AchtungBono
Refugee
I'm surprised no one has commented about this, and I'm sorry it took ME so long to bring this up.
I was watching the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Athens and marvelling at the wonderous spectacle of 203 nations walking behind their national flags, beaming and smiling and waving to the crowd. My heart was filled with pride at the site of our wrestler Erik Zeevi who proudly carried our flag in front of the 30-something member delegation. It was a moment of triumph and reminded me of what the Olympics was all about - sportsmanship and countries gathering together in the spirirt of friendship and cooperation. I really was stupid enough to think that the world could put aside its differences for two weeks and forget that everyone is supposed to hate each other.
.......and then came the moment which brought me back to reality.
A lone figure, bearing a green, red and black flag, walking behind a sign that said "Palestine". I rubbed my eyes in disbelief and looked again, thinking that maybe I was having hallucinations but no....there it was in plain sight - a sportsman from "Palestine", entering the stadium to the roar and cheer of the crowd.
Now I'm no expert in geography but I think that any kindergarden student knows that there's no such country as Palestine. What I DON'T understand is how the IOC could agree to include a country that doesn't exist. I wonder what would happen if there would have been a delegation from a country called Northern Ireland. I'm pretty sure the British would have strong words for the IOC don't you think? And what do you think the Chinese would have done if there had been a delegation from Nepal?
Then I started to think, what sport could this "athlete" possibly participate in....hmmm....lets see, what is "Palestine" good at? Oh yes....actually SEVERAL events come to mind - bomb throwing, rock hurling, mine planting and missile launching, to name a few. And then (just in case they do win a medal) the highlight of their activity could be to stand on the podium, get the medal and then blow himself up together with those next to him....oh yes....the Palestinians are EXPERT at that.....
But the most burning question in my mind is why WE didn't say anything when we probably knew that there was going to be this kind of provocation. Why didn't Israel complain to the IOC about what was definitely a POLITICAL statement rather than a sporting one (cos obviously this "athlete" has as much a chance of getting a medal as I do). This is the first time that "Palestine" has participated in the Olympic games and one has to wonder what good it will do.
Oh sorry....my mistake....Palestinians HAVE participated in the Olympics before - it was at the Munich Olympics in 1972 when they participated in their favorite activity - resulting in the murder of 11 Israeli athletes.....sorry about that.
I don't know how many gold medals Greece will win in this olympics but one thing is certain - they already WON a gold medal in the art of propaganda.
Well done Greece....YASU!!!
I was watching the opening ceremony of the Olympic games in Athens and marvelling at the wonderous spectacle of 203 nations walking behind their national flags, beaming and smiling and waving to the crowd. My heart was filled with pride at the site of our wrestler Erik Zeevi who proudly carried our flag in front of the 30-something member delegation. It was a moment of triumph and reminded me of what the Olympics was all about - sportsmanship and countries gathering together in the spirirt of friendship and cooperation. I really was stupid enough to think that the world could put aside its differences for two weeks and forget that everyone is supposed to hate each other.
.......and then came the moment which brought me back to reality.
A lone figure, bearing a green, red and black flag, walking behind a sign that said "Palestine". I rubbed my eyes in disbelief and looked again, thinking that maybe I was having hallucinations but no....there it was in plain sight - a sportsman from "Palestine", entering the stadium to the roar and cheer of the crowd.
Now I'm no expert in geography but I think that any kindergarden student knows that there's no such country as Palestine. What I DON'T understand is how the IOC could agree to include a country that doesn't exist. I wonder what would happen if there would have been a delegation from a country called Northern Ireland. I'm pretty sure the British would have strong words for the IOC don't you think? And what do you think the Chinese would have done if there had been a delegation from Nepal?
Then I started to think, what sport could this "athlete" possibly participate in....hmmm....lets see, what is "Palestine" good at? Oh yes....actually SEVERAL events come to mind - bomb throwing, rock hurling, mine planting and missile launching, to name a few. And then (just in case they do win a medal) the highlight of their activity could be to stand on the podium, get the medal and then blow himself up together with those next to him....oh yes....the Palestinians are EXPERT at that.....
But the most burning question in my mind is why WE didn't say anything when we probably knew that there was going to be this kind of provocation. Why didn't Israel complain to the IOC about what was definitely a POLITICAL statement rather than a sporting one (cos obviously this "athlete" has as much a chance of getting a medal as I do). This is the first time that "Palestine" has participated in the Olympic games and one has to wonder what good it will do.
Oh sorry....my mistake....Palestinians HAVE participated in the Olympics before - it was at the Munich Olympics in 1972 when they participated in their favorite activity - resulting in the murder of 11 Israeli athletes.....sorry about that.
I don't know how many gold medals Greece will win in this olympics but one thing is certain - they already WON a gold medal in the art of propaganda.
Well done Greece....YASU!!!