Go the Knights!
(some thoughts about the discourse surrounding the events in Newcastle, NSW over the weekend)
And I thought I had “skin in the game” in my last post …
This happened in my hometown. A national news story, and very nearly a tragedy. 10 people injured, and a massive effort to get them to our hospital. This is a situation every Australian should’ve been sympathetic towards. And yet, there are some people who just have to make it political, who have to point fingers, instead of just wishing those who were injured a speedy recovery. And so, even though I don’t want to endlessly blog about racism, I feel it needs to be repeated:
It was never about assimilation. It was always about the colour of their skin.
It’s always been about the colour of my skin.
The difference this time is that it’s so much more obvious. See, we’re not as genteel as the likes of Bo French. We’ll say what’s on our mind, without a spare thought left, without care and without shame. So, in my effort to do the same, I’d like to append that statement from my last post:
It was never about monoculturalism either.
In the hours after this event, the armchair detectives of Australia had already determined, baselessly, that the assailant was a foreigner. An Indian, or an Arab, or perhaps an Italian?? As if hooning is a hereditary condition that is more prevalent in immigrants, instead of the obvious reality that the guy behind the wheel was a bonafide fuckwit. That theory, along with the usual complaints about people of colour, is what the terminally online racists of Australia have decided is more important to focus on, while 10 innocent footy fans are rushed to John Hunter Hospital.
And so, yet again, people like me are being told that we don’t belong here. That we’re detrimental to the Australian way of life. It’s saddening, but not surprising, to hear. Thankfully, something happened today that proves that the opinions of this loud minority absolutely do not matter.
Today, I rode on intercity trains between Newcastle and Sydney. A day out with the family, serendipitously coinciding with the NRL grand final — Newcastle Knights vs. Sydney Roosters. And I’ve never been more proud to be a Novocastrian. Our town is painted red and blue. Everyone’s wearing the jerseys. The anthems are on speakerphones. The CCN line is now the “Knights Express”. There’s dudes in chainmail. Men and women, children and grandparents. Lovers and best mates. Every demographic you can think of is converging upon Sydney Olympic Park, with one shared objective — to support our team, just as some American kids in Texas did a few weeks ago. The pride I have for my hometown is immense, and I can’t help but smile as I realised today what is now so obvious:
It’s never been about the colour of my skin.
And if you happen to not like that … have fun throwing away your vote at the next federal election.
Go the Knights! ❤️💙