Will The Olympics be packed with US patriotism?

[Olofski]

In two days the biggest sporting event of the year(after the World Cup in football in Japan/Korea) will take place: The Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

I´m really looking forward to this, and I think it will be good games.

But I think that it will be packed with US-patriotism, wich I would really really hate. The September 11th attacks, was really terrible and a sign of evil. But there comes a point when the American patriotism gets to big. I really hope that the Olympic Committee have the brains and guts to say no to too much propaganda. The world is not a oneparty state.

I don´t want to see the same orgie in nationalism as the world saw in Moscow 1980.

The columnists in Swedish newspapers advice us to load up with a pack of "puking-bags" for the opening-ceremony. Hope this is not true, but I can honestly say that I would not be surprised if that will be the case.

People around the world are tired of hearing about how great USA are and how united they stand. Everyone doesn´t think of USA as the greatest country in the world!!! These games are not made for the American people, they are made for the people all over the world. So please let us see the games without feeling that we are forced to love USA.

Please let´s make this the best games ever, by not trying to show the world how great America thinks she is.

Good Luck Salt Lake City 2002!

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Olofski
SWEDEN
We move through miracle days Spirit moves in mysterious ways

[Vorsprung]

LA 1984: USA!!! USA!!!
Atlanta 1996: USA!! USA!!
SLC 2002: USA!!!!!!! USA!!!!!!!!

Thank god Americans usually don't win that many medals at the Winter Games

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Vorsprung durch Technik

[DrTeeth]

The only thing I've heard is that they are going to raise the torn up flag from the WTC.
I indeed hope people will not abuse the games for their propaganda and it would be adviced for the US Olympic Commity to be on their best behaviour because it could take a while before the games will be organised in the US again.


[This message has been edited by DrTeeth (edited 02-07-2002).]

[zoomerang II]

well you are right and wrong.

Americans have the right to believe they live in the greatest nation on earth, thats up to them, and the olympics are a celebration of the host nation as much as a welcoming of all the nations participating.

So i say if they want kitsch marching bands and apple pie, let em have it, although it wont make much of a spectacle.

Having said that, i hope they do not foresake the olympic ideals in the wake of patriotic fervour, and hope that they appreciate athletes of all countries winning.

I wonder if there's an iranian bobsledding team?

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In the stillness of the evening
When the sun has had its day
I heard your voice whispering...

[DrTeeth]

Originally posted by zoomerang II:
well you are right and wrong.

Americans have the right to believe they live in the greatest nation on earth, thats up to them...

Sure, and I have the right to believe my father is a hedgehog but that doesn't mean it wouldn't be highly inappropriate if I were to shout it out in a rude manner at for instance a birthday party thus ruining it for everybody else.

[Olofski]

Of course Americans have the right to believe that they are the greatest. It´s just that I think it will get too much of showing exactly how great USA is.

Sometimes the smaller gestures makes the real impressions. The Ground Zero Flag could be one of them.

The Islamic Republic of Iran has one alpine skiier Bagher Kalhor!!!

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Olofski
SWEDEN
We move through miracle days Spirit moves in mysterious ways

[Angela Harlem]

Its going to be too easy to say America is going over board.

Sure some things can be seen as in poor taste, but really, I doubt it will happen. I think its fantastic for the US to have the winter games. It couldn't come at a better (or worse) time. The people of America deserve a good party and celebtration, and what better way than by hosting one of the biggest international sporting events? Everyone loves the Olympic Games, lets not knock America. Lets all celebrate with them.
Usually I think the same way and think any opportunity for a bandwagon and roll my eyes, but not this time. I say applaud them and cheer when they all stand united. Terribly 'Ra! Ra!' I know, but I think its not the time to be a wet blanket.

*just to add too, every games is packed with a whloe heap of national pride. I know Aus is still patting themselves on the back for 2000, should we feel embarrassed about our egos? I think not.

[This message has been edited by Angela Harlem (edited 02-07-2002).]

[Lemonboy]

Of course it will like every other arrangement by america!!

Hitler called it Nazism!!

Bush calls it Patriotism!!



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"Master of sexual innuendo"

"PLEBA Mansion Bootler"

"Proud member of the U2 gender"

[zoomerang II]

I didn't say that just cause americans like to believe that they are the greatest nation on earth they have to shove it down outr throats, but there is an element of that at ANY olympics. Im australian, and in sydney we gave you a good dose of australianaa - yes parts of it were kitschy and over the top as well.

Anyway I'm gonna join the Bagher Kalhor fanclub! I reckon he will be the eddie the eagle of salt lake city.

