<< COALING BEATS WARMING ~ MAIN ~ HELEN THOMAS ASKING AROUND >>
MOMENT TRANSCENDED
Former Australian swimmer Susie O’Neill is upset over Olympic torch protests:
“I just get a little bit angry when people use the Olympics as their protesting forum. It’s so removed from politics.”
Really? The Sydney Olympics didn’t seem very removed from politics to Peter Garrett:
When Midnight Oil took to the stage in our “sorry suits” at the closing ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, we felt that saying sorry was so important it transcended the sporting moment.
Excellent point, Susie. That is almost verbatim what Hitler said to Jesse Owens.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 04 09 at 02:36 AM • permalink#4 - A comment every 4 years. That’s the Olympic spirit!
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 04 09 at 02:49 AM • permalinkOT another MONA moment
whoa - where’d that window come from?I got to admit being conflicted on this one.
I think the Chinese are thugs and anything that highlights the crappiness of their regime is good. That said, the Free Tibet crowd are pushing poo up hill with a pointy stick. Then again I never predicted the collapse of the USSR, the demise of Apartied (sp?) or the Indons leaving East Timor.
I also really like my sport and the Olympics. I also like the torch relay, even if the boxheads started it. I think it is a shame that it is disrupted - the individual torch bearers are really missing out on a great experience, but maybe their loss is insignificant to the lack of political freedoms in China.
I also support shipping as much coal, iron ore and anything else we can grow or dig out of the ground to them - hopefully economic development will bring about political reform.
I will be in HK for the Bledisloe in Nov - does that make me bad?
#7 - I want a democratic China, cheap plasma TV’s, all hippies to be stomped to death. It’s a boxed trifecta that will pay handsomely.
Posted by Infidel Tiger on 2008 04 09 at 03:38 AM • permalinkWe felt that saying sorry was so important it transcended the sporting moment…....sure did, your childish petulance and posturing outdid the biggest noseclip spit during a tense synchronised swimming starfish twirl-off.
It was also even more cringe-inducing than the rest of the opening galah, which seemed to feature giant rats on bicycles, atomically mutated outside dunnies and Hills hoists come to life and a climax reflecting much about NSW life- late and apparently on fire.
Seriously, the Olympics has always been rather a mystery to me- a collection of sports and past-times which punters wouldn’t attend otherwise if there was free beer on offer, but sling five hoops in a sequence and charge like scalpers outside a Superbowl for admission and they line up like Soviet era shoppers- it’s got me buggered.
#7- What Bledisloe is in Honkers? Haven’t heard of that.
Well slap my wrist and call me Chauncy- there is a fourth test in November- may have to see if I can organise a few chaps to toddle over.
The original 19th century idea of the Olympics was to unite the world in a celebration of human achievement; in sport, the arts, and other fields of endeavour. It was intended to transcend the petty squabbles of politics and nations, with the romantic notion of the torch being the beacon that guided us all to this unified, non-political event.
Unfortunately in the modern age there’s no such thing as transcendence. Nothing is sacred and everything is fair game. The idea that something else might be bigger or more important than your own pet issues simply doesn’t occur to most people. Hence the tawdry politicking of Peter Garrett and the self-important protests of the Tibet activists.
We’ve lost something wonderful and idealistic, all because we can no longer imagine anything bigger than ourselves.
Posted by blandwagon on 2008 04 09 at 04:21 AM • permalink#14 - the Beijing opening ceremony will more likely resemble a Nurenberg rally rather than a Leunig wankfest.
I am particularly looking forward to watching the scene where half a million chinese troops on bicycles ride through the stadium chasing Tibetans in funny hats.
Then again, that might be an unscripted bit of entertainment.
My bet is on China winning gold in the 50 metre firing squad.
Posted by mr creosote on 2008 04 09 at 05:01 AM • permalinkWhilst I think drawing attention to Chinese human rights abuses is certainly a worthy aim, I can understand Susie’s position.
