43: Enough is Enough - The Case of Rachel Gunn

[00:00:00] Welcome to the pursuit of freedom podcast. Today's episode is going to be a little bit different. I feel compelled to speak out. And put forward my thoughts on all the commentary surrounding Rachel gun. So for those of you who don't know, she represented Australia. At the recent Paris Olympics and has been absolutely ridiculed. Four. Her moves, I guess she didn't score any points. And, um, the public have taken it upon themselves to rip into Rachel Gunn or her breaking name is Reagan.

[00:00:45] Because they didn't like the way she danced. There are memes online, making fun of her. There are people in the comments on posts on social media. Just saying horrible things about her, that it's a disgrace. She should be so embarrassed and she's not taking it seriously. There was even a petition on change.org. That got 45,000 signatures. Demanding that Reagan issue a formal apology because it was wrecked and she set up her own sort of organization to get herself into the Olympics. All of this is misinformation. And. I think this is a really good opportunity to pause and just reflect on why.

[00:01:30] The general public thinks it's okay to.

[00:01:34] Be so cruel towards another human being. Like what what's that about? You didn't like the way she danced. So you're going to bully her, dehumanize her.

[00:01:47] Aye. I'm done that.

[00:01:51] I, um, You know, when I saw all the comments online, I'm like, cause I haven't been really, um, watching the Olympics. I haven't watched it at all. So I went and tried to find a video. Of the event to see what the heck people are talking about. Um, Which even that, you know, it's like buying into the gospel.

[00:02:11] Let me see. But, you know, I couldn't really find the full footage, but I saw her a bit about. And yeah, I've never seen breakdancing. Like it. It was so totally different. It really was. And I'm not a breakdancing expert who knows, but what I've seen in the movies, which probably isn't a very accurate reflection of the break dancing scene, it was really different. It was very creative. It to me, it sort of looked like interpretive dance.

[00:02:36] She was really, um, Yeah, pushing the boundaries, I guess, of what people thought. Or think breakdancing is.

[00:02:46] But.

[00:02:49] Hopefully like I don't, I don't even have the words. Why are we being so cruel? Like who is that serving? He doing it to make yourself feel better.

[00:02:59] Do you feel inadequate or something? Is, is that what it is or. Do you take pleasure in bullying someone else? Like, imagine. How Rachel is feeling. She. Is not immune to these nasty words. I don't know her, but I know as a human. These nasty words, these attacks.

[00:03:24] They get to you. Even if they're not true. They get to you. Imagine what that's doing for her mental health, not only to her, but to her friends, to her loved ones and even the breakdancing community at large. I think we really need to cut it out.

[00:03:43] Why do we think it's okay to be cruel to somebody? Like think about it. I'm not a parent, but this, this is kind of an example. I think of if you had a child. At school. Who, for example, I don't know. Maybe there was a talent show and they are nervous and they just decided to give it a go. Right? They, they entered the talent competition. And how would you feel if other students, teachers, the principal, the community. Sudden making front of your child, because what they did was a little bit different. Do you think that's okay.

[00:04:21] I don't.

[00:04:22] So why is this any different. Has she broken the law? No. And even as she had.

[00:04:30] Does it make it okay to dehumanize her? No. Don't stoop to that level. Stop. Stop being a sheep. You know, and, and just pause and go. Is this the kind of human. Is this the kind of person. I want to show up as in the world.

[00:04:50] And flip the tables. How would you feel if. Others were treating you that way.

[00:04:58] I would just, it would destroy me really. Why are we being so cruel? Cut it out. And. You know, I have such a small audience on here, but. That's not the point. I feel the need to speak up because it has become so normalized to.

[00:05:19] What other people down, like I've seen all these memes online and I even saw a photo recently. Someone had, um, put, uh, a picture of Rachel gun on there. Rio. Windshield. So her body was stuck on there and then her legs were on the windscreen wipers. So as it went, her legs sort of went up and down. And people are laughing at it.

[00:05:42] Like. What.

[00:05:45] Y and people are making fun of her moves. Cause you know, she took inspiration from. Um, The kangaroo.

[00:05:55] Y. Why make fun? She didn't, she didn't put on a comedy show. John M you know, entering the comedy show where it's more acceptable to laugh, right. And poke a bit of fun. No, this is the Olympic games. She worked bloody hard to get into there. These people making fun of her. Are they in the Olympic games?

[00:06:18] And even if they were, so what.

[00:06:22] Don't be cruel. In fact, don't be a dickhead stop being a dickhead.

[00:06:28] And think about it. And if you're someone who has been joining in. In all this horrible commentary. I hope you stop. Because that's not okay. You might think she looked silly. You might not agree that she should have got into the Olympics as fine. We're all. We're entitled to our opinions. Yeah. And okay.

[00:06:51] There's free speech, but. Also. There's a way to show up in the world with. Empathy.

[00:07:01] I don't want to be the kind of person who.

[00:07:06] Makes fun of others. And I think we we've all done it. Yeah. We've all done it. I'm guilty. I'm not saying I'm not, I am. I think you need to reflect on it and going, Hey, actually is. Is this the kind of person I want to be, do I want to be known as a bully? Is this the kind of behavior I want to model to children, to other people in the world? To leaders.

[00:07:32] Fuck. No.

[00:07:36] So just think about it. Rachel Gunn is a person. Just because she is so far removed from you just because she was in the Olympic games and that's, you know, not something you can relate to. Does not mean it's okay to not treat her like a human being who doesn't have feelings. Let's stop.

[00:07:59] Um, you can probably hear Tilly in the background.

[00:08:02] Making sounds. She agrees. I'm currently sitting in my band. I'm in a caravan park, unfortunately, because I had to get towed here. Really cold, rainy weather. But this there's, this topic of, of Rachel gun has been on my mind. For quite awhile. And I was debating whether to talk about it and I'm like, why the hell not. I'm going to speak up. Because this is not okay. And whilst I can't control how other people can behave. I can speak up.

[00:08:33] I can advocate for Rachel garden. And Rachel.

[00:08:38] I'm so sorry you were being treated this way.

[00:08:42] You don't deserve this.

[00:08:48] And I hope you're doing okay. I hope you're getting the support you need. And I hope this doesn't crush your dreams. You a very capable. You are deserving.

[00:09:02] Like you're worth fighting for, please don't give up. I don't know you, I don't know where your mental health is at, but I just. It hurts me to see how other people are treating you and.

[00:09:14] Hope you're doing all right.

[00:09:18] And for those of you who have been participating in.

[00:09:23] Making fun of Rachel. Voice in your unkind opinions.

[00:09:30] You ever think about that and perhaps change your behavior? That's all from me for today. Catch you next week for a more upbeat episode. Take care of yourselves.