Nick's Collingwood Bulletin Board

Skids wrote:

RudeBoy wrote:A tragedy which is far too common among remote Aboriginal communities.

Upper Swan is hardly a remote community.

I think you'll find he comes from the Santa Teresa remote community in Central Australia.

RudeBoy wrote:

think positive wrote:Why does anyone have to mention his heritage? If he was a white boy gone off the rails on a bender, does he still get your sympathy?

Did he get into drugs before or after he was drafted?

Did his fat pay cheque from footy allow him to indulge?

How about some sympathy for his victims of his crimes?

I got a better headline: silly young footballer with the world at his feet gambled it all away because he didn't say no to drugs.

I take it you've never been to a remote Indigenous community. I regularly visit one in Central Australia and i've come to know fairly well around 40 to 50 young men, associated with their football team. Of that number, I can only think of 2 who have not served time in gaol. That's their reality.

http://www.macdonnellranges.com/Santa-T ... -guide.htm

ok. when he was drafted, where was he? and was he on ice then? i just dont get why he would get drafted, see a chance to get ahead in life of his footy boot, and not grasp it with both hands. i also cant believe that Ben cousins threw it all away on drugs, too.

He was given everything on a plate, didn't want it and turned his back on it....Just another drug using lowlife...hope he thinks about what could have been while he sits in his cell.

RudeBoy wrote:

think positive wrote:Why does anyone have to mention his heritage? If he was a white boy gone off the rails on a bender, does he still get your sympathy?

Did he get into drugs before or after he was drafted?

Did his fat pay cheque from footy allow him to indulge?

How about some sympathy for his victims of his crimes?

I got a better headline: silly young footballer with the world at his feet gambled it all away because he didn't say no to drugs.

I take it you've never been to a remote Indigenous community. I regularly visit one in Central Australia and i've come to know fairly well around 40 to 50 young men, associated with their football team. Of that number, I can only think of 2 who have not served time in gaol. That's their reality.

People don't realize that a number of young indigenous youth or men
don't buy into our western culture or western social life.
It is an alien culture to them.
It is never going to change until we understand their perspective

Which part of drug taking and drinking is part of their culture. There are heavy fines for drinking in his community. It is about time people took responsibilities for their own actions. I am not seeing any sympathy for Keefe and Thomas here. They just have to cop it. So should Garlett.

You just don't get it do you?
Stupid is as stupid does!
Tell me seriously why are Indigenous young men
in jail in a far far greater number than whites?
You have no idea do you?
Very interested in your response.

thompsoc wrote:You just don't get it do you?
Stupid is as stupid does!
Tell me seriously why are Indigenous young men
in jail in a far far greater number than whites?
You have no idea do you?
Very interested in your response.

Ok Brainiac just what are supposed to do. You have all the bloody answers that apparently 200 years of social workers can't work out. Ban them from drinking, yeah I can see that. Ban them from townships. Don't give them money when they play football.No you can't do that. They are in jail because they commit crimes, often violent against their own people, women in particular. Should we bring back payback such as leg spearing. Funny that other players have no such issues. Garlett is just a dickhead. Don't try throwing guilt at me or anyone else. Go and have a look at cockheads like lawrence Angwin and Karl Norman. Football is full of idiots.Or do you just like to throw a racist card in because it suits your agenda. If we build a jail specifically for indigenous people, which may be a good idea, then the greens, amnesty international, the UN and people like you will be up in arms.

Since I have a lot of respect for rudeboy, I did a bit more research. I still think the only way to get rid of a lot of social problems is to get people to take responsibility for their own behaviour.

However, I also read he was homeless at 12 and dealing with alcoholism at 12. (Not sure if him or his mothers drinking problem, didn't really say). Maybe the pressure of AFL , or to making out, was all too much.

I did find a really interesting article though, on AFL, ice, etc, and what I like is it in no way brings into it heritage. It's a problem Today that scares the shit out of me, my worst nightmare is one of my kids making a fatal mistake, and swallowing illegal drugs. That's why I just can't handle the posts about Keefe and Thomas and what they do in their own time is their business. Maybe, just maybe, the testing could save a young AFL players life.

http://m.heraldsun.com.au/sport/afl/the ... 7275156328