[~maryanne~]

What do you think? O.k or not?

I think it is a great idea and am surprised it has caused such a fuss. I thought Kathy Freeman had led the way there and every one would be a bit more sensible about it by now. With so many negative stereotypes it is fabulous to see a proud and positive role model showing his people and the rest of Australia and the world that aboriginal people are not all living up to that stereotype. Unfortunatly I have a feeling that many of the ones who have a problem with it are probably also the ones who have negative attitudes about indiginous people in the first place.

Do you think less fuss would have been made if he had worn the flag as a part of his uniform, like over the green and gold rather than replacing it entirely?

Perhaps in the future indigenous competitors could be offered a uniform that has links with both their culture and the green and gold?

This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 01/08/2012, 06:18 AM

[Goggie]

I agree with you. I don't see what the big deal is and think aboriginal people should be proud of their heritage and proud to represent and be a role model for the community. He's still representing Australia, I just don't get the IOC sometimes.

[Sassy Girl]

I think wearing the Aboriginal flag is inappropriate as they are competing for Australia not just the Aboriginal section of Australia. The Australian flag is inclusive the Aboriginal flag is exclusive.

As for your statement that only people that would have a problem with it are people that have a negative attitude towards Indigenous people as a person that has Aboriginal ancestry all I can say, other than I find your statement offensive, is

[~maryanne~]

No Sassy, I didn't say that everyone who has a problem with it has a negative attitude to indiginous people. I did use the word 'probably', to try signify it is not a set-in-stone truth. Although I do see I also haven't used the all important 'some' or 'many' either. Will edit.

What do you think of the idea of having it as part of the uniform rather than replace the uniform? So it still has that 'inclusive' part of it then?

This post has been edited by ~maryanne~: 01/08/2012, 06:20 AM

[.Jerry.]

The issue is that he is breaking Olympic rules. It isn't Australia's rules.

I think it is wonderful that he is proud of his heritage and I think he should be able to show this to the world, but at the moment, he needs to follow the rules.

[Sassy Girl]

I would still find it inappropriate as part of our uniform as it doesn't represent the whole population of our country just a certain part of it. Unless the uniform was made up of flags representing every nationality that lives here. Now that would be a bright and colourful costume.

This post has been edited by Sassy Girl: 01/08/2012, 06:25 AM

[~maryanne~]

I would still find it inappropriate as part of our uniform as it doesn't represent the whole population of our country just a certain part of it. Unless the uniform was made up of flags representing every national that lives here. Now that would be a bright and colourful costume.

But people of other backgrounds still have their heritage represented in the games. An Australian of aboriginal decent does not.

[soontobegran]

There are so many countries whose histories are steeped in multiple indigenous and other cultures, I can see why the IOC would insist that the uniform and the athlete represents the nation and not their heritage.

[Radical Fembo Bu...]

It's all about the IOC rules -- which I'm sure have absolutely nothing to do with a negative attitude to Indigenous Australians and everything to do with wanting to make sure that dissident groups from a number of countries around the world don't turn the olympics into their own personal political platform. I can't imagine that this can be dealt with by anything other than a blanket ruling. I can remember how politicised the games were in the days off the eastern bloc -- would hate to see a return to that.

I like seeing the Aboriginal athletes with both flags but, given the above, I think the olympics probably isn't the place for it.

[soontobegran]

But people of other backgrounds still have their heritage represented in the games. An Australian of aboriginal decent does not.

What do you mean? Most nations have representatives from multiple cultures and heritages amongst their team members. They wear a uniform and have rules that cater for them as a nation and not as an individual.
Just for example I am certain there are members of the USA team with Native American heritage.