Cities flying pride flags during Olympics; Support it?

[ranchlandsselling]

I'd say 2.

We don't fly straight flags. Want to know that you're accepted, well given I don't care and don't differentiate between gay straight, lesbian, or trans(insert option), I think it means you don't need a flag to say "hurrah for you". Maybe that comes across as insensitive, I'm not trying to be, I just don't see it as being accomplishing anything.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I'd say 2.

We don't fly straight flags. Want to know that you're accepted, well given I don't care and don't differentiate between gay straight, lesbian, or trans(insert option), I think it means you don't need a flag to say "hurrah for you".

Thanks for your input, Stephen Colbert. Do you also not see colour?

[CMPunk]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I'd say 2.

We don't fly straight flags. Want to know that you're accepted, well given I don't care and don't differentiate between gay straight, lesbian, or trans(insert option), I think it means you don't need a flag to say "hurrah for you".

[J epworth]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I'd say 2.

We don't fly straight flags. Want to know that you're accepted, well given I don't care and don't differentiate between gay straight, lesbian, or trans(insert option), I think it means you don't need a flag to say "hurrah for you". Maybe that comes across as insensitive, I'm not trying to be, I just don't see it as being accomplishing anything.

Doesn't come across as insensitive, but the whole point of the flag is kind of what you just said. It's a symbol of the movement to accept anyone regardless of their sexual orientation as an equal, and that you don't need to differentiate between gay, straight, lesbian or trans. So it is representing your views, and promoting that we live in a time where that should be the norm.

[RedMileDJ]

The Olympics are about sport and athletes. There shouldn't be an agenda or political motives being mixed in.

If you want to show supports for LGBT community, and the athletes that consider themselves in that category, then fly the Canadian flag.

I can see exactly how this is going to fallout: every other repressed community in the world will want their flags flown at City Hall now. Ie: Syria, Egypt, etc, etc. And when the city won't comply, they'll yell "foul" and go back to this example.

The flag shouldn't have been flown. That's just me. Not sure which vote that is.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Thanks for your input, Stephen Colbert. Do you also not see colour?

Originally Posted by CMPunk

I just don't see what it accomplishes. Like someone above posted, I'm sure there are bigger problems in the city than something that will merely surve as a self satisfying pat on the back that results in NO CHANGE anywhere else.

I'm going to drop off some more old clothes I want to throw away as well as two jackets at a drop box tomorrow. I think Calgary would be a better place if everyone concerned about this flag would do that instead. Maybe there's some cold homeless people from the LGBT community that would prefer a jacket when it's -20 out over a colourful flag being raised at city hall directed towards a country, that these cold people right now don't care about what's going on or what it represents.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by J epworth kendal

Doesn't come across as insensitive, but the whole point of the flag is kind of what you just said. It's a symbol of the movement to accept anyone regardless of their sexual orientation as an equal, and that you don't need to differentiate between gay, straight, lesbian or trans. So it is representing your views, and promoting that we live in a time where that should be the norm.

But isn't that so "another decade" for Calgary?

[photon]

Can't someone like a flag AND donate clothes?

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

I just don't see what it accomplishes. Like someone above posted, I'm sure there are bigger problems in the city than something that will merely surve as a self satisfying pat on the back that results in NO CHANGE anywhere else.

I'm going to drop off some more old clothes I want to throw away as well as two jackets at a drop box tomorrow. I think Calgary would be a better place if everyone concerned about this flag would do that instead. Maybe there's some cold homeless people from the LGBT community that would prefer a jacket when it's -20 out over a colourful flag being raised at city hall directed towards a country, that these cold people right now don't care about what's going on or what it represents.

Good point, it's just too bad that we have to pick either taking 5 minutes to put up a flag as a small show of support to our LGBT community or giving clothes to homeless people.

It's too bad, I really would have liked to help those homeless people, but unlike you I've already decided that I like the flag being up, so I'm no longer eligable to help the homeless.

Remember guys, only one issue, so choose wisely!

