How the national anthem has become a political punching bag

Aboriginal athlete Anthony Mundine's idea to boycott the Australian national anthem has been slammed by AFL Swans star Lance Franklin.

sports

Source: ni

Australians all let us discuss, a national anthem that's sparking outrage!

Sydney superstar Lance Franklin has slammed Mundine's idea for players to boycott the national anthem at this weekend's AFL and NRL grand finals as "stupid."

"Personally I think it's pretty stupid really, it's the Australian national anthem, it's a part of our sport, our history."

The former world champion recently urged players and supporters to stand up for the Indigenous community. 

Mundine has swung back after Franklin's comments, accusing him of not thinking for his own people.
He's thinking for the system and not thinking for his people and his heritage and his ancestry and the history of what happened, in the dark history of what's happened to his people.
The former rugby league star turned boxer shared a video via social media urging people to make a stand at ANZ Stadium and the MCG in support of the Indigenous community.

The campaign, driven by , follows the lead of San Francisco quarterback Colin Kaepernick and other NFL players who have knelt during the US anthem to protest against racial inequality and injustice.

A local community member says it's a touchy subject.

"Young men dying in Kalgoorli, and then now a young man shot in Cowra, it's all starting to boil over a bit."
"Been saying this for years !" Mundine posted on Facebook on Thursday.

"The anthem was written in late 1700s where blackfullas (sic) were considered fauna (animals) advance Australia fair as in white not fair as in fair go ...

"All players aboriginal & non aboriginal should boycott the anthem & start changing Australia's ignorant mentality...lets move forward together yo."


Last week, former league players Larry Corowa and Joe Williams also called on Indigenous players in Sunday's NRL decider to not stand for the anthem.

"Imagine if a couple of guys did it on grand final day - what a powerful message it would send to white Australia," Williams told Rugby League Week.

"It would bring all the racism that's in the closet to the surface - the racism we have to put up with every day. The way we are treated in shops, the way people look at us on the street and the way the government treats us.
"It's time it stopped. And our footballers are role models and the ideal ones to bring about change."

Reactions to boycott the national anthem:


Share
2 min read
Published 30 September 2016 3:06pm
Updated 30 September 2016 5:36pm
By Laura Morelli
Source: AAP


Share this with family and friends