Participating in the torch relay would be pretty special for those involved - would kind of suck to be mobbed by protesters during your once-in-a-lifetime moment (especially as I suspect some protesters aren’t that sincere, but merely like being agitators)
Heh… maybe Channels 9 and 10 could start talking up a viewer boycott of the Olympics :)
Susie O’Neill, the proverbial Doctor’s wife ...
I don’t blame the athletes - those poor bastards are innocent. Imagine training all your life and then seeing the possibly greatest moment of your life turned into a political bun fight.
It’s the unethical creeps at the IOC that went ahead and gave the games to the PRC despite the fact that everyone knows the PRC is a major human rights abuser. Gosper et al should hang their heads in shame, the morons.
Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2008 04 09 at 05:28 AM • permalinkI can’t help chuckling when I think of the upcoming Olympics. The Commies have no real idea what they’re in for.
They have very little understanding of a free press and now every news agency in the developed world will be crawling all over their arses unimpeded 24/7. I can’t wait to see their rising anger and frustration as they realise reporting the sport will come second to reporting - and exaggerating - any controversy the can find, however minor.
Ha, ha, haw! With luck the nascent democracy movement is already planning to re-emerge in Tiananmen Square.
I’m wearing my “Speak for Yourself, Slappy” suit.
Posted by Jim Treacher on 2008 04 09 at 05:50 AM • permalink#21
I must admit thisafternoon (or was it yesterday afternoon?) listening to ABC Drive hostess, she said“What a shock for the Chinese. They’ve been controlling their media for years, what a surprise that they thought that it would be as simple to control the world media in a similar way.”
(paraphrased)
Sorry to disillusion you, but the PRC is likely to have little trouble controlling the access of any media pack they allow onto their soil. Their resources are limitless.
Posted by Abu Chowdah on 2008 04 09 at 05:58 AM • permalinkHave mixed opinions on China.
Wouldn’t buy anything made in China that my life depended on - food, cars, medicine, airline tickets, stuff with mains electric power.
But I like its march towards capitalism and like the idea they are slowing shifting Australia, bulk carrier by bulk carrier, to China in exchange for large amounts of money.
But I don’t like communism for many reasons, not the least its total lack of humour.
But I like the idea that this bastion of communism is now the most polluting nation on earth, thus placing lefties in a quandary.
But I don’t like the way China’s heavy handed way of dealing with its own people for just about anything (see lack of humour).
But I do like the way China has gone from being Rudd’s trump foreign policy card (have I told you I speak Mandarin?) to something that makes him squirm. You see, if he stops talking to China his Mandarin is suddenly only useful for ordering Chinese takeaway. Bet he wishes he learnt Japanese when he had the chance.
A lot of those fighting for the Tibet cause have a spiritual basis for doing so. Or they think they do.
Their parallel lefty mates who are in a quandry over the China Olympics and are chewing the edges off their latte cups because they just don’t know what to think, are seeking guidance because the group think tank aint working.
If these agnostics think their issues through they will realise they do have a religion and it is based on cynicism, hate and superficial beliefs. Oh hum.
But for the first time in a long time we have a potential left vs left conundrum highlighting the hypocrisy of those supporting Tibet and the sleeping lefties in our political and media worlds.
So like Contrail, I look forward to the coming months and the purifying filters that various media put on their reports.
Particularly ‘our’ ABC.
#6
“Mr Snowball fell 5m, hitting his head on the footpath.”
So the footpath is at fault.
Avery Brundage kept politics out of sport.
linkyPosted by stackja1945 on 2008 04 09 at 07:31 AM • permalinkYou see, if he stops talking to China his Mandarin is suddenly only useful for ordering Chinese takeaway.
Not even for that. Most Chinese restaurants are operated by descendents of Cantonese speaking Chinese. Try ordering in the language of Beijing’s butchers, and you may well end up with a side order of Moggy Chow Mein!
