If you knew something you did hurt a loved one or a friend. Or a work colleague. Or even a stranger.
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If you knew it was a constant reminder of their tragic past. And every time you did it, it dredged those painful memories and feelings up.
Would you keep doing it? Or would you stop? Knowing that by stopping you could help ease that pain.
Seems a simple choice. Doesn't it.
It's why scrapping the Australian national anthem from the NRL All Stars game is such an easy decision.
But when it comes to our Indigenous brothers and sisters. We choose to keep doing it.
Why? It's got me buggered.
To some Indigenous people the anthem serves as a constant reminder of the land stolen from them. A constant reminder of the children stolen from them as well.
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It's a similar deal when it comes to Australia Day. Or Invasion Day if you like.
Why does the national anthem even need to be played before the All Stars game?
Given the All Stars game is the brainchild of former Indigenous player Preston Campbell, and features the Indigenous All Stars team, and is meant to showcase what Indigenous players bring to the greatest game of all, and some Indigenous players have made it clear they don't want the national anthem to be involved, why wouldn't you just can it?
And help the path to reconciliation continue. Seems pretty simple.
Especially when there's a few ready made alternatives that not only make the anthem superfluous, but are far more relevant and moving spectacles anyway.
The Maoris have the haka, while the Indigenous team have their war dance.
Both were performed before this year's All Stars game. Both will be performed next year. And no one will even miss the anthems.
So why do some white Australians think it's necessary to impose the anthem on the Indigenous players?
Is it pride? Is it control? Is it ignorance? Or is it just malice?
Of course, there's the expected outrage from the usual right-wing commentators.
Somehow not playing the anthem before a game of rugby league will destroy the very fabric of Australian society.
It will defecate all over what our Diggers fought for in Gallipoli and Papua New Guinea.
All seems pretty far fetched. But what doesn't seem far fetched is the pain we continue to inflict on Indigenous Australians. And the flow on effect that has across society.
What is also clear is how Indigenous people are held to different standards than white fellas.
I've loved sport all my life. Watched it since I was a little tacker.
In my 45 years I would've seen thousands of white Australian athletes, who for one reason or another, didn't sing the national anthem.
Some can't sing. Some don't know the words. Some don't want to. Some are focussed on playing. Others just don't care.
No one noticed. No one cared. It certainly wasn't front page news.
But when a group of Indigenous NRL players were asked whether they would sing the anthem during this year's State of Origin series - and they had the nerve to say they wouldn't - all of a sudden people's brains exploded.
For some reason that was an issue.
It would seem the real issue is double standards, racism, casual racism and whatever other name you want to give it.
ACT Australian of the year Katrina Fanning, a Canberra Raiders director, is the chairwoman of the ARL's Indigenous Council.
They're discussing the matter and should have a recommendation for the ARL Commission early next week.
She made an interesting point about freedom of speech.
The aforementioned right-wing commentators are all for freedom of speech when it suits them.
As highlighted by the Israel Folau saga.
But Fanning pointed out freedom of speech also allows us the freedom to not speak.
That means the Indigenous players can not sing till their hearts are content. And I'll happily not sing along with them.
Or the ARL Commission can save them all the heartache and take the anthem off the agenda. Simple really.