this post was submitted on 06 Mar 2024
45 points (94.1% liked)

Australia

3613 readers
62 users here now

A place to discuss Australia and important Australian issues.

Before you post:

If you're posting anything related to:

If you're posting Australian News (not opinion or discussion pieces) post it to Australian News

Rules

This community is run under the rules of aussie.zone. In addition to those rules:

Banner Photo

Congratulations to @Tau@aussie.zone who had the most upvoted submission to our banner photo competition

Recommended and Related Communities

Be sure to check out and subscribe to our related communities on aussie.zone:

Plus other communities for sport and major cities.

https://aussie.zone/communities

Moderation

Since Kbin doesn't show Lemmy Moderators, I'll list them here. Also note that Kbin does not distinguish moderator comments.

Additionally, we have our instance admins: @lodion@aussie.zone and @Nath@aussie.zone

founded 1 year ago
MODERATORS
 

The racial slur Matildas superstar Sam Kerr is alleged to have used against a British police officer was “stupid white bastard”, according to sources with knowledge of the case.

you are viewing a single comment's thread
view the rest of the comments
[–] Wandering@aussie.zone -3 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (2 children)

If true, then this is not really so terrible is it? Because nowhere in the history of a white person like this cop, do we find colonialism or racial discrimination.

I feel that yes, everyone should respect the position of a police officer, but he does not need to pretend that he was a victim of a racial offence. He, and white people in general, have no idea what it is like to be on the receiving end of racism. For a white person, white is just a word. To pretend it hurts is to be a cry baby.

[–] Zagorath@aussie.zone 15 points 8 months ago (1 children)

I feel that yes, everyone should respect the position of a police officer

lol fuck that. Police should be treated with respect once they start acting with respect as a collective.

But yeah, everything else you said was spot on. Honestly I feel like the fact that it's all correct is just more good evidence of how wrong that quoted bit is. An individual worthy of respect would not have pushed this complaint forward, and an institution worthy of respect would not have let it get to the point of actual charges in court.

[–] unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone -1 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago) (1 children)

I don't think it's unreasonable to charge someone for calling you a "stupid bastard" when you're just doing your job. However, I'd argue that before coming to any conclusions we would need to know what caused Sam to insult the officer. Claiming that it was racially motivated is a tough sell however and will strike a chord with the culture wars

[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 7 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Nah get fucked. Like even when cops are doing sort of reasonable things like a welfare check they've gotta understand they're working in a charged environment. Like ambos will see blood and guts, fireies might get heat exhaustion, and cops are gonna have to expect to hear a few hurtful things and people resisting being confined.

It's just human to, it's especially something people generally disempowered do. Like if you're a billionaire with an army of lawyers it's easy to be composed, but the only justice a homeless guy getting moved on for the crime of existing might get is calling the jackbooted thug doing it a fucking cunt.

Part of life everywhere is understanding that sometimes you see people at their worst and you're gonna have to be understanding, and that's without any of the privilege and power of the cops.

[–] unionagainstdhmo@aussie.zone 2 points 8 months ago (2 children)

As I said it depends on the circumstances. I would like to know more about why Kerr employed such language with the officer and why there was a dispute over the taxi fare before jumping to a conclusion. Perhaps it was justified, perhaps not. It's not a one size fits all cases approach. A successful and well known athlete getting worked up over a taxi fare is very different from a homeless person being kicked out of wherever they were staying.

[–] abhibeckert@lemmy.world 4 points 8 months ago* (last edited 8 months ago)

Sam Kerr is one of the highest paid female athletes in all of Europe. The idea that she refused to pay for her taxi is ridiculous.

She was also very drunk - drunk people say stupid shit all the time. Police know that, they experience it every day. It's part of the job and what she said does not even remotely justify a month in jail and losing her job/being deported (she's facing all of those if found guilty).

[–] naevaTheRat@lemmy.dbzer0.com 2 points 8 months ago

Ok so if cops can prosecute insults and whatever how do you see that playing out? When will a cop decide it's something to let slide vs press the issue? forsee any problem with cops winding people up to slap more charges on them?

It's just not a good approach, to protect what? What's the harm done? They're trained, prepared, backed up, and the instigators of confrontation. If their feelings are getting hurt then their training or psych profile is the issue,

[–] DavidDoesLemmy@aussie.zone 5 points 8 months ago (2 children)

I don't think you can say white people haven't experienced racial discrimination. Most of us haven't, but I'm sure in the history of the world you'll find some examples.

[–] Custoslibera@lemmy.world 6 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Ahhhh the Irish are some of historically the most discriminated whites.

Also Poles.

[–] DragonTypeWyvern@literature.cafe 2 points 8 months ago

The Nazis were planning to ethnically purge all Slavs.

Also, you know.

Jewish people.

[–] Wandering@aussie.zone -2 points 8 months ago (1 children)

Perhaps but British white people have never. This police officer is being an absolute cry bully for doing this. She now has to go to a criminal trial! Unbelievable.

[–] Tau@aussie.zone 4 points 8 months ago (1 children)

British white people have never

As long as you forget about the Irish, the Welsh, and (to a lesser extent IIRC) the Scots - all of whom are white and British.

[–] Marin_Rider@aussie.zone 2 points 8 months ago