It’s this kind of misguided thinking that marginalises people and prevents them from feeling like a part of the wider community.

If somebody proposed the idea of an African-American vs Caucasian football team in the US, they’d be crucified and rightly so.

Makes you realise how good it will be in a few weeks when its just about your team against another and Rugby League takes the wheel, politics having to sit in the back and be quiet.

Just two points.

1. Beetson coached an Indigenous side back in 1999 and was then pushing for a Indigenous team to play the Kangaroos on Australia day. His own son has recently stated that Big Artie liked the concept.

2. As crude as the “Black v White” term is, you did look at the make up of the NRL All Stars side before you wrote this didn’t you?

Oh and I find the term “Captain Sidelined” very offensive given I’m a Brigadier General.

These players who are now being divided by skin colour (and don’t say they aren’t being divided, they are) are team mates & brothers with all number of players from their own team & other teams. Of different races/skin colours, religions & sexualities during the League season yet for some reason now it seems that despite the amazing oppourtunity for ANYONE to work hard & prove themselves as a human being & as an athlete, teams based upon your race & the tint of ones skin are not only “acceptable” but are somehow “not racist”.

Sooo.. what’s next? Gay vs straight league? Muslim vs Jew? Jew vs Christian? Captain Sidelined can rant & rave as much as he/she wants regarding how he/she thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to create teams along racial lines & then pit them against each other for fun but ANYONE with a fraction of a functioning brain has to realise that this is racism 100% & without a doubt. Black vs white? Fine according to Captain Sidelined. Gay vs straight? Also excellent & worthy of celebration. Bugger the fact we all bleed red & that the worthless fallacies that we use to separate us are nothing more than excuses for our own prejudices, Captain Sidelined wants you to think that this kind of division is a good thing. Sorry but Captain Sidelined is DEAD wrong & by the very example of his/her words seems determined to be a part of the problem. Unity can only come about through….. guess what? UNITY, never through division & separation. Racism is definitely alive & well in Australia. The most shameful aspect of that is it seems people want those of European descent to be ashamed of not only their heritage but the colour of their skin. I’m sick of it.

There is an “other” Australia. One where life expectancy if a good 15 years less than the average (and one of the lowest for inidegnous populations). One where the infant mortality rate is higher than the average. One where the population has health issues twice the normal rate. So when these disadvantages (and others) still exist how can people move on? Move on to where? Remember it is not just about what happened 230 years ago but also what has happened since.

As to the question about whether the goverment can do any more, such a discussion is probably beyond a footy blog. However I will say the problem it not so much that the goverment has been involved but that, and this goes for both sides, the government has been paternalistic and non-consultative in its approach.

The Indigenous jumpers will carry the “Learn, Earn, Legend” motto. This is part of Closing the Gap initiative and activities surrounding the game focus on that. Which goes to show that while the All Stars game is about recognising the contribution of Indigenous players to the game, it is also about reminding us that as Australians we have a shared responsibility to close the gap.

Which is the trouble I have with exhorations to get over what has happened and look to the future. It ignores the present.

And and better comparison in regards to the US would not be African-Americans but Native Americans.

Looking forward to the Bunnies game against Warrington next weekend if only for it marking the start of the trials.

Maybe I’m naive but I’ve never met a “cretin who promolugates this nonsense” – I don’t think we’d get along well.

I for one can’t wait.

These players who are now being divided by skin colour (and don’t say they aren’t being divided, they are) are team mates & brothers with all number of players from their own team & other teams. Of different races/skin colours, religions & sexualities during the League season yet for some reason now it seems that despite the amazing oppourtunity for ANYONE to work hard & prove themselves as a human being & as an athlete, teams based upon your race & the tint of ones skin are not only “acceptable” but are somehow “not racist”.

Sooo.. what’s next? Gay vs straight league? Muslim vs Jew? Jew vs Christian? Captain Sidelined can rant & rave as much as he/she wants regarding how he/she thinks it’s perfectly acceptable to create teams along racial lines & then pit them against each other for fun but ANYONE with a fraction of a functioning brain has to realise that this is racism 100% & without a doubt. Black vs white? Fine according to Captain Sidelined. Gay vs straight? Also excellent & worthy of celebration. Bugger the fact we all bleed red & that the worthless fallacies that we use to separate us are nothing more than excuses for our own prejudices, Captain Sidelined wants you to think that this kind of division is a good thing. Sorry but Captain Sidelined is DEAD wrong & by the very example of his/her words seems determined to be a part of the problem. Unity can only come about through….. guess what? UNITY, never through division & separation. Racism is definitely alive & well in Australia. The most shameful aspect of that is it seems people want those of European descent to be ashamed of not only their heritage but the colour of their skin. I’m sick of it.