SSM Plebiscite

[madbluboy]

Thank God the right doesn't bully.  They just stand up for Christian values and defend their cultural heritage.  It's not their fault if people who try to move Australia out of the 1950s get hurt in the process.

Not sure why you feel the need to attack Christians? There are plenty of yes Christian votes, not so many from that other religion that the left love to defend.

[madbluboy]

As for fence-sitting, that's as strong an endorsement for a 'yes' vote as you can have without actually coming out and saying "vote 'yes'". 

Agreed, not good enough for the bullies though. HeraldSun article said we are the only club that haven't backed the AFL's Yes campaign.

[madbluboy]

Headline on Sunrise, carlton refuse to support same sex marriage.

[madbluboy]

http://www.theage.com.au/afl/carlton-blu...ylk2b.html

A disgruntled AFL fan has written a scathing letter to the Carlton Football Club saying she will cancel her membership after the release of the club's stance on same-sex marriage.

The Blues released a statement on Twitter on Wednesday that failed to endorse the yes campaign on marriage equality, as Australians vote in a nation-wide postal survey on the issue.

The controversial stance has already been met by a flood of backlash with AFL fans taking to social media to dub it "weak", "hollow" and "disappointing" while others labelled it an attack on equality and human rights.

The AFL has backed the 'yes' campaign as have Western Bulldogs, North Melbourne and Collingwood in the past fortnight, joining long-term campaigners Sydney and St Kilda - who pioneered the annual pride game - on the issue.

Lifelong Carlton supporter Rebecca Hanley said she had been a paid-up member of the club since 2004, but she vowed this year would be her last and she would be terminating her membership.

"I'm a lifelong Carlton supporter and have been a Carlton member for 13 consecutive years," Ms Hanley wrote in a letter sent to  Fairfax Media.

"I will not be renewing my Carlton membership in 2018 or future years due to the club's public statement on same-sex marriage.

"To call Carlton a 'leader in engendering equality' was a hollow statement in light of the lack of action on this important social issue.

"Now is the time to stand up. Now is the time to speak out."

In a short statement, the Blues declared themselves to be a "leader in engendering equality", but fell short of recommending a yes vote.

"The issue of 'same-sex marriage' is essentially one of equality and so the club encourages all of its people to have their say in this important national vote," it stated.

"As a club, we respect that this is about personal choice, and as such don't intend to campaign on the issue, but we do strongly reinforce our club's absolute commitment to equality – and a community that is free from any form of discrimination."

Ms Hanley, from Rathscar in central Victoria, told Fairfax Media that she would remain a Carlton supporter - like her father before her and her daughter after - but could no longer in good conscience contribute financially to the club.

She said she was shocked and disappointed with her beloved team's statement, which "wouldn't have satisfied anyone really, yes or no voters".

Other Carlton fans said the club had lost their loyalty and they were "embarrassed and shocked" by their stance.

"This is terrible," one fan posted on Twitter. "I am never supporting Carlton again."

Another Carlton fan, Michael Wilkinson, accused the club of being backward in its attitude to same-sex marriage when compared to other AFL clubs.

"The most disappointed I have ever been as a Carlton supporter," he tweeted. "Such a poor statement while other clubs and the AFL are getting it so right."

Former Carlton defender Michael Jamison has also hit out at his former club over the statement.

Jamison, who left the club at the end of last season after 150 matches, suggested it wasn't good enough.

"You can fence sit when you are debating whether to have a twilight grand final not when it comes to equality," he wrote on Twitter.

[LP]

Headline on Sunrise, carlton refuse to support same sex marriage.

Ah, it's back to kicking Carlton season.



Reminds me of the lead-up to the trade / draft period in every year for the last 10 or 15.

But apparently I'm paranoid in saying this is not an accident, and public opinion has no influence over the destination potential trade targets choose! :

Perhaps Kochie should ask some of his players about their on-field sledges calling opponents "Weak Poofters!", and the Port fans in the boundary line crowd pissing themselves laughing rather than reporting the incident!

Do not try and end the bullying, that's impossible. Instead, only try to realize the truth...there is no bullying. Then you'll see that it is not the bullying that ends, it is only your choice.

[cookie2]

Hopefully the club's position on SSM will not jeopardize our ability to attract players in the forthcoming trade period.  :

[DJC]

Pedantic perhaps, but it's not a plebiscite.  The Government's plebiscite bill was rejected in the Senate.

The exercise underway now is an $122M opinion poll conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

[madbluboy]

Pedantic perhaps, but it's not a plebiscite.  The Government's plebiscite bill was rejected in the Senate.

The exercise underway now is an $122M opinion poll conducted by the Australian Bureau of Statistics.

I changed the name (Father's day was a while ago now) to something short so it fit in the scroller.

[flyboy77]

It's a disgrace. What a massive waste of money.

Politicians get voted in to make decisions....this one should be a no brainer.

The religious right in the Libs must have some very embarrassing photos of Malcolm!

And I'm voting yes.

[PaulP]

http://www.smh.com.au/federal-politics/p...yl2hf.html

Whatever the "bullying left" does, they must not be seen to be giving the no voters a bit of a nudge,  a few gentle words of encouragement, to get them to think that a yes vote may actually make a meaningful difference to young people's lives. No siree, we must just sit back, and let the tragedy unfold before our very eyes. Because we mustn't tell anyone that they may actually be wrong, or making a very poor judgment. Tut, tut. We don't want to upset anyone, or be perceived as patronizing, or god forbid, paternalistic. It's all about my feelings, my opinions, my rights.

As I have learned many times over the journey, sometimes my feelings, opinions and beliefs may actually be wrong, or may have been right at one time, but not in the present.