Many people here may not have heard of or even remember Peter Norman, and yet in the USA the US Track and Field federation declared October 9 Peter Norman Day because of what he did.

Just so we all get the chance to remember this great Australian I thought I should put some links about him. Please watch them...It is incredible stuff!

A US news organisation recognising him - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=t4LvwXYmt3Q

One of the Olympic Athletes remembrances - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fu5K2cOeD4M

ABC News - http://www.abc.net.au/news/2017-09-13/group-calls-for-statue-of-australian-athlete-peter-norman/8906244

SBS Movie - https://www.sbs.com.au/ondemand/video/323838531676/salute

I hope people at least value what this guy did and the price he paid for being a good man.

ENJOY!

'But Dr Toscano said Australia continued to ignore his contribution to the fight for human rights.'
By the look of the responses I don't expect the same short sighted jingoistic Ostralians to share the sentiment

You are correct SD... Let's hope people are looking at the story and at least thinking about what he did.

Of course as we are becoming more and more like America to our shame... I guess true Australian heroes don't rate a thought these days.

Thanks for your comment.

Dear OP2,

I am ashamed to admit that I did not know who
Peter Norman was that's why I haven't posted
on this discussion earlier. And for that I apologise.

Thank You for raising this topic. It is an important
one and well worth discussing.

I was absolutely astounded to read about what had happened
to Peter Norman - and I wish he was alive today so that I
could shake his hand. What happened to him and how he was
treated is absolutely dreadful!

While we want our athletes to be role models, it seems
that there are certain conditions. Toe the line and
remember politics and sport do not mix.

I still remember Cathy Freeman's victory lap with both flags
at the 1994 Commonwealth Games - after she won the 200m and 400m
races and the controversy that caused.

Also at the London Olympic Games Indigenous boxer Damien
Hooper was warned about breaching the Olympic Charter when
he wore an Aboriginal flag t-shirt into the ring.

And then there's Adam Goodes and the stir he caused.

Again - Thank You for bringing up this subject -
hopefully we can
all learn something from it.

cont'd ...

Here's a link that I found helpful

http://theconversation.com/1-will-stand-with-you-finally-an-apology-to-peter-norman-10107

I hope that the mistakes of the past will be rectified by
some sort of permanent historical recognition of the man
by the sporting authorities in this country.

OP2,

"I hope people at least value what this guy did and the price he paid for being a good man."

So do I, but what he did was hardly heroic; a much misused word these days.

"Of course as we are becoming more and more like America to our shame..."

Yes, we are losing our British heritage, it's a good thing that the US preserves so much of our shared origins and ideas.

Dearest Foxy,

Yes, I thought that he was a good man, courageous and principled. 'Just a milkman', he used his deliveries as training.

As for the Aboriginal Flag, my wife and I made around a hundred of them back in the early seventies after our factory work (that was in the days when the Left included actual workers), and sent them round the country. The central gold disc was drawn free-hand, so very wonky. Very proud of all that.

And proud of Peter Norman, a true Australian.

Love,

Joe

Dear Joe,

Your children must have been very proud of you
and your wife.
What a remarkable thing to have done and what a great
example and legacy to leave for your children.

I certainly hope that we shall not continue to
blindly follow the US as we have done in the past.
We need to question things.
We also have our own distinct identity which we need
to acknowledge and above all - maintain.

Foxy,

We would do well to follow the US lead in spelling English words, thankfully there is already such a trend.