24 Comments
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matthew campbell's avatar

I never understood the Israel Falau controversy

When you look at his list it includes at over half of the population

Why did the gays feel it was aimed at them?

Joyce Powell's avatar

What a breath of sensible fresh air on the rainbow bigotry issue, Ani. I totally agree with your views on this. The fanatics do more to harm their own cause than any prejudice from the general public could. Pure attention seeking from small minds can be the only reason for their screeching.

Lodden's avatar

That was a beautifully written article Ani, couldn’t agree more.

The ongoing Folau saga is pathetic. After his first post, he was baited by some activist into saying something similar, which was the ultimate reason he lost his contract.

I’m a straight atheist, and did not find being threatened with banishment to a place that doesn’t exist to be even vaguely concerning. I can’t imagine for a moment that any gay person would feel differently.

They simply wanted him cancelled for wrongthink, and got their wish - at the same time winning Folau a huge new following, including me.

Julian's avatar

Plus $4m AUD and the job of Raelene Castle

Just Boris's avatar

As an ardent theist, I totally agree with your comment. His treatment by the media and especially that fat cow Raelene Castle was totally shitty.

Martin Hanson's avatar

'Pride' results from achievement, not something rooted in one's nature. It's as silly for me to be proud of being heterosexual as to be proud of my blood group or my height. It's the way I am. And since male homosexuality is, to a considerable extent, inborn, where does 'pride' come into it?

Barry Watkin's avatar

Agree. ‘Pride’ also refers to a group of lions, and ‘gay’ originated from 12th c French ‘gai’ meaning ‘joyful’ and ‘carefree’. Hijacked.

Genuine tolerance still exists, but it is being tested for sure. Good article by Ani.

carol ann's avatar

I used to live in an area with a large Maori population and really enjoyed it. I worked, made friends and went to Maori language classes and kapa haka. I then moved to Wellington and bit by bit what was a choice became compulsory and at work was taking up a noticeable part of my work hours. This was a total turn off for me.There was also a huge part of it that was 'fake'.

Jim Johnson's avatar

Christianity is about loving the sinner, while hating the sin. And we're all sinning our pants off constantly.

Just Boris's avatar

Bloody well said Ani. Folau was shafted for just sharing his beliefs. I think he even said he would pray for gay folk which showed he actually cared about them. That he thought they would all go to hell was concerning for him. That ain't hate, more like misguided & theologically dubious compassion.

I agree with pretty much everything you wrote, and so very well written it was. My only point of difference is that for me there is no place whatsoever for Gay Pride day, week or anything. All those things do is bring out the sexually perverse among the gay community who love to overtly display their sexuality in a parade as an 'up yours' to conservatives. Well fuck that. And fuck (figuratively only from hetero Boris) all those gay folk out there who think most of us actually want to know about their sexual proclivities. I love your writing Ani. Sometimes I even think I love you. But Boris does not give a rat's arse that you are gay, for that is your business. And whilst you comment on it on occasion, you expect to be judged not on your sexual preferences, but by the content of your character. And writing. Which is, again, bloody excellent.

Barry Watkin's avatar

Straight onto the bullseye there Boris - very well said,

Hooker Phil's avatar

Our soldiers get one day to 1.00 p.m. Mothers and Fathers get a whole day. Homosexuals want a whole month including programmes at the local library for children.

I haven't used the other word as I have fond memories of my mother who would be 118 now often referring to the gay times she used to have in her youth at dances and picnics etc.

Anyway I don't think rugby ever had pride games and the NRL has I think cancelled them since the Manly fiasco.

Ed Porter's avatar

I would have to think that Iran vs Egypt being denoted the Pride Match is a deliberate selection rather than a random occurrence?

Mead Colin's avatar

As a straight old white man I am heartily sick of all this gay pride stuff. Honestly I don’t care about your sexuality, as I’m sure most people don’t. Can’t we all just get on with life?

Louise's avatar

100%!!!

I felt a bit like this as the unvaxxed but in the opposite way - I just wanted to be left alone to make my own choices but the zealots insisted that we all take the knee. The more they insisted, the less likely I was to comply.

With all the rainbow stuff- I don't care who or how people like to shag, just that they don't force me to say that it's the best thing ever!!

MrBob's avatar

What a breath of fresh air and downright common sense - live and let live. As always, well-considered and presented Ani!

Mark Simpson's avatar

I want to start a "Grumpy Old Blokes" movement. Our flag will be a white background with a silhouette of an old bloke pushing his walker and a speech bubble full of various punctuation above his head. Being inclusive, there is no age limit, up or down, and we'll petition parliament for GOB DAY public holiday.

Martin Hanson's avatar

Forcing people to express political a view the may not hold is the opposite of tolerance; it it totalitarianism, and should have no place in sport.

Brian Hay's avatar

Thank you Ani. Virtue signalling is both endemic and unthinking. The two "movie stars" who owed their success to the Harry Potter franchise were so quick to disown the author who had effectively made them famous that they were announcing their robust virtue almost before the last word was out of her mouth. It reminds me of the time when, unless you were wearing a Che Guevara t-shirt, you were "never gonna get laid."

Andrew Holgate's avatar

Superb article Ani. Very thoughtful and eloquent. Sadly sport is used as a punching bag by all sorts of people with other agendas. In some institutions it is not the affected community driving this but an outsider who is more sensitive than the affected people themselves. At a corporate level the it may be more cynical. Symbols of culture or religion are just part of the cost of doing business.