THE OLYMPICS OF THUGGERY
For eight decades now the International Olympic Committee has been awarding the Games to nations that practice thuggery.
Back in 1936, the Games were inexplicably awarded to Nazi Germany. Instead of ameliorating their totalitarian excesses, Germany planned the festivities to showcase Aryan superiority as a prelude to conquest of Europe and the demise of European Jewry. They didn’t plan on America’s “Black Auxiliaries”, as Hitler called the likes of Jesse Owens and future Chicago alderman and Congressman Ralph Metcalf, who punctured Hitler’s vision of grandeur before the entire world with their world class speed and humanity.
Somehow, the totalitarian Soviet Union landed the 1980 Olympic Games before invading the pitiful country of Afghanistan in 1979. With a million Afghans dead and another two million fled to Iran and Pakistan, the United States did the correct and noble thing and led a boycott that pulled 62 countries from the games, again denting the host country’s expected propaganda boost from it.
Now, twenty-eight years later we see the Olympic Torch being doused and spirited away from protesters along its ceremonious route to the 2008 Games in, yes, the thug nation of China.
What exactly has China done to deserve such disrespect? For starters, China continues its decade’s long suppression of freedom for Tibet, resulting in the killing and injury to hundreds of protesters in recent weeks. China is enabling the Sudanese genocide in its Durfer area as part of its lust for oil resources there. China has an abysmal record on human rights and freedom of the press within its own borders. And once again we hear apologists for China's hosting the Games pretend that being the host nation will move China toward decent governance. Hogwash. China gets the Bronze if not the Silver Metal for thuggery.
But the Gold is reserved for the Olympic host hopeful that spends hundreds of billions yearly to invade and then occupy two peaceful Middle East nations as it threatens a third with more trumped up charges to justify unjust war.
Sorry, Chicago. Unless America does a 180 from its descent into the madness of made up, pre-emptive war, your chances of getting the 2016 Games should be summed up in one word: FAGEDABOUTIT.
Originally published in Glen Ellyn Sun and Wheaton Sun, April 11, 2008
Also published in Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2008
Also published in USA Today, April 14, 2008
Also published in Glen Ellyn News, May 13, 2008
Back in 1936, the Games were inexplicably awarded to Nazi Germany. Instead of ameliorating their totalitarian excesses, Germany planned the festivities to showcase Aryan superiority as a prelude to conquest of Europe and the demise of European Jewry. They didn’t plan on America’s “Black Auxiliaries”, as Hitler called the likes of Jesse Owens and future Chicago alderman and Congressman Ralph Metcalf, who punctured Hitler’s vision of grandeur before the entire world with their world class speed and humanity.
Somehow, the totalitarian Soviet Union landed the 1980 Olympic Games before invading the pitiful country of Afghanistan in 1979. With a million Afghans dead and another two million fled to Iran and Pakistan, the United States did the correct and noble thing and led a boycott that pulled 62 countries from the games, again denting the host country’s expected propaganda boost from it.
Now, twenty-eight years later we see the Olympic Torch being doused and spirited away from protesters along its ceremonious route to the 2008 Games in, yes, the thug nation of China.
What exactly has China done to deserve such disrespect? For starters, China continues its decade’s long suppression of freedom for Tibet, resulting in the killing and injury to hundreds of protesters in recent weeks. China is enabling the Sudanese genocide in its Durfer area as part of its lust for oil resources there. China has an abysmal record on human rights and freedom of the press within its own borders. And once again we hear apologists for China's hosting the Games pretend that being the host nation will move China toward decent governance. Hogwash. China gets the Bronze if not the Silver Metal for thuggery.
But the Gold is reserved for the Olympic host hopeful that spends hundreds of billions yearly to invade and then occupy two peaceful Middle East nations as it threatens a third with more trumped up charges to justify unjust war.
Sorry, Chicago. Unless America does a 180 from its descent into the madness of made up, pre-emptive war, your chances of getting the 2016 Games should be summed up in one word: FAGEDABOUTIT.
Originally published in Glen Ellyn Sun and Wheaton Sun, April 11, 2008
Also published in Chicago Tribune, April 12, 2008
Also published in USA Today, April 14, 2008
Also published in Glen Ellyn News, May 13, 2008
posted by Walt Zlotow at 3:15 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home