Aussie Soldiers 'let off a bit of steam' dressed in KKK regalia
Mikey 24 comments
I don't think there is anything our soldiers could do to upset the Prime Minister. A video has surfaced showing Australian Army personnel binge drinking, and one soldier is dressed in KKK regalia. The PM's official stance is that the soldiers were just letting of some steam. he also urged the public not to over-react. He said:
"I have some understanding of the disposition of people in these situations to let off a bit of steam. I just think people can over-react with these things. People get into a lather and sweat and so on ... let's be sensible about this."
Letting off steam is just fine. But how does dressing up as a member of the Klu Klux Klan constitute letting off steam? And another question: Why did a member of the Australian Army have a KKK uniform to begin with? Is it something he whips out at parties?
As an Australian, I find this both repulsive and embarrassing.
Clarise
Sunday 5th August 2007 | 09:44 PMAndrew said: "why in the hell do they tape and then put them on the internet"
That's the culture these days. Youtube breeds narcissism. Plus the guys in the video are probably too dumb to think they were doing anything wrong. It's especially bad timing in the wake of Abu Ghraib and all the damage control that has gone into smoothing things over.
There is no excuse in the world - that I can think of - that makes wearing KKK regalia acceptable.
It's along the same lines as when Prince Harry wore the Nazi uniform. It's insensitive and insulting. Of course Harry did the right thing and acknowledged his mistake. I somehow doubt these soldiers will have to do anything of the sort as the PM seems to have their back.
Rodney
Sunday 5th August 2007 | 10:11 PMDidn't this already happen, once? I'm sure I recall some Townsville soldiers in KKK get-ups on the news a year or two back?
Jake
Monday 6th August 2007 | 11:38 AMnews.com.au has a story on this. The accused have come forward and appologised for the show and meant no harm, especially racially. Their story is that the drinking was at a friends buks party, they were to kidnap said buck disguised and the cheapest disguise they could put together was a sheet over their heads. They have appologised for what was, in hindsight, a stupid act and have empathised how it could be construed as ratially hurtful.
As insensitive as this is, army guys can be idiots, as can everyone else. It is a growing trend that these idiots will put their idiocy on youtube and alike, and their 2 seconds of fame has become 25 seconds of fame...
Gilly
Monday 6th August 2007 | 12:19 PMSeems ok though for Men and Women, to dress up or dress down as anybody they want to, and walk through the streets of a city, under the banner of a Gay Mardi gar.
Why cant a few soldiers have a bit of fun and why is it ok for Homosexuals to seemingly act worse.
and no this is not gay bashing, just a simple comparison.
Jason
Monday 6th August 2007 | 01:32 PMYou can't compare a mardi gra to this. The gay community knows all about segregation and they wouldn't wear a KKK costume for fun.
There's nothing fun about wearing a costume that represents white supremacy and black genocide. Unless I missed something in the history books, I am pretty certain African Americans weren't laughing while they watched their family members get lynched by KKK goons for no reason.
If the soldiers want to do play KKK dress-up in privacy then that's fine, but don't go showboating it like it's social acceptable humour. And your PM is a moron to be sweeping it under the mat.
Jason
Monday 6th August 2007 | 02:07 PMWhile I don't beleive this is a particularly serious act (not black and find it difficult to empathise in this situation), it definately can't be likened to mardi gras. One is an expression of sexuality, the other is, as Jason put it, an expression of white supremmacy and an international symbol for opression and racism.
I feel that this is nothing more than a pair of idiots making no particular statement, in very poor taste.
Gilly
Monday 6th August 2007 | 04:04 PMSo sorry I didnt realise your opinion was more valid than mine.
The Mardi gra takes the piss out of a lot of people.
The Soldiers where taking the piss to, or can only gays do that
Weak people coming to the aid of weak people, trying to make themselves look strong. Thats Weak.
They where nothing but Idiots acting like Idiots and you get offended by them for others, WEAK.
Get over it.
Jason
Monday 6th August 2007 | 04:55 PMWow you're a real fricking moron gill: "Weak people coming to the aid of weak people, trying to make themselves look strong. Thats Weak."
So by your definition, the only people who should protest about anything should be in direct relation to the cause? Men can't have an opinion on or protest abortions because they don't have a uterus? White people can't have an opinion on or protest racism because they don't have dark skin?
Can you explain how that works?
A hypothetical if I may...you are in a public place, and you see some idiots poking fun at a minority - lets say they were yelling racial slurs at an aboriginal person for no good reason. Who is weaker? The person who steps in and tries to help, or the person who looks the other way and says quietly to himself "ah they are just having fun"? It seems you fall into the latter category.
And yes the mardi-gras take the piss out of a lot of people...but you seem to have a two dimensional perspective on the situation. Wearing a costume is fun, but wearing a costume that represents white supremacy and black death crosses the line. Have you ever seen a mardi-gra where KKK costumes were part of the spectacle? Or even heard of one? I didn't think so.
And here's the part where I turn you into hypocrite. Are you saying you would be comfortable going to a fancy dress party dressed in KKK costume? I bet the answer is no. Why wouldn't you do that? Because you don't look good in white? Or because you would think it insensitive to our black brothers?
