WALKING IS NOT AN ANSWER

Timana Tahu’s extreme stance against the words of Andrew Johns in the last origin camp has produced very little good. Dodging the situation and making a public statement without speaking to the perpetrator first ,was so 30 years ago . Times have moved on and our Australian society is the most aware of these issues and the keenest we’ve ever been to sort it out.  Currently we are the least racist generation of Australia’s short history.

It makes me laugh , listening to politicians state Australia has never been racist or discriminatory and there has never been a place for such behaviour in Australia.

We have been terrible . Mostly unaware of the damage it causes, granted , but still terrible nonetheless. From our grandparents to  parents it has improved . Their notions  and portrayals of the Japanese as well as indigenous Aussies is surely all the  proof one needs . Unrefutable I would say.

Awareness at least is now ingrained , behaviour is definitely improving, but the rugby league scenario can still erupt when one party doesn’t think. Johns had probably overused the racial repertoire in what he thought was friendly team environment , oblivious to the offence that was brewing . There came a snapping point for the experienced Tahu, whose response was to turn his back on a team attempting the impossible and  a state hurting everywhere (not just on the sports field) . His  immediate absence from the camp was the first knowledge that he was ever offended and it was all too late to resurrect . Did he not want to fix the problem?

From there you have Tahu in the headlines, both positive and negative, Johns with a longer face the Whobegotya, standing down from his beloved coaching role, getting hammered from everywhere and the game lurching into another media battle for credibility.

What did that achieve ? In my opinion not enough for the indigenous cause. Constructive forgiveness must be the goal not blatant punishment .

Man to man conversation would have solved this one immediately . Such sporting teams would do anything for each other as long as they know how one feels. Obviously this wasn’t going to make a big enough goose of Johns for Tahu’s liking , or publicise the indigenous plight strongly . Tahu’s concern for  younger squad members, Hayne, Idris and Learoyd –Lars, was commendable but walking away did nothing to back up his words. Stay there get it sorted and ensure they were not subjected to more.

From there I suggest  , once all has been settled ,  the media could be fronted by both men to tell their story and the solution that has been found. Johns’ lazy vocabulary would improve and  his remorse would be real but not terminal. Tahu ‘s mentoring status would become esteemed ,through dealing with  offensive behaviour for the good of some up and comers as well as others like Johns, who still believe their words don’t offend. The   game would appear strong and mature just like the men who sorted it out .

Instead we got an old fashioned response , meant to punish  . The go-to man or at least a study of his actions, in this situation must be Nelson Mandela. What an absolute legend, almost God like, in his ability to develop the future rather than use the past to his people’s advantage.

Timana could have portrayed confidence in his people and their progress , improved the behaviour of a former playing legend and probably others, as well as the atmosphere of the  sport forever. He didn’t.