The ARL Commission will officially make a call on whether the Indigenous All Stars side is forced to sing the Australian national anthem before their game next week.

I use the word forced with a strong stance. The Indigenous players do not want to sing this anthem, and this isn't an international clash. I see no reason that can be justified as to why they should unwillingly participate.

I am Australian and I am very proud of who I am. The national anthem does represent myself and everything I'm proud of. I've served my country and love it dearly, as do many Aussies.

The All Stars game is not about us, it's about the players. It's a spectacle and a chance to view some of our games greatest athletes, whilst they display their culture and history.

George Rose spoke on the games importance on the Talking With TK Podcast. His words were very special and it was evident the entire week in preparation was more than just another game.

"If it is played in a hall or a theatre, I stand up... but I don't sing it. I stand up in the respect that it's another culture's national song," Preston Campbell told NRL Media.

"We think about our old people and the struggles they had, and when you think about the first couple of lines in the national anthem - ‘Australians all let us rejoice, for we are young and free’ – for a lot of our communities they don’t feel like they are free," Campbell explained.

"We have been around for 60,000 plus years so obviously we are not so young either, and there are a couple of lines in the national anthem that has a lot of people starting to think we should change it up."

I usually stray my columns away from political stances, but this is not our week. It belongs to the NRL All Stars of Australian and New Zealand Indigenous decent.

So let's sit back and enjoy what these incredible athletes have to offer us. Let's learn more about their culture and come together away from the footy field. Let's respect each other.

45 COMMENTS

  2. It’s a Shiite anthem change it most people don’t even know the second verse to Advance Australia Fair and change Australia Day while we’re at it, to a less significant historical day which again alot of people have no idea why it is Jan 26th, just to shut everyone the bloody hell up blah blah blah I’m so offended blah blah I don’t like how it makes me feel. It’d be nice to have a sporting code without political and religious interference where we spoke about the game and only the game.

  3. And another thing to around 60000 years is bloody young in comparison to how old the earth is get over yourselves you got your apology mining companies pay very well for your lands and you get plenty of government handouts and priority employment. No one kicks up a stink when you see good jobs advertised for indigenous people to apply imagine the carry on if companies advertised for white Australians to apply. Yeah it was appalling what happened here, that sort of thing has happened globally however to mind the Australian government are the only to have said even though they weren’t the ones responsible “We are sorry”. Get over it stop living in the past and move forward and on.

  5. I don’t know why all the people wanna hear a song? It’s a bloody footy match, if you want to hear songs and such go to the opera. I’ve never heard anyone say ( I’m so excited to hear the anthem)

  6. Well said isdonisgood.
    As for Australia day, I don’t care what date it it is on or even what it is called. As long as I get a long weekend make it any date.

  7. Well said again isdon. This is how the majority of Australians see things. But the LOUD MOUTHED MINORITY always try and twist things to suit their own views and make everyone believe their view represents the majority which it certainly does not. And if you don’t agree with THEIR warped views they attack you as being a racist or redneck. Reverse racism is alive and well in Australia. Get over yourselves and integrate.

  10. Even if the anthem and Australia day is changed it won’t make a difference because the permanently offended left will find a way to be outraged over said changes. SJW’s ruin everything.
    Keep the date and keep the anthem.

  11. Isdon has hit the nail on the head for me.

    Who do these guys think they are ? Are they somehow better than you or me ?

    They get every advantage from government, the health system etc. Its me that ought to be outraged. I do not believe in discrimination at all but by these guys saying this song does not represent them then they are either saying

    1. We (despite being the minority in this country) are better than you and ought to have a national anthem of our choosing ; or
    2. We are not true Australians as we insist on disrespecting our country and its emblems.

    Bad things happen in history. A whole load of Brits got shipped out to this country against their will, were given hard labour and had to endure harsh conditions and many died all to help build this great country – who said sorry to them ?

    Its this “poor little me” attitude of many indigenous people that keeps them mired at the poor end of town. There are opportunities, there are even advantages for indigenous people but they do have to get off there backsides and help themselves.

  12. @Sidney seems to me you are part of the loud mouth minority posters on this site going by all the comments here.

  14. Has their traditional stories been edited after supposedly being past down from generation to generation?

  15. Are they cave men? Some in the outback look pre-historic, or when they crossed land bridges from mama Africa invading this land did the exterminate the original cave men? We have dinosaur foot prints all over North Queensland. So who wiped out the cave man?

  16. When I went to school we were told by the teachers that Aborigines lived in Australia fo forty thousand years. Now they want us to believe its 60 thousand years. What a load of rubbish!!!!!!!

  18. Yes AH I agree
    What a load of rubbish!!!!!!! You speak
    Hope I got the right amount of exclamation marks in there.

  19. Sidney was Steve boyfriend, Steve was better known as a couple previously. If you recall Seve.Syd before the pair got booted off this site.

  20. toddy123
    January 28, 2020 at 10:30 am
    I don’t know why all the people wanna hear a song? It’s a bloody footy match, if you want to hear songs and such go to the opera.

    Why do Aborigines dress up in fancy dress and Dance around a fire? Its a bloody fire to keep warm. If they want to dance then go to a disco. Ya clowns!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

  21. 😂😂 geez settle down girls
    I love all your expert opinions on indigenous matters. You clowns do realise the players don’t want to have the song played for the all stars game. You all carry on with they should get over it blah blah blah. If that’s your true feelings good on ya, how about we forget about Anzac Day? Or better yet let’s all stand and sing the Turkish anthem or the Japanese anthem.

