Here is a thought to consider:
Gary Hall Jr., who is trying to reach his fourth Olympics in swimming, said the U.S.O.C. (United States Olympic Committee) would send subtle messages about avoiding controversial subjects during athlete media and cultural training for the Games (in China). “It’s discouraged, that’s clearly understood, . . . “The Olympic Games and politics don’t go together well.”
then there is this quote:
Man is, by nature, a political animal.
Aristotle, Politics, Greek critic, philosopher, physicist, zoologist (384 BC - 322 BC)
Considering the Olympics are Greek in origin, who knows things-Greek better (or maybe the Chinese invented the Olympics after they came up with gun power and soccer)?
27 Comments
Is it just me or are so many people/countries afraid of upsetting China?
If they want to play in the big game, they need to learn how to handle real criticism!
Funny how nobody feels any need for caution when it comes to criticizing the U.S.
I’m American and I’m certain that we need that criticism. Power needs to be questioned, so I’m all for it.
When it comes to China, suddenly it’s all “let’s not upset them, it’s not our place”!
F*** ‘em!
That’s not what Aristotle meant.
“The Olympic Games and politics don’t go together well.”
What a load of crap. Why did the US boycott the 1980 Games, again?
Politics should be kept out of sports. Period.
#1, “Follow the money.” Too many “useful idiots” (see V. Lenin) willing to sell the rope to their hangman.
#2, Ask Jimmy Carter, the guy who pretty much screwed up everything while in office (and yes, I think ‘Dubya’ is trying hard to do the same; but he hasn’t lost as many actual US Allies to communism or radical Islam as Mr. Carter did, nor have his policies raised the mortgage rate to over 20%)… “Freedom Games”, anyone?
#3, Pro Athletes should be kept out of the Olympics, too… but neither will EVER happen…
Read the Aristotle quotation again “goat”.
That Aristotle quote doesn’t do much work on its own, Elgin. If you’re going to use it, then it’s your job to make it work.
Wow… Aristotle = Greek. Olympics = Originally Greek. Therefore, something Aristotle said must apply to the Olympics. Brilliant!
‘Course, Aristotle wasn’t actually largely full of shit…
Like Zonath said…
#1 China is a shit-hole full of G-dles vampires. Good enough?
For the most part, celebrities be they actors/actresses or singers should just stick to what they know best, which is, acting and singing, especially if we’re talking about Alec Baldwin, Sean Penn, and Bono. Same with atheletes. I advocate the separation of politics and entertainment, except for comedians.
#1, it’s the price you pay for playing the good guy.
Okay “Zonath”, I should explain what I was poorly attempting to articulate.
Regarding the quotation from Aristotle’s Politics: Man is a political animal — “Aristotle’s point of departure is the simple statement above, which, in the context of the text, is really saying that man is at his best when he dwells in a polis (city or such). He claims that nature has seen it fit to give man the power of speech, and so more than any other species he has the capacity to communicate moral concepts such as justice.” As such, politics is a natural activity for man to engage in and should be expected.
Compare this idea to the second principle in the Fundamental Principles of Olympism, namely that “The goal of Olympism is to place sport at the service of the harmonious development of man, with a view to promoting a peaceful society concerned with the preservation of human dignity.” source
The statement “The Olympic Games and politics don’t go together well” seems to be at odds with man having the “capacity to communicate moral concepts such as justice” yet having moral blindness to the injustices done to a society and its individuals, as exemplified by China. I used the famous quotation of Aristotle’s since the inspiration for the modern Olympics is the original Greek Olympics and Hall’s comment reminded me of that quote and the connection. If man is political by nature (which I agree with in principle), then why should the Games and politics be a poor match, especially considering their second principle? It is also hypocritical of the IOC to disdain politics when they have been so obviously influenced by it.
Though one could argue over the seeming inconsistencies in Aristotle’s Politics, I believe my observation is valid unless one wishes to argue that oppression and the use of force against any dissent that is guided by conscience is a valid action by any state.
So what’s with the red herring over the supposed Greekness of the Olympics (alongside the Greekness of Aristotle)? After all, the modern Olympic Charter is anything but a Greek invention, and would almost certainly be considered directly contrary to the spirit of the Ancient Olympics, which was intended to aggrandize the Gods, rather than humanity.
I think, too, even a dunderhead like Aristotle would have realized that there’s a time and place for everything, even politics.
R.Elgin,
It’s difficult to understand why, time and time again, you abuse yourself with posts like this. Even just a modicum of thought before you rush off to hit the post button would help your cause. Instead, you just just sally forth with these too-clever-by-half one-liners that make you look like a noodle-head. “and then there’s this quote,” you write, as if we should all just roll over at that point and say “oh! how erudite, he quoted aristotle so he must have a great point here.”
Red herring, indeed.
Are we really debating here whether politics and olympics are somehow intertwined? Or, somewhere in this mountain of hopelessly naive commentary, is there an interesting point to be made about how the national olympic committee from the free-speech capital of the world is subverting the freedoms of its athletes?
Maybe there is an interesting point there and it would be good if you and others could make just such an argument or observation. The posting is a foil for commentary and discussion only and you have added to it, albeit in a derogatory fashion.
Man is sexual by nature, too, so maybe the athletes should doff their uniforms, compete naked, and engage in public intercourse (the sexual kind, not the political kind). As long as there’s no pederasty, I’m all for it.
#4,
Reagan wouldn’t be smiling in your avatar if it wasn’t for a few fall-guys refusing to cooperate during the Iran-Contra investigation.
The chinese did NOT invent soccer. The only thing that sport mentioned in the article had in common with soccer is that it used a ball and was played with the feet.
Sorry if i sound a bit assholish, but this “the chinese invented *insert tenuously connected item here*” is getting old.
“So what’s with the red herring over the supposed Greekness of the Olympics (alongside the Greekness of Aristotle)? After all, the modern Olympic Charter is anything but a Greek invention, and would almost certainly be considered directly contrary to the spirit of the Ancient Olympics, which was intended to aggrandize the Gods, rather than humanity.”
Well, remember when the modern Olympic Games were created? At that time, neoclassicism was in.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Neoclassicism
#9,
Not so sure about the celebrities who are into PETA and Scientology, but but what if the actors are right? Bono certainly is right about poverty in Africa.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1.....wer_Salute
19: it may be tiring to hear that the Chinese invented everything, but don’t forget that Koreans invented China, and that makes it all OK.
Sonagi:
Greek sporting events actually WERE originally done in the nude.
#23,
Might be a more effective way to tell who’s using anabolic steroids.
#17 “As long as there’s no pederasty, I’m all for it.”
& #24 “Greek sporting events actually WERE originally done in the nude.”
Combine that with the Greek Wrestling being one of the favoured events!!!
What is soccer anyway!! Ah, of course the Amreican name for a game played with foot & ball on account of the fact that they’ve already used the name for a game with a ball carried/thrown by hand by a bunch of jessies in protective padding!!
PS I’m only teasing
PSS Please don’t try to justify calling it football by the fact that occasionly you kick an extra point after a touchdown.