By the way, is it true that there are 30,000 polygamists in utah? If so they could give everyone a spare wife at the opening ceremony!

[Achtung Bubba]

...there is an element of that at ANY olympics. Im australian, and in sydney we gave you a good dose of australianaa - yes parts of it were kitschy and over the top as well.

I wonder if anyone compared Australia to Nazi Germany.

Frankly, I think there's a HUGE fucking difference between Nazi Germany - who was promoting the supposed superiority of the Aryan race and making big plans for annexing the rest of Europe - and the United States - who is still recovering from one of the worst acts of terrorism in the history of mankind and is acting to protect THE REST OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD from further attacks.

I don't see how ANYONE can equate Bush and Hitler, the United States and Nazi Germany.

I would suggest that those who do "aren't too bright", but God forbid I suggest anything the least bit offensive - and I guess we should simply ignore how INFURIATINGLY offensive the comparison is between America and the Third Reich to those who live in America and those who fought to end Nazism.

[This message has been edited by Achtung Bubba (edited 02-07-2002).]

[Angela Harlem]

Sorry Lemonboy, but Bubba is right.

Although I'd call it a very stupid comment, rather than insult your 'brightness'.

Seriously, Im coming from a completely Aussie background here, if we can do it, so can you yanks, and all the power to you.

Too much ego is never good, but what the hell kind of good is too much flak-with something like sport???

Lets leave the US alone, eh. I've heard its character building to be nice.

[U2Bama]

Sports is an area where it should be acceptable to pull for "your team," which in this case, is the team of athletes representing "your country." At least it isn't a bunch of people killing each other on a battlefield. You've already told us the we shouldn't politically support our countries in whatever wars they are involved in; let us at least pull for their representatives in friendly athletic competition.

And Bubba and Angela are correct; it is a long stretch to compare Bush/patriotism to Hitler/Nazism; if you don't believe me, ask some holocaust survivors or WW2 vets.

~U2Alabama

[Lemonboy]

Originally posted by Achtung Bubba:
...there is an element of that at ANY olympics. Im australian, and in sydney we gave you a good dose of australianaa - yes parts of it were kitschy and over the top as well.

I wonder if anyone compared Australia to Nazi Germany.

Frankly, I think there's a HUGE fucking difference between Nazi Germany - who was promoting the supposed superiority of the Aryan race and making big plans for annexing the rest of Europe - and the United States - who is still recovering from one of the worst acts of terrorism in the history of mankind and is acting to protect THE REST OF THE CIVILIZED WORLD from further attacks.

I don't see how ANYONE can equate Bush and Hitler, the United States and Nazi Germany.

I would suggest that those who do "aren't too bright", but God forbid I suggest anything the least bit offensive - and I guess we should simply ignore how INFURIATINGLY offensive the comparison is between America and the Third Reich to those who live in America and those who fought to end Nazism.

[This message has been edited by Achtung Bubba (edited 02-07-2002).]

I don´t expect you tounderstand you are probably allready indoctrinated!

No seriously!,I may have taken it a little to far

the only thing I was trying to point out was that alot of times the american patriotism seems to go WAY outta line....I mean the whole deal with playing WORLD POLICE.
e.g Yugoslavia,Vietnam,Korea.

And that Bush comment:If your not with us your against us well excuse me but that is just plain BS!!!

I just want the US to sometimes ease back...
and to go back to the so-called nazi comparison....USA has always forced their beliefs on other countries with Nuclearweapons,correct me if im wrong!

And the fact that "The greatest country in the world" still justifies putting people in the electric chair makes me sick!!!


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"Master of sexual innuendo"

"PLEBA Mansion Bootler"

"Proud member of the U2 gender"

[Achtung Bubba]

Originally posted by Lemonboy:
No seriously!,I may have taken it a little to far

...

I just want the US to sometimes ease back...
and to go back to the so-called nazi comparison....USA has always forced their beliefs on other countries with Nuclearweapons,correct me if im wrong!

And the fact that "The greatest country in the world" still justifies putting people in the electric chair makes me sick!!!

So you ARE comparing the two?

And I've noticed that the U.S. gets pinned as imperialists when they do act, but we also get pinned as isolationists when we don't. It doesn't seem fair that the U.S. gets criticized for apparently just being the U.S.

And, harsh as it seems, Bush's comment "for us or against us" is appropriate. If we suspect terrorist cells in a country, that country will be asked to help us root out the cells. If they don't, they're de facto choosing to side with the terrorists.

The United States hasn't always forced its beliefs on other countries. Even now, we seem focused on those countries that seem to be a direct threat on American, its citizens, and its interests. As far as nuclear weapons, using them in WWII brought the war to swifter conclusion, and developing them afterwards seemed to be the only to protect the free world from Stalin, Kruschev, and the Soviet Empire.

