a white cunt the other day. He had asked me what the percentage of aboriginals were in gaol. "Thats easy" I replied, "100% convicted criminal"
Posted by: Gilly at July 1, 2003 at 05:21 PMCathy FREEMAN should use her profile to advance the cause of Aboriginality (Whatever the fuck that is) in the same way other prominant Aboriginals have.
You know, great men like Geoff CLARKE, 'Sugar' Ray ROBINSON and Anthony MUNDINE. They have all done a wonderful job.
Names Aboringnals have for white people? Well one called me a white c**t the other day. He had asked me what the percentage of aboriginals were in gaol. "Thats easy" I replied, "100% convicted criminal"
Posted by: Gilly at July 1, 2003 at 05:21 PMHey Paul - Love the term "coconut". I must remember that one.
Rob - there is always the slang term "honky" as used by American blacks. Maybe that counts as another language?
Posted by: Bob Bunnett at July 1, 2003 at 06:24 PMStill anticipating the match with the West's Danny Green.
I'd love to see Mundine get served.
The only words I want to hear out of Mundine's mouth are "Yes, I'd be happy to fight Danny Green, anywhere any time"
Not going to happen though.
BTW Western Australian aborigines are "Noongahs", not koories or murras, etc etc.