US Flag for Olympics

manonthemoon · 06-02-2002 3:02pm #1

The United states plan to use a flag recovered from ground zero (Twin Towers) in New York in the opening ceremony for the Olympics.

Any thoughts?

See

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/americas/newsid_1803000/1803899.stm

Beruthiel · 06-02-2002 3:31pm

there's a time and a place for this kind of display, but I don't believe this is it
I've always thought sport is for athletes and that's it - leave the politics out of it

gandalf · 06-02-2002 3:39pm

A bit of a Munich Olympics feel about this.

Gandalf.

Gargoyle · 07-02-2002 10:13pm

Originally posted by gandalf
A bit of a Munich Olympics feel about this.

Gandalf.

In what sense Gandalf?

Nagilum · 09-02-2002 8:39pm

Gandalf, you must be out of your mind. You can bet no Arab terrorists are getting into the olympic villiage unless they are atheletes and they'll have two or three security agents watching every Arab athelete to make sure they don't start a killing spree.

Are you also saying that the US would stage a hijacking to get rid of terrorists without consulting Israel?

You comment is one of the most unintelligent comments I have ever read on these boards.

Victor · 09-02-2002 8:42pm

Originally posted by Nagilum
You comment is one of the most unintelligent comments I have ever read on these boards.

Your comments are some of the most unfair, unintelligent, uninformed, bigoted, racist comments I have ever read on these boards.

Nagilum · 10-02-2002 12:16am

Originally posted by Victor

You comments are some of the most unfair, unintelligent, uninformed, bigoted, racist comments I have ever read on these boards.

Hmm...what exactly is a "you comment"?

gandalf · 10-02-2002 12:57am

No Nagilum you have missed totally what I meant by that comment.

The US has no right to turn a World Sporting Event into a propaganda opportunity which they have by using that flag.

As regards protecting themselves by extra security of course they must as they also are responsible for the security of the athletes and all the visitors. I never said otherwise, and as for bringing Isreal into this, are you Hallucinating ? Maybe that poppy harvest from Kandihar has already made it to the states.

Oh btw your generalised Arabs comments are racist and prove to me your are an idiot of the highest calibre.

Gandalf.

(Sorry Gargoyle I meant to post what I meant by that comment earlier)

suppafly · 10-02-2002 6:05pm

Yeah i agree with you Gandalf. America does this kind of thing too often.

Cake Fiend · 10-02-2002 6:17pm

Originally posted by Nagilum

Hmm...what exactly is a "you comment"?

Grow up.

That is all.

manonthemoon · 11-02-2002 12:27pm

Nagilum

First of all, despite all its flaws,( drugs, bribes etc.) the olympics is meant to be a sporting event, not a political football.

personnaly i felt it was a cheap shot by the Americans. All this bravado does is build up even more 'anti-muslim' feelings, which you seam to have bought into.

The Muslim peoples are NOT terrorists. To even hint at this is moronic and merely buying into this American No. 1 Bull****.

If you are Irish, shame on you for even thinking about it. It is not so long ago when we were all branded as terrorists and bombers. we, of all peoples should realise this

Peace Y'all

Manonthemoon

Gargoyle · 11-02-2002 2:09pm

Originally posted by gandalf

The US has no right to turn a World Sporting Event into a propaganda opportunity which they have by using that flag.

Gandalf, are you sure you meant the Munich Olympics (1972) and not the Berlin Olympics (1936). The Berlin games were highly politicised by Hitler and company for Nazi propoganda. The Munich Olympics only became political after palestinian terrorists massacred 11 Israeli athletes, then were subsequently released by the Germans. (Aside: This is the faked plane hijacking Nagilum refers to, although there's no room to go into it here.)

gandalf · 11-02-2002 3:53pm

Yep Gargolye I meant the Berlin Olympics.

Gandalf.

bonkey · 11-02-2002 4:03pm

While I agree that the Olympics should not be a political football, I decided after some thought that maybe there's nothing wrong with the US athletes carrying the Ground-zero flag.....as long as it was their idea.

If it was some high-level US state flunkie who decided that this would be a good thing for the image of the US, then shame on them. If, on the other hand, the athletes wished to express their solidarity in this way, the fair enough.

One of the things we forget about the WTC events is that people from a vast number of nations perished in those attacks. When we look at things like the US flag being carried, we say "jeez, would these Americans give it a break already", and forget that the memory they honour is not just of Americans, but of a vast number of nations. Sure, they honour it with an American flag, but what do you want?

Yes, perhaps a black armband for each competitor, or some non-national symbol would be more appropriate worldwide, but we should also remember that this is a nation recovering from the first real strike at its supremacy in over 50 years. America still hasnt really woken up to what has happened, and the somewhat knee-jerk reaction of showing their national pride even more is completely understandable.

I dont think this flag made the Olympics a political football. I think it was a well-meant gesture. If it was our nation which had suffered some equivalent unprecented tragedy, we probably would have wanted to do something ourselves.

jc

US Flag for Olympics

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