$10 says you avoid the question or misconstrue it so you don't look like an ass.
andrew
Monday 6th August 2007 | 06:31 PMthis story has stiired a hornets nest!!!!
Gilly
Monday 6th August 2007 | 07:17 PMI would think nothing of dressing up in a KKK outfit. I would prefer to go to a fancy dress as Santa tho.
In fact you can hire KKK outfits at the fancy dress shop.
This is not a public place where somebody is being attacked
I am talking about sensationalist journalism, media beat ups and people who moan about anything.
Do gooding, political correctness just may suit some people more than others. Where does it stop?
If you are going to get offended- get offended by something more substantial than a bunch of beer drinking soldiers letting off steam.
No I dont get offended by the Gay street parades, I dont get offended when somebody pulls a rag over his face or Goose steps a German march across my TV screen.
Jason
Monday 6th August 2007 | 08:19 PMWow I was right - you are a moron! Would you still think nothing of it when you rocked up at the party in your KKK costume and there were black people there?
One guy approaches you and says your costume is offensive. How do you explain to him that you think one of the most iconic symbols of racial intolerance in living memory is reduced to a mere joke to you? White people hanging black people was a joke? Burning black children alive was a joke? You see, you fool, these are the things directly associated with the KKK uniform. There is nothing funny about it.
I can't wait to hear your response to that one.
If I can put another hypothetical forward, and this really tickles me because everyone can clearly see you have made an ass out of yourself...let's say your mother or sister suffered through a miscarriage. Would you think it appropriate to tell her 'jokes' about dead babies?
Franken
Monday 6th August 2007 | 08:31 PMGilly you're a racist. Based on your comment I spose you will have no problem if I start referring to you from now on as the guy who has no problem with wearing the KKK uniform? How about 'KKK Gilly'? You like the sound of that? Settled.
On this site probably not, but in public I reckon you would object 'cause you know you look like an 'ass' as jason puts it.
Franken
Tuesday 7th August 2007 | 11:48 AMToday's lesson:
1 controversial subject + ignorant comment / effortless comeback = Gilly Pwned!
Gilly
Tuesday 7th August 2007 | 03:09 PMI am just writing a letter to Dave Chappelle suggesting his blind white supremacist act is possibly hurtfull to some white boys as well as Negroes, the blind, as well as Southern Americans who have been stereotyped as murderers.
I might just shoot one off another email to John Cleese and suggest he removes the Goose stepping Fawlty Towers episode from the listing in case it offends any Jews or you, on there behalf.
Maybe we had better remove the Knights from the Clock in the City Mall in case we remind Muslims about the disgusting Crusades.
What amazes me is how something this pathetic, this beat up, is so valuable to you.
Let it go.
You dont justify my time.
Jason
Wednesday 8th August 2007 | 05:12 PMGilli you're a classic moron.
Tell you what, and this is a serious proposal, I will pay you $1000 to walk up and down a local shopping mall in your capital city in a KKK costume.
Just an hour back and forth will be enough. You will need proof and if you are in Sydney I will gladly film it for you. Or are you all talk an no action?
Gilly
Thursday 9th August 2007 | 02:32 PMThe act by the Soldiers was not in a public place. A Fancy dress is not in a public place either. I would not do something like that in a public place.
You are seriously out of touch Jase- I hope you never come into contact with the Chasers War On Everything or anything by Ali G"s Sacha Baron Cohen.
No I would not do it in public, I would do it at a party. I would do it with my friends around, and if it got on the Net, to bad.
I understand, You think its wrong, I think its ok.
Get over it.
and now to Fridays funny man Elliot Rhodes
Jason
Thursday 9th August 2007 | 02:43 PMGilly says; "You are seriously out of touch Jase"
Hah! And yet you are the one who doesn't have a problem wearing a KKK outfit! LOL. Do you even listen to yourself speak?
So you concede you wouldn't do it in public because you would look like an ass? Racism is fine in the privacy of your own home though hey? Just as long as no one finds out.
Michael
Thursday 9th August 2007 | 03:31 PM'fraid he's got you there Gilly. You can't stand there in your KKK regalia and tell someone else they are out of touch ROFL
George
Monday 31st March 2008 | 08:06 PMIm a member of a black rap group. i do not agree with all this shit. so fucking get rid of them !!!
vix
Saturday 10th May 2008 | 02:32 AMNever learn from a bunch of fools. This is not the way to deal with anger management.
Sebastian
Thursday 6th October 2011 | 09:44 AMRecently I attended a fancy dress party and saw three guys dressed in KKK costumes and one of them had a guy dressed as a black man tied to a chain. Now forgive me, but I and many others found it hilarious. Lets face is political incorrectness is funny, laughing at something your not supposed to is funny. The fact that these costumes amused me in no way reflects my world views. Irony and satire are beautiful things.
andrew
Sunday 5th August 2007 | 09:38 PM2 things..is it really news coverage
and why in the hell do they tape and then put them on the internet.....