Divisive bandwagon
SOME say “sports and politics don’t mix” but I believe there are many instances throughout history where the intervention of politics in sport has been used for significant social change.
Probably the most poignant example was the sporting boycott of South Africa during apartheid. This boycott action by worldwide sporting bodies, including the Olympic movement, was said to have played a crucial role in sensitising world opinion against apartheid and mobilising millions of people for action against this despicable regime.
That said, I believe it is imperative that sporting administrators should be careful about which political ideologies they choose to align themselves with. During the 1936 German Olympics, Adolf Hitler used this international sporting stage to successfully promote Aryan nationalistic pride. History reminds us of the tragic consequences of marrying sports and politics for less noble causes.
Last weekend I turned on the TV to watch the Sydney Swans play the St Kilda Saints. To my dismay, what was supposed to be a night of great AFL footy was awash with the colours of “Gay Pride”. I have absolutely no problem with people choosing how they want to live their lives but what I do have a problem with is the proselytisation of this lifestyle and the political baggage this brings.
Make no mistake, this is not some innocent rainbow wielding feel- good organisation but a farleft political movement with many subversive agendas in their arsenal with families and our children firmly in their crosshairs.
To their shame many companies including Qantas, ANZ, Fairfax Media and Foxtel have jumped on this divisive political bandwagon and my fear after this weekend is that the AFL is also about to jump into this same salacious political bed.