  23. See Adam Howard you post rubbish…not steve but do remember you and your alias’. Try Sybil next time more suitable to someone with multiple personas.

  24. Wake up Sidney you little fairy. We all know Steve and you were lover boys. Steve.Sid alias TwentyOne.

  26. I don’t particularly care for the anthem to be played… I think it’s more suited to the world stage

    I am interested to know however how some of the indigenous players that take a stance against the anthem or Australia Day feel about becoming quite wealthy from an imported game or any sport for that matter that was created by the culture they deem the invaders ?

  27. Oh MarkfoManyWords you are so wrong, Been reading your dribble for a while, wipe your chin again buddy or get your nurse do that for you.

  28. So all you who have a problem and the ones who are going on about the mines and the payments indigenous revive from it. Here’s a little stat for you fortescue metal group which is run by Andrew twiggy Forrest invest the most out of any mining company that operates on indigenous land, have a guess how much of the profits go to the indigenous community… for every $100 the mine makes 4 cents goes to the indigenous..
    And you all think we should be happy with that. You fools try to make out the indigenous are ripping off the mining companies.

  32. Toddy123, this is where I disagree, and on top of that you pick Twiggy as your example?
    I’m ex mining, and know the other side too.
    For starters, let’s add some context. Just 1 of many payments, but 1 of the larger ones from Fortescue was for $400mil. and the local community wasn’t happy (a few thousand people). Twiggy has also fully funded a training program for Indegeous people, with a job in mining upon successful completion, but that’s not costing him much based on the participation rate etc. etc etc.
    Seriously, do you have any idea on how the mining payments work, have you spent time in an outback WA community, because I highly doubt you have a clue?
    On top of that, how is it that just 1 distant ancestor (a minority %) can make someone indegeous? I know, you have to be accepted, but even still?

  33. Thats correct eels. I have zero aborigine but if i wanted to i could claim to be related to a great great great grandfather who had 1% aborigine and nobody could prove otherwise. I would therefore be able to get on the social security wagon very easily if i wanted to be a sponge. That’s the problem we have- too many easy handouts to too many sponges. The more the sucker tax payer gives the more hands keep popping out.

  34. TheMole52January 28, 2020 at 5:28

    “I am interested to know however how some of the indigenous players that take a stance against the anthem or Australia Day feel about becoming quite wealthy from an imported game or any sport for that matter that was created by the culture they deem the invaders ?”

    I’ll tell you how mole52. Two faced double standards. That’s how.

  35. The Great Northern Rooster surely you have an opinion on this. or are you in agreement with your redneck rooster mates on here?
    Love to hear your thoughts.

  36. Great idea ropeablerooster it shouldn’t be to hard for you to claim to be something your not, I mean all these years you’ve been claiming to be Australian, but the truth is your just a second hand Englishman

  37. That’s why you love the Union Jack my good sir. And I’m so appalled we changed the anthem. It was always god save the king/queen. Let’s all be outraged and carry on about that change

  38. Thanks Sidney I was concerned about the future of my career as a Qld Coal Fired Powerstation Shutdown worker I’m not anymore after watching your video link 👍

  40. Ok Toddy you can claim to be an Original if you are a proud part one, Good video And I thoroughly enjoyed his proud poem,..but if your four generations of future grand children do not breed amonst Your breed. But with Asian, when does the proud history of the Asian be allowed to be called Asian and no longer Your mob?

  41. As Adam and Eve was created in the middle east in the Garden of Eden, where the good book states was somewhere in or around Iraq. That means you Toddy and I are wog brothers and we are related to the entire Wog planet. You silly daygo.

  42. Brennan.Lane January 29, 2020 at 4:24 pm
    “Look I’m a proud South Sydney Rabbitoh fan but I’m totally disgusted that I have a few clowns in My team who disrespect our Anthem”
    Why were you ok with Latrell last year for standing up for what he believed in?
    What’s changed?

  43. Mark mywords
    I won’t be around in four generations just like you. I can only hope my grand kids and their kids are decent humans. May your family have healthy happy lives too

  44. Why do we need to play the national anthem when neither team is representing their country.
    I believe the national anthem should only be played when you play in an official game playing for Australia.
    Its overplayed there is no need to play it at SOO or Grand Finals.
    I do feel however that it should be played at club games on the ANZAC weekend out of respect to those that fought for this country.
    Just my opinion.

  45. Mitchell will be outed as the show pony he is by round 17… (you haven’t noticed it but Roosters and some media have)

    A schism will develop between indigenous and non indigenous players at Souths Sombreros causing unrest within the team.

    Bennet under pressure to win the comp with the new Nana Glen paper bag purchased roster will start to show signs of dementia and cranky old man syndrome… round 19

    Bennet and Richardson will have a falling out.. Round 20

    South Sydney Sombreros will make the finals but will fail in their bid to buy the comp thus making season 2020 another failure in their 50 year history of failures (other than the NRL gifted 2014)

    Little penis 21 will change his ZT profile in hiding after Souths Sombreros failure to win the comp and the embarrassment of another failure in a long history of failures

    It will be very difficult for anyone to match the greatest team of the decades 3 premierships in 6 years… quite simply Nana Glen cannot buy you heart, soul and the genius
    The corner stone of this great Roosters Club and it 3 premierships in 6 years

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