Australia To Stand Firm Over 'Racist' Sign

Independent (UK) ^ | 4-26-2003 | Cathy Marks

[blam]

Australia to stand firm over 'racist' sign

By Kathy Marks in Sydney
26 April 2003

The Australian government is preparing to flout a demand by the United Nations for it to intervene to remove the word "nigger" from a sign on a sports stadium in Queensland.

The ES Nigger Brown Stand at the stadium in Toowoomba, near Brisbane, was named after the town's first international rugby league player, Edward Stanley Brown, who toured Britain in the 1920s. He was nicknamed Nigger Brown not because he was Aboriginal – in fact, he had fair skin and blond hair – but because he used a brand of shoe polish, Nigger Brown, that was popular in that era.

Aboriginal activists mounted a legal challenge in an attempt to force Toowoomba to change the name, which was given to the stand in 1960. The case was thrown out by the Federal Court, and rejected twice on appeal.

Activists then took their fight to the UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which ruled this week that nigger was offensive and insulting and said the sign should be taken down.

The Canberra government has yet to respond formally, but the Attorney General, Daryl Williams, said the matter had already been thoroughly considered by the Australian courts. He added that the committee's views were not binding and said it did not employ rigorous judicial standards.

Stephen Hagan, the driving force behind the activists campaign, hailed the UN's decision as "a huge victory". He said: "It would be appalling to think that this sign can stand the test of time. South Africa and Mississippi have removed all racist public signages. A lot of Aboriginal people experience this derogatory term, and if you can't address issues such as 'nigger', what hope is there for our children in the future?"

Mr Hagan also spearheaded an unsuccessful legal challenge against an Australian brand of cheese called Coon. The cheese was named after the man who developed it in the 1920s, Edward William Coon, and the name has been retained over the years despite its racist connotations.

Nigger Boy Liquorice has, however, disappeared from Australian supermarket shelves.

John McDonald, the chairman of Toowoomba Sportsground Trust, said he would not remove the sign unless compelled to do so. "We're still happy to honour one of the leading citizens of Toowoomba," he said. Peter Beattie, Queensland's Labour premier, also defended the word nigger, saying: "He was called that name in a different time and a different generation."

[ErnBatavia]

Hardly looks worth the spat...

[Dog Gone]

The UN has no jurisdiction, and don't provoke me into calling them an insensitive name.

[Billy_bob_bob]

Let me get this straight. The UN is demanding Australia remove a sign that might be considered offensive to blacks. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, blacks are murdering and raping and robbing whites every day, egged on by the racist government of Mugabe. Do I have this right?

The UN needs to be defunded and demolished.

[jimkress]

You know, this is interesting. I recently rented the movies "Barber Shop" and "8 Mile". In both of those movies people were constantly calling each other nigger. It's also been my personal experience that black people call each other nigger all the time.

This is such a double standard.

[narby]

UN's Committee on the Elimination of Racial Discrimination, which ruled this week that nigger was offensive and insulting and said the sign should be taken down.

This is the future, if we don't get rid of the UN. Tiny countries with totalitarian governments will gang up and vote the United States all sorts of greef in the UN, which will presume hold itself soverign over us.

Not no, but HELL no. Got to stop this crap.

[templar]

I must be gettin old. Next thing people will be complaining about Aunt Jemima pancakes and the Brer Rabbit and Little Black Sambo stories.

[F.J. Mitchell]

If the word is that offensive to people of color-how come so many commedians of color, have gained fortune and fame by inserting that word into ninty nine percent of their gags an routines?

[annyokie]

See my post ealier today to Terminate US Membership in the UN.

[tet68]

if you can't address issues such as 'nigger', what hope is there for our children in the future?"

I'd like to but it's not allowed here.

[tet68]

Let me get this straight. The UN is demanding Australia remove a sign that might be considered offensive to blacks. Meanwhile, in Zimbabwe, blacks are murdering and raping and robbing whites every day, egged on by the racist government of Mugabe. Do I have this right?

I believe you have all that correct.
Yes, absolutly correct.
Totally right.

[F.J. Mitchell]

LOL, Old and absent minded too-they have been carping about that for forty years or so.

As if you didn't know.

[Billy_bob_bob]

I have lost all confidence in the U.N. As far as I am concerned it is an international criminal orginization. Kofi Annan should be arrested and charged with crimes against humanity. Between the carnage in the Congo (formerly Zaire) and the carnage in Zimbabwe (formerly Rhodesia) you would think that the U.N. would have plenty to do. Instead they rail against a sign that is perceived as being "racist".

The U.N. has GOT to do.

U.S. OUT of the U.N.
U.N. OUT of the U.S.

[farmfriend]

We have a similar thing here in the Sacramento/Folsom area. We have a State Historic Park called Negro Bar. (not quite as bad) Periodically there is a movement to change the name.

[Howeln]

Sorry to say, they already have. Not sure to what effect, but in the US, about a year or so ago I remember hearing that the 3 you listed were under attack.

after the one spot of news, I never heard about it again.

Keep the books if you have them, they will be a collectors item soon.

[kcar]

Sounds like a great t-shirt. http://www.cafeshops.com/theunsucks

[Paul Atreides]

Amazing what the U.N. gets tough on, isn't it?

I think they ought to inspect the matter for twelve years, before taking any action.

[Mears]

You said it all.

Zimabwe is racist but the wrong race is being persecuted so nothing is done.

Where does it say that racism can only have dark skinned people as it's victims?

I hope the Aussies stick to their guns. The U.N. is obsolete as far as I'm concerned.

[Arpege92]

With all of the problems in this world, you would think the UN would have something better to focus on but then again, this is the UN! Time to get out of the UN!