http://www.abc.net.au/news/2013-05-25/goodes-gutted-but-places-no-blame/4712772

I believe it a grave error to think this unprecedented crowd behaviour is anything but racism.

I understand some people regard the booing as simply a response to Goodes’ response to the young woman’s ‘ape’ comment, but it has gone way beyond that now. On that point, I do have to disagree with you Beverley.

I grew up in a country town and am familiar enough with the ugly sounds of racism to know it when I hear it. From reading some of the online commentary from those who are (or were) booing, it was clearly because Adam Goodes is an Aboriginal man, they make no bones about it. I have had to stop reading that sort of stuff now. It is too disgusting, too disheartening.

As a boy I was taught never to point at people, or stare, or be rude or call them names. I was certainly never taught to call anyone an ape. Racism is learned, it is not natural. Last week (I think) was one of those rare moments when a society acts collectively. The message was simple. Stop. Change direction. We can all make that choice. I think the actions of the crowds on Saturday showed that. It is also why the silence from national leaders has been so profoundly disillusioning.

I was heartened to see junior players (minimum age for an umpire is 13), sporting 37 on their skin and declaring their support for Adam Goodes. Those children and young adults showed that the cycles of racism and bullying (I know they’re not the same, but they are related) can be broken. I also think Stan Grant spoke with far more eloquence than I can ever do about being on the receiving end of racist taunts, and about the difference between being a member of a civilized society that, when it knows someone is hurting, does what it can to stop that hurt. That is, in a sense, the definition of civilized (in fact, I just noticed that my laptop dictionary gives, as an example of using that word, “such an affront to civilized behavior will no longer be tolerated”)

My hope is that last week will prove to be a cathartic experience. A lot of nasty words were spoken, and a lot of people have been shocked. But, perhaps we non-Indigenous people needed to be shocked, needed to come face to face with an underbelly that isn’t isolated in some remote outback. Why would I feel optimistic? I signed an online petition supporting Adam Goodes that in just 3 days had gathered over 30,000 signatures. I compare that with the blog of Kim Vuga, vocal anti-refugee, anti-migrant campaigner and star of SBS’s most recent series of Go Back To Where You Come From, which now has just 1,300 ‘likes’.

I don’t believe history just happens. I don’t believe anything is inevitable. Change occurs because women and men make it happen. History is being made now, and I think it is about so, so much more than a footballer’s response to a young woman’s bad language. I look forward to us all dancing together, enjoying a diversity of rhythms and moves and beats – not all the same, but all respecting each other, because it’s the right thing, because we want to.