Indigenous objection to the national anthem could be resolved by removing free

For we are young and free? Brent Read, The Australian, Wednesday:

The national anthem has been a simmering issue for indigenous (rugby league) players … Latrell Mitchell, Josh Addo-Carr and Cody Walker among those to make a very public stand against Advance Australia Fair … While scrapping the anthem would be controversial, it would take some heat out of the issue in the lead-up to what is meant to be a celebration of the game’s indigenous influence.

Hang on a tick. Andrew Bolt, Herald Sun, Wednesday:

“Take some heat out of the issue”? Far from it. It will be one more telling surrender that will embolden and legitimise the radicals of race politics … once you’ve endorsed race-based games like this, you have already conceded a fundamental principle.

Get rid of free. Mike Colman, The Courier-Mail, Wednesday:

Added to similar protests by indigenous athletes such as rugby league player turned boxer Anthony Mundine, Australian sports officials are concerned it could escalate along the lines of the Colin Kaepernick “kneel out” that rocked the NFL and NBA in the US. So how’s this for a solution? We just change the words to keep everyone happy. According to Mundine the major cause for concern among his people is use of the word “free” in the opening line. Fine. Get rid of it … When I was at primary school in the 1960s Advance Australia Fair began: “Australia’s sons let us rejoice”. Try getting away with that these days … In the early 80s the words were so unknown that they were shown on the big screens at sporting events so people could sing along. So much for the woman who wrote a letter to the editor asking what the Anzacs would have said about Latrell and co refusing to join in … I’m guessing they would have said: “What’s that awful song? What happened to God Save the King?”

Nat Cromb, IndigenousX website, December 5:

In the lead-up to State of Origin when Latrell Mitchell and Cody Walker made clear that they would not sing the national anthem, all hell broke loose. The masses took to social media to lambaste the two players who stuck to their guns and took the risk personally and professionally in the maintenance of their cultural integrity. This country has a problem with racism and the belligerent denial of this fact is very telling and those that take issue with mob speaking out are very deliberate in their language that they use to condemn (those) taking a stance against the status quo.

Baggy green panic. Julia Montesano, news.com.au, November 21:

As anticipation was rising towards the first ball of the Test summer, fans were made to wait four minutes. They can blame David Warner. The Australian batsman lost his baggy green cap before the anthem ceremony and wouldn’t go to sing the national anthem without it … The Australian’s chief cricket writer Peter Lalor told SEN.“If you had a look this morning, David Warner was running around in an absolute panic … he could not find his baggy green.”

Guardian Australia, June 5:

Players from both teams have taken part in a much-discussed boycott of Australia’s national anthem before Wednesday’s State of Origin opener. Indigenous players … had all spoken in the build-up to the match that they would not be singing Advance Australia Fair. Of the 34 players to take the field for Queensland and NSW, 11 players appeared not to sing.

Adam Briggs, ABC’s Q&A, June 10:

The idea that Australia is young and free when indigenous people are some of the most incarcerated people … Wealth for toil, only one in 10 indigenous Australians are financially secure. If we can’t take the steps towards changing the simple things like a bad song, how do we move forward to change everything else?