[JeanLucPicard]

2

because those with pride flags are doing this to show off and don't really care what happens in Russia after the Olympics. Its popularity contest.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by photon

Can't someone like a flag AND donate clothes?

Sorry photon. It'd be great if it was that simple, but when you worry about not the bigger issues, then the bigger issues don't get worried about.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by photon

Can't someone like a flag AND donate clothes?

Nope, totally mutually exclusive events. They're both black holes and you can only go into one.

[frinkprof]

Originally Posted by Red-Mile-DJ

The Olympics are about sport and athletes. There shouldn't be an agenda or political motives being mixed in.

The Olympics are and always have been inherently political.

Anytime you have people marching into a stadium categorized by which political lines they fall within, and then go onto compete against each other while wearing flags on their uniforms, it is a political exercise.

With this politically charged atmosphere and audience, the Games have always been a natural place and time to make political statements, for better or worse. The Nazi Games in Berlin, Black Power in Mexico City, Munich Massacre, boycotts of Montreal, Moscow and Los Angeles.

[Joborule]

Originally Posted by JeanLucPicard

2

because those with pride flags are doing this to show off and don't really care what happens in Russia after the Olympics. Its popularity contest.

Considering Russia was vocal about their discrimination against LGBT, it's the proper time to 'show off'. The IOC president even made a statement about it in Russia itself. You have to do something in order to provoke change, otherwise nothing will happen.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by flameswin

Sorry photon. It'd be great if it was that simple, but when you worry about not the bigger issues, then the bigger issues don't get worried about.

Originally Posted by flameswin

Good point, it's just too bad that we have to pick either taking 5 minutes to put up a flag as a small show of support to our LGBT community or giving clothes to homeless people.

It's too bad, I really would have liked to help those homeless people, but unlike you I've already decided that I like the flag being up, so I'm no longer eligable to help the homeless.

Remember guys, only one issue, so choose wisely!

You're so childish. You started the thread and offered the answers don't get all sarcastic and passive aggressive when someone replies with one of the options you provided. Pretty much a false dilemma.

Originally Posted by flameswin

Remember guys, only one issue, so choose wisely!

Remember guys, even though he gave two options there's only one right one, or you're the bad guy in the thread.

[photon]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Remember guys, even though he gave two options there's only one right one, or you're the bad guy in the thread.

Please, I thought it was pretty clear that it isn't your choice that he's using sarcasm on, it's your apparent use of a false dichotomy to support the choice.

[jayswin]

Originally Posted by ranchlandsselling

Remember guys, even though he gave two options there's only one right one, or you're the bad guy in the thread.

So you're trying to suggest that my making fun of people who don't think you can worry about more than one issue means I'm saying there's only one right answer in the poll that I posted?

I clearly said it's fine if you just don't care, it's just the people that are saying there's bigger issues are pretty ridiculous.

[J epworth]

For those that choose #2, do you see harm in flying the flag? In my view, flags are nothing more than symbols, so of course this gesture is going to be totally symbolic. But having the flag fly doesn't make any matter worse in my mind, and helps in the national discussion about acceptance and how we should be concerned about the policies of the Olympic host country.

I just think that if at worse nothing happens, and at best helps educate more people about issues prevalent locally and internationally, option #1 is the better option.

[Minnie]

#1. But that's because I'm one of those 'gay-lovers' since I am the mother of a gay child.

[ranchlandsselling]

Originally Posted by photon

Please, I thought it was pretty clear that it isn't your choice that he's using sarcasm on, it's your apparent use of a false dichotomy to support the choice.

Actually I'm saying there are TONS of better options than the one that's being debated, not a limited amount. I'm suggesting that raising the flag is a complete waste of time, money and energy and is merely an attempt to do something that's likely more about looking and feeling good about oneself than actually doing anything constructive. I then used giving clothes as an example of something that would be a more constructive use of time. Additionally, given we all have limited time to spend on things, it is very true that some people may only have time to do one thing.

Of which responding to you two in this thread has exceeded my daily allocation of time on something like this, which I'd suggest is an even bigger waste of time than raising a rainbow flag.