Posted by AlburyShifton on 2008 04 09 at 07:35 AM • permalink”...we felt that saying sorry was so important it transcended the sporting moment.”
We did?
Wow! You learn something new every day.
Posted by Nilknarf Arbed on 2008 04 09 at 08:16 AM • permalinkI’m pretty much with Contrail at #28 too. And I did enjoy watching the tracksuited Chinese special forces jogging formation around the flame through the streets of European capitals. Especially around the wheelchaired one in Paris.
Posted by stahlblume on 2008 04 09 at 08:37 AM • permalink...the self-important protests of the Tibet activists…
Yes, how unsporting of them to interrupt our fun and games in order to protest their country being oppressed by a totalitarian regime.
Just so’s you all know: I used to be a real fan of the Olympics, even though I don’t care much for sports, and I bought into that whole transcend-the-world’s-petty-squabbles thing, but that died long ago some time between the umpteenth steroid scandal and the endless televised sob stories about how the athletes managed to train for their sport despite also having to take care of their paraplegic mothers, autistic brothers, sisters with Downs Syndrome, and all while living in a shack under a bridge with no running water or sewer connections unless you count mother’s catheter. My television will be off, as usual.
Posted by Andrea Harris, Administrator on 2008 04 09 at 09:54 AM • permalink...how unsporting of them to interrupt our fun and games in order to protest their country being oppressed by a totalitarian regime.
I doubt the non-Han citizens of China like it much, either. Certainly the folks being chopped into spare parts because of too many parking tickets are somewhat disgruntled.
Hey, lissen, lady, everyone knows the Persians were never , invited to the original Olympics so don’t tell me they’re not political. I understand Xerxes was stuck with warehouses full of little Ruhollah the Farsi Lamb dolls he couldn’t give away.
Greek Protesters Blocking Persian Team’s Arrival
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 04 09 at 11:23 AM • permalinkWorst of all, I have no idea which bumper sticker to buy for this issue…
Posted by richard mcenroe on 2008 04 09 at 11:24 AM • permalinkAmong the assembled dignitaries, celebrities, and the wannabes will be Code Pinkos’ Medea Benjamine, Super Lefty Queen Cindy Sheehan, MoveOn’s big daddy George Soros, and of course, the Goricle. Guess who won’t have a box?
Breaking News: A new event has been added to the Olympics! Lefties will vie for who can organize the most outrageous protest. There is a debate over the need for testing for dopping.
Posted by Deborah Leigh on 2008 04 09 at 06:35 PM • permalinkLooks like Labor party polling shows that Rudd must speak out on human rights abuses in China. Can be no other explanation for Rudd switching from crawling China apologist to China critic.
His timing was great. He used his first engagement in China - talking to students - to raise human rights abuses. The Chinese government will view this outburst from a guest as an insult. They will also be doubly pissed he did it publicly and before meeting with the Chinese leadership.
It is all rather ironic. During Rudd’s crawling stage he pissed off India and Japan as he worked to gain brownie points with China, specifically by withdrawing from the US-Japan-India-Australia defence alliance. Now he has now pissed off China. Four months and three Asian superpowers no longer trust Australia. Brilliant effort from a man who wants to be Australia’s greatest diplomat.
#16 - Gold for Creosote, Gold! Love it.
My internet is very shaky at present but if anyone wants to search, there’s an interview which might be archived somewhere in the BBC site - a classic where the Chinese Foreign Minister goes ballistic and shouts critics should just SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!
Quite un-diplomatic, really. Up there with Rudd, don’t you reckon, Contrail?No, it was the Ambassador to the UN!
Diplomatic down to his steel capped boots and cosh.
Page 1 of 1 pages
Members:
Login | Register
| Member List
Removing politics from the Olympics was why Sout Africa were able to make so many appearances during the apartheid era, and why nobody made any fuss over their rugby and cricket tours. Oh, hang on ....