Regardless of political situations, time periods of conflict, or religious beliefs it is a place for athletes from all over the world to shine, represent their countries and go for gold.
This year when you sit down to watch, whether it is tomorrow for the opening ceremony, over the weekend for some track and field or next week
for some basketball please ask yourself one question, "Why wouldn't the Olympic committee allow one minute of silence in remembrance of the eleven Israeli athletes
who were murdered 40 years ago at the Munich games in 1972?" They were there chasing their dreams just the same as every athlete who is participating today.
If this happened to a group of athletes from Great Britain, Japan, Norway, Egypt or the United States for example I would have a hard time believing the request would be denied.
For some of you reading this we have had conversations about Israel and what it means to be Jewish whether you are or aren't, some we haven't.
I don't have a clear answer to my question above but obviously attempting to calculate one does not lead me to a very positive place. This denied request to honor innocent people who were murdered while chasing their dreams and representing their homeland and culture is just another item on the list of negative happenings towards Israel since it became a state in 1948. I am not writing this talk about land settlements, gaza rockets and boarders but just to point out that there is a clear double standard here and regardless of where you are from when people lose their lives for no good reason as we saw last week in Colorado they should be remembered and respected in a proper fashion.
Thanks for reading...
4 comments:
Well said, Coach…
I was aware of this and disappointed as well, the IOC should really be ashamed of themselves, it is disgusting!
They are so worried about negative responses…negative responses to what? Honoring athletes who were executed for being a certain religion and from a certain country.
Who could possibly be angered by a moment of silence to honor 11 people brutally murdered.
It truly goes against everything the Olympics stands for, it makes zero sense and makes the IOC look like fools amd Anti-Semites frankly!
Keep up the good writing...
Well said...I think that the world in general is just more hesitant when it comes to Israel - especially if it means showing "support" for Israel. Let's be real - it is PATENTLY ABSURD that there is not a moment of silence or any other time of remembrance (i'm not aware of any). The Olympians are supposed to transcend borders and prejudices and engage in something pure: competition and camaraderie. It's frustrating and surprising and at the very same time remarkably expected. The worldwide antipathy and outright hostility towards the Jewish people, their right to a state and general existence and well-being is one of the scariest things out there for us Jews - whether we identify moreso culturally (like me) or religiously (like others).
I guess it comes down to a modern hip-hop mantra: Haters gonna hate...
Well said...I think that the world in general is just more hesitant when it comes to Israel - especially if it means showing "support" for Israel. Let's be real - it is PATENTLY ABSURD that there is not a moment of silence or any other time of remembrance (i'm not aware of any). The Olympians are supposed to transcend borders and prejudices and engage in something pure: competition and camaraderie. It's frustrating and surprising and at the very same time remarkably expected. The worldwide antipathy and outright hostility towards the Jewish people, their right to a state and general existence and well-being is one of the scariest things out there for us Jews - whether we identify moreso culturally (like me) or religiously (like others).
I guess it comes down to a modern hip-hop mantra: Haters gonna hate...
Thank you for speaking on behalf of such a sensitive issue. Nothing really shocks me anymore when it comes to the state of Israel and the double standard which we see on a daily basis throughout the world. If another country in present day had to endure what took place back in 1972, I can only imagine how differently the world and the Olympic committee would handle it. They may not say it with words, but its more of of what they don't say which is so appalling. The question which I would love to be answered by the mainstream media is what if the Olympics took place on US soil, and god forbid a horrific attack took place against another country due to religious beliefs like the world witnessed in Munich, how would the memories of these athletes from that country be honored? Keep it going Coach...
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