The rule
of wearing the company clothing is there to act as a school uniform does, it
puts everyone on a level playing field, and more importantly to the company it
is a part of the signed and agreed upon contract with the sportsmen to promote
and advertise the company, not himself or an agenda that does not have anything
to do with the company.
Although
his message is noble and worthy of discussion it does not change the
consequences that Damien Hooper will have to face in regards to his breaking official
contractual agreements. This was in Hooper’s eyes a risk worth taking, a fight
worth fighting, and apparently an issue so important that he went against what
he knew to be the rules of his employment for just the possibility of being
heard.
If this was the issue of promoting awareness about breast cancer a
condition that affects thousands of lives every year the company would be
enforcing the wearing of little pink ribbons on his company uniform, but as
this is a topic that Australia has continuously and determinedly ignored and
denied it has gone unsupported. Thousands of Indigenous Australians struggle
with understanding their identity due to this lack of recognition, and it is a
problem Australia cannot deny any longer.
The International
Olympic Committee who are in control of the rules and regulations that guide
the Games are the ones who will decide whether Hooper will be sanctioned for
his actions, they create and enforce the rules and have the right to act as any
other business would when one off its employees fails to comply. The first
point of call in this situation would normally just be a warning but because people
have treated this with the uncertainty and fear often given to the topic of re-evaluating our understanding of Australian identity.
Many Australians would rather bury the knowledge that we need to address our understanding of what it means to be Australian than be confronted with the ever increasing issues of immigration and asylum seekers in an expanding global population.
It isn’t a
secret that Hooper has had a reputation of being an opinionated and
enthusiastic young lad, with a passion for family and life, he is also a boxer and
an athlete who is not concerned with the politics but rather the thrill of the game.
It is quite possible that the zealous young fighter was simply not thinking of
the consequences, did not follow guidelines but had no real underhanded agenda,
that the media and the I.O.C have apparently claimed he did. Hooper has said that
he intended no harm and was not attempting to create a political stance but rather
a ‘shout out’ to his family and recognition of his heritage.
So it has
to be asked whether the I.O.C need to take a step back from the situation and
treat it just as it is and no more. He didn’t wear the correct t-shirt and that
is his only offense. He did not go on to demand that his opinion be heard or
that he be allowed to continue wearing the flag t-shirt.
In fact he has apologised
for his behavior.
Would
this story have lingered in news headlines for so long if he was wearing a Sponge
Bob Square Pants t-shirt?
I don’t think
so!!
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