[Davros]

I am with Aledrian on this.

The word in question is I understand totally banned in usage now in many parts of the world. In fact I would expect nothing but total condemnation of its usage from anyone living inside the US. Rightly so too, and to name a stand or even give that nickname to someone today would be totally unacceptable.

The world was a different place 80 years when Edward Stanley (■■■■■■) Brown played football. Overwhelmingly, the Aussie trend is to have nicknames (even today) and to give them to opposites of characteristics. A big guy would be called "Tiny", a fat guy would be called "Slim", a redhead would be called "Bluey", and back then it wasn't politically incorrect to call an extremely white guy "■■■■■■". The guy was not known by his first name back then - he was known by his nickname. You didn't say "there goes Edward Brown", you said "there goes ■■■■■■ Brown". Even his gravestone reads "Edward Stanley ■■■■■■ Brown".

The usage of this word when in connection with Mr Brown has throughout 80 years of history been devoid of racial connotations. I am in favour of retaining the stand name on a historical basis.

Edit : The reason that this guy was important to the local community of Toowoomba was that he earned the right to represent Australia at Rugby League (toured England) while living and playing in this small town. In 1999 the local community aborigines were asked to vote on the removal of the signs, and the vote came back in favour of retention. I don't know how close the margin was, but obviously there are those that were not prepared to accept that decision and have been fighting court cases since then.

[ 04-25-2003, 08:01 PM: Message edited by: Davros ]