Rolf Harris To Aboriginals: “Get Up Off Your Arse And Clean Up The Streets Your Bloody Self”
Man, does Rolf Harris know how to deliver an apology or what? He’s spoken up about lyrics in Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport which may appear racist to those who don’t actually believe “Abos” have “no further use” and said he’s sorry about the line (he tried to slyly change Abos to emus, for god’s sake – what do you people want from him? Blood?). Which is nice. Rolf then went on to show why he wasn’t brought in as a speechwriter for Kevin Rudd’s big day back on February 13th of this year.
It was the song which made his name both in Britain and his native Australia. But Rolf Harris came to regret the lyrics in his 1960 hit Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport for their racist slur against Aborigines. Yesterday, the veteran entertainer apologised for the reference to ‘Abos’ in the song. However, Mr Harris, 78, then went on to undo all his good intentions by telling Aborigines to ‘get up off your arse and clean up the streets your bloody self’.
If only he’d made that comment more general – you know, directed it towards all Australians – he could have taken Ian Kiernan’s position as the spokesperson for Clean Up Australia Day. As it is, he’s angered the very people to whom he was offering an apology! Oh, cruel twist of fate!
The reaction in Sydney’s Redfern district, where many Aborigines live, was anger coupled with calls for a further apology. ‘It’s a disgrace. He’s got to watch his lip,’ said one young man. It’s the same old story – kick the Aborigine in the guts and blame him for everything.’
It’s safe to say the Best Of Rolf Harris isn’t being played around The Block at the moment.
The new controversy erupted as Mr Harris launched a book of illustrations in Melbourne during a visit from his base in London. He turned the grievances of many Aborigines back on to the people themselves.
‘You sit at home watching the television and you think to yourself, “Get up off your arse and clean up the streets your bloody self” and why would you expect somebody to come in and clean up your garbage, which you’ve dumped everywhere? ‘But then you have to think that it’s a different attitude to life.’
He said Aboriginal children were never disciplined or expected to adhere to rules until adulthood. ‘Till then, they have a totally carefree life to do what they want and that quite often involves smashing everything that they have,’ he told The Age newspaper.
Mr Harris blamed Aboriginal traditional values for the appalling conditions in many communities. He added: ‘The attitude is that, in their original way of life, they would really wreck the surrounding countryside that they lived in and they would leave all the garbage and they would go walkabout to the next place.
‘The traditional attitude is still there and I wish there was a simple solution – but I’m not certain.’
Tough talk there, Rolf.
Oh, and you may like the Daily Mail’s excuse for the original lyrics of Tie Me Kangaroo Down Sport.
The song was recorded in an era when racism against indigenous Australians was rife.
The perfect soundtrack! Still, Rolf has only played the “emus” version of the song since 1960, which is something.
MORE: Rolf Harris says sorry for racist song lyrics… then goes on to slam ‘lazy’ Aborigines
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Comments
Go Rolf! What is so wrong about a statement of the bleeding obvious? Its time black fellas start cleaning their own shit up or give back all whiteys stuff and go walkabout.
How long can “you white fellas stole our land” be used as an excuse for stealing, vandalising and assulting your white neighbours. The government has said sorry, you get cars, houses (which you trash)money and more handouts than any white person. Black americans were wronged way back before any one still alive had any say in it but it hasn’t stopped them from having a go and now one is president. Rolf is right most of the aboriginal children have an absolute disregard for the law and property and it is white people cleaning the streets and the new houses they are given and just trash. Good on ya Rolf you have only said what too many are afraid too.
Should we ammend the Robert Hughes quote to “Racism is as Australian as lamingtons and sausage rolls… and the wobble board”?
And Ron and Mike you are a pair of patronising, hateful turds. So unfortunate John Laws’ audience didn’t retire with him.
glad to hear someone tell it the way it is …good on you rolf..
white fella allaways clean up black fella rubbish thats his job
Rolf is only speaking the truth. something which all these politicians and goddy goodies are too afraid to do. whites are the ones who are discriminated against.
Oh boy..dont get me started..too late! I was raised in Salisbury SA. If you go to the heart of Salisbury, you will find a group of Aboriginals on nearly every corner, drinking, swearing, bludging when they should be either at work or looking for it! They are dirty,rude and have no respect for anything or anyone around them. They beg for money, while they have a ‘goon under their arm, and will abuse the daylights out of you if you ignore them. I know there are white people like this too, but they dont look to blame others for their behaviour, whereas, Aboriginals will cry-’ “white man not giving us enough!”..c’mon…..why is it the white peoples fault they dont work?? They can apply just like we do! If they cant read the job applications, ask why!!! They have Schools just for Aboriginals in SA, so why didnt they go to School and learn?? Instead of feeling sorry for themselves and getting off their drunken asses to find a job, they would prefer to sit around drunk all day and blame everyone else for their failures!
Yesterday, 4 aboriginals got on a local Adelaide Metro bus I was on, travelling to Adelaide. They got on, said something quick to the Bus Driver, and they just walked to the back of the bus!- no payment for a ticket- nothing!! I am on a very low income, but I struggled to pay my ticket, why can’t they?? And to make matters worse, everyone turned around to stare at them- and rightfully so, and they just sat there and smirked at everyone- and aboriginal people wonder why most whites are fed up with them!!! Talk about racist! Free travel because of your race? You have to be kidding me!! They need to stop using their race as a crutch to get freebies!
They get so many Government handouts, electricity, phone etc- while alot of white people are having theirs turned off as they can no longer afford it! They get free education, (I wish we got that!!!), cheap loans, and extra money from Centrelink just because they are Aboriginal…damn why is that?? Is it REALLY necessary? Why cant I get an extra payment because I am white- racist again…
Aboriginals need to look at themselves very closely. Australians would accept them much more if they pulled their weight in society, rather than feeling sorry for themselves, thinking the world owes them a free favour. Take away their extra benefits, and make them live under the same Centrelink payments as the white fella. No extras. That would be EQUAL would it not? If they dont like it, then they can always return to living the way their ancestors did, in the bush, killing animals for their food, suffering from starvation- lets face it, they always talk about their heritage- then we should encourage them to go back to that way of life, if they cannot live EQUAL to the whites. If they dont look for work- cut their dole. If they then complain to Government agencies for money, they should be turned away, like the whites would be…they get so much more Centrelink help that whites do, so why are they not improving their way of life? If I had extra money, I’d buy clothes for the kids, and put plenty of food on their tables. At the moment, all they seem to do is hit the pubs, and then look for more money, at Tax Payers expense.
Am I angry? Damn straight I am…this race of people need to STOP whinging and looking for handouts, and get off their butts’ and get a job. Act like moral citizens. Do any other races get extra money each fortnight because of who they are? NO…….think about it….
Remember Wendy, these people had your people come and take away their way of life. How would you cope if a mob of people came into your house, raped you, took away your children and then proceeded to tell you you can’t live your life your way because you are uncivilized! Oh and one more thing, they sent all the low life criminal poms here, and then rewarded them with Aborginal land….PLEASE your people invaded this land. Bt the way, I’m a KIWI!