(Remember: TWO sides were competing in the arms race.)

Finally, I'd remind you that we don't just put anyone in the electric chair: we put convicted murders to death, and that difference is key.

It may not be the most civilized practice in the world, but neither is keeping a standing army. But the government has the right to employ capital punishment for capital crimes just as it has the right to defend its own people from external forces.

[Lemonboy]

Im still not comparing the to but you are so locked on it that im starting to wonder if YOU actually feel guilty because I hit a real sore spot!

And the US getting critisicsm for just being the US,well If that´s the way you fell,I think it is a very childish point of wiew...

and when Bush said "For us or against"It sounded like he threatened every country who didn´t want to help bombing the Middle-east back to the stoneage!

And you are very sure to point out that the arms race had two sides...have you ever heard the saying Two wrongs doesn´t make one right???

So to go back to the death penalty!
Yeah there are convicted criminals
but what about the Black people who get an all-white jury??

And have those people stopped being humans??

If you execute a murderer you are a murderer yourself!

I think that anyone who supports the Death-penalty should ask themselves one question??


Would I like to be a executioner???






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"Master of sexual innuendo"

"PLEBA Mansion Bootler"

"Proud member of the U2 gender"

[Achtung Bubba]

Originally posted by Lemonboy:
Im still not comparing the to but you are so locked on it that im starting to wonder if YOU actually feel guilty because I hit a real sore spot!

Yeah, that's it exactly: I'm offended because, in my heart, I know you're right. If you believe that, I have a bridge I want to sell you, too.

Certainly, "two wrongs don't make a right", but I've never thought that the arms build-up was a "wrong", per se; I believe the build-up is what KEPT the Soviets from attacking. Besides, I was just making the point that we weren't developing nuclear weapons to "force its beliefs on other countries.

So to go back to the death penalty!
Yeah there are convicted criminals
but what about the Black people who get an all-white jury??

What about them?

They're all Americans, thus they are tried before a jury of his peers. To suggest that people are occasionally wrongly convicted is one thing; to suggest that "Black people who get an all-white jury" is wrong is WAY out of line.

Further, a murderer is still a human, but a human being who knowingly and deliberately takes the life of another loses his own right to live.

Taking the right is not murder on the government's part. It's certainly not a violation of the Judeo-Christian Ten Commandments, which outlaws killing without a cause. It's a just punishment for someone who murdered another.

I will grant it's a difficult thing to sentence a man to death, and a difficult thing to carry out that sentence. But that doesn't mean it's wrong. It may just be the hard, right thing to do.

[This message has been edited by Achtung Bubba (edited 02-07-2002).]

[Achtung Bubba]

Taken, but thanks for the offer.

[Peaseblossom]

Marry me, Bubba.

[Olofski]

I think that there will be a HUGE difference between the Sydney Olympics and the Salt Lake City Olympics in terms of spreading and showing the patrionism.

When I was watching the Sydney games I never thought about how Aussies was showing off, or how the organization tried to fill the TV-audience with a "Australia is the best" message.

And I agree with Lemonboy, the "If your not with us your against us" statement by Bush is one of the dumbest things said on this side ot the millenium.

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Olofski
SWEDEN
We move through miracle days Spirit moves in mysterious ways

[Lemonite]

Originally posted by Olofski:
In two days the biggest sporting event of the year(after the World Cup in football in Japan/Korea) will take place: The Winter Olympics in Salt Lake City.

I´m really looking forward to this, and I think it will be good games.

But I think that it will be packed with US-patriotism, wich I would really really hate. The September 11th attacks, was really terrible and a sign of evil. But there comes a point when the American patriotism gets to big. I really hope that the Olympic Committee have the brains and guts to say no to too much propaganda. The world is not a oneparty state.

Good Luck Salt Lake City 2002!

I'd be curious to find out just what would be 'shoving down the throat patriotism' in your highest elevational opinion?

Also.. Where would you be bombarded with such patriotism?.. I'm wondering where you have people wiping all this in your faces as if it were soiled toilet paper?.. Because one would think that in your own country, I wouldn't think people would be running around touting America as the Salvational Land.

I remember back in the Sydney games, we were forced to listen to Kylie and her enormous collection of Covers, with Dancing Aborigines on top of it...

L.Unplugged

Oh.. and just a suggestion Olofski.. instead of relating something to an 'orgie', I think Douche-Fest would be more appropriate


[This message has been edited by Lemonite (edited 02-08-2002).]