Everyone's a little bit racist...
Argh! I loathe to watch the news with my Stepdad sometimes. He can be such an insensitive dickhead. He managed to get through the story about the first gay marriage in France, with only a few tuts here and there. I was waiting patiently for the onslaught of comments that usually comes with such a story, but he somehow managed to keep his opinions to himself.
No such luck with Aussie Rule's racism story though, in which a 13 year old Australian girl caused controversy by calling Aboriginal Australian Aussie Rules player, Adam Goodes, an "ape". My Stepdad thinks its the world gone mad, and a grown man causing that much fuss over a comment is ridiculous. It is his opinion that "ape" is not a racist slur, and I couldn't help myself and challenged him. "Ape" is absolutely a racist slur, in my book. My Mam jumped in, and said isn't everyone is supposed to be descendent from apes?! Honestly. What a stupid argument! I think it's less about what was said, and more the manner in which it was said - it's not ok to call anyone anything, especially if it said/meant in a derogatory manner... It's all about context. So maybe the 13 year old didn't realise what she was saying, but it still isn't something that should be said!
*the title of this post is a song from the musical, Avenue Q ...and is more than likely true :O)