A few weeks back, I was watching a #Witness documentary on Al-Jazeera about the rugby-playing women of Samoa
On YouTubeβ¦.I believe on the Al-Jazeera English channel
And something struck me, as I kept on watching, that I want us to talk about.
There, in the documentary, is this team of women that are so competitive and fit
Flexing their muscles in all directions as they work together towards a common goal of qualifying for the upcoming Olympics, at the time.
There was this one player that stood out, in my viewβ¦.Β Tafale!!!
Photo credit: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/witness/2016/12/11/samoas-rugby-super-women
Tafale is the most underprivileged of all these girls
She is a young mother
Who has to make a life for herself and her child
In the evening, she must show up at the training ground and put in the work, if she is to get herself on the team that is going to the Olympics.
Mark you, to do this, she has to travel such a long distance leaving behind her child as she trains hard.
Photo credit: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Samoa_women%27s_national_rugby_union_team
For the entire time that she has spent with her coaches and instructors, something has been noticedβ¦
Tafale is too βquietβ!
How?
When one of her coaches speaks with her, she doesnβt utter a single word;
Not even her own team-mates!
Wanna know why?
Photo credit: https://www.aljazeera.com/program/witness/2016/12/11/samoas-rugby-super-women
She says in her culture, which is the β¦.culture,
βYou donβt talk back at your superiors or eldersβ.
If you do so, then you are disrespectfulβ¦to both the person or people you have done that to and your culture, as well.
So now, I ask myselfβ¦.
What if this person that is speaking with her, is actually misleading her?
Is she simply going to go through with doing whatever has been instructed of her to do?
Is she going to rebel and not do any of that stuff, actually?
What if any of her team mates is in actual dangerβ¦say of a neck tackle that is heading her way? Does she tell or not?
For somebody that played their fair share of sports,
I find this very disturbing
Having to know that you literally have your own back on the field and once you make a mistake, none of them should even think of saying a word.
So many things do go wrong, in the world of games and sports
Which require that people speak up openly and fearlessly
As well decide if they are leading from the front or the back
Because that could be the only way that we get to save somebodyβs life or career or title ambitions or whatever.
Very few people in the world of games and sports actually know a bit of sign language
Save for a few actions of their bodies they have made up as a team to mean something
But isnβt that all washed away, when somebody new joins the team?
Do they get to be left out, without anybody saying something?
I hope you are not too respectful to speak up and out
Because I wouldnβt be easily settled knowing that I have you, in my corner
I would be better off knowing you are differently abled and will use sign language to communicate with me, yeah?
Speak up, speak out!!!
Beautiful article on the respect that is valid in sport as in many other fields. You have touched the right fields, you have given to think carefully about sacred concepts!
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This is such a great post. I love this look at how “respecting” our elders can lead to us being led down the wrong path sometimes and we don’t even realize it.
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Great post. There is a fine line between respect and allowing yourself to be led down the incorrect path. It’s up to us to make the decision to distinguish between the two, and that can be hard!
ππΏππΏπ©π© yyyeeeaaahhhh!
Loved this article!! It is sometimes hard to find that line of respect or being pushed down the wrong road!
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Speaking your mind and expressing your feelings is very important. I see no problem or disrespect in doing so, especially if you’re polite and calm.
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Very insightful post to read and I like how you are being honest with your opinion about this matter. It’s good to be respectful but not to the point of not talking or speaking of the things that inside you. For me, saying your opinion is not disrespecting other people, that’s it.
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This is such a great post. Being able to speak your mind while being respectful is a must.
ππππΏππΏ thank you!
Yes! I hear you! One should speak out, to Elders who are doing wrong, Doctors if they are not taking care of you properly and teachers if they are not supportive. I am glad that you had that reaction, because you should, and I hope other young people (especially women) will listen to you, and speak up. Blessings!
ππππΏππΏ I hope so, too!
Quite an interesting post and something we can relate to since in our culture respecting the elders is big on that. Though sometimes we need to have the courage to speak our minds but ofcourse in a respectable way.
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How sad that she feels she can’t speak to her coaches and teammates! I hope that the team is supportive and encourages her to speak up.
π©π© I hope so, too!
I wish some of the kids in our school system would adhere to the ‘respect your elders’ concept. I think there is always a healthy balance though. You don’t want to be too silent.
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Respect is really essential. We need it all the time. Great article!
ππΏππΏ thank you!
I like your post. Speak up doesn’t mean we didn’t respect for elderly
ππΏππΏππ thank you!
I think by respecting others we must not stop respecting ourselves.
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I grew up in a culture with tremendous respect for elders and superiors and grew up in silence, always submissive and accepting of what I was told. I moved away to another country 10 years ago and it’s changed my personality and perspective all the way. I am more outspoken and free now. I understand Tafale all the way, in too many countries and in too many ways, we are taught to be silent and accepting.
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Great post, thank you for brining light to inclusion for everyone.
ππππΏππΏyouβre welcome.
Thanks for finally talking about > Too Respectful To Speak –
NTEMID < Liked it!
ππ youβre welcome.