Lexi,

Thank you for this link.

Undeniably, any form of racism is abhorrent ... there is absolutely no question about that. And this includes racist epithets.

I still don't know if the child was aware the word being racist. As mentioned, people were egging her on; is there the possibility that they were putting words into her mouth. If anyone should have been made an example of, it should have been the ones around her.

This is where I feel very uncomfortable. I have to wonder - and admit that I am cynical - that if it had been an adult who had shouted this - whether the trajectory would have followed the same pattern. I have very strong doubts. Also an adult wouldn't have been so compliant in this public humiliation.

Personally, I feel that this took on a life of its own.

Yes, agreed, make a public stand against racism and racist abuse. But I believe this case of a 13 yr old girl, was mishandled, badly so.

If it had been an older person - yes - definitely - yes; make it public. But, then, with an adult, I truly don't think it would have been handled the same way. And this is why I feel very uncomfortable.

The public handling of this 13 yr old girl would be currency in an Islamic state if a similar aged child insulted (inadvertently or not) the name of Mohamed.

Is public humiliation the way "teach a lesson" to an adult, or child. I don't think so. What is certain is this 13 yr old girl will now bear the appalling stigma of racist possibly for the rest of her life.

I have no interest in football, but I am told that anything can be said to an opponent, or screamed to the other side, to offset their game. I understand that racist slurs are quite common. Indeed could it be seen as part of the sub-culture?

Why haven't we seen signs and screens, indeed football publicity, carrying messages that racism is not tolerated.

Football, all sports, have the excellent opportunity to cull racism.

Instead ... a public example is now made of a little girl.

I remain cynical, very cynical ...

Danielle, "Why haven't we seen signs and screens, indeed football publicity, carrying messages that racism is not tollerated"

It may be there are so many messages out there it gets lost in the mix, football seems to be a bring together a lot of elements to create a small scale "perfect storm" for less than socially responsible behaviour.

- young men generally in top physical form being paid far more than their peers and without much place for the older wiser heads in the inner circle
- strong tibal cultures
- young women trying to get some of the action, either the glamor of dating/sleeping with a star or the financial security of a longer term attachment.
- a surrounding gambling element which adds yet more money to the mix
- a lot of money to be made by others by keeping it all going

A lot of the fallout from that has "messages" but often with less than enthusiasm or caught up in other agendas.

The racism message is out there but its one of many.

R0bert

It wasn't targeted at a little girl. Goodes had no idea that the comment came from a little girl until he called them out on it. From there the rest is history. Goodes has behaved in a very dignified way and has sought to protect the girl from any negative attention.

The little girl did not know that 'ape' was a racist term and has said as much. This is not about the little girl but about racism in Australian society generally and the many times that players have heard that term in the street or on the field. It is a shame that the incident has meant a focus on the young girl but it was not a planned event, it just happened that way. I hope the media leaves the girl and her family alone.

Well said, Pelican.

Precisely!

The one thing I've noticed regarding this issue over a couple of threads is that a few of the regulars who habitually spend their time berating feminists and feminism in its myriad forms, have come out swinging in strong denunciation of the reaction from Goodes.

Apparently, if there's one thing they like less than a jumped-up feminist, it's a jumped-up indigenous sportsman highlighting culturally ingrained and indoctrinated abuse hurled from the sidelines at sporting fixtures.

Dear Pelly and Poirot,

Bravo!

Well said!