After Paul Gallen's assault on Nate Myles in State of Origin last week, there's been a lot of talk in the media about violence on and off the sports field. Last weekend, a 26 yr old bloke was punched in The Rocks, around 3am, by another bloke. An unprovoked attack. Surely, alcohol-fueled. The 26 yr old is very lucky to be alive. Doctors can't rule out future brain damage. Last year we had a young gentleman punched and killed in Kings Cross. It seems to never end - men out and about wanting biff. Bloody sad, isn't it?
Various people have called for closing pubs earlier, licensing restrictions etc. In Gallen's case commentators went on about sin binning him, banning him for several matches and so on. Gallen whined like a spoilt boy sent to his room, rather than admitting he'd screwed up. In my opinion, everyone's talking around the issue. We need to get to the bottom of things. Why is it so many blokes are needing to get intoxicated, needing to throw punches? Why is there so much rage in some Aussie blokes?
We need to be putting more money into counseling services, education, anti-violence campaigns etc. We need to make young men feel a hell of a lot better about themselves so they don't need to resort to violence and alcohol. We need to do this now.
LJ, June 8 2013.
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