Iranian given $125,000 for NOT fighting Israeli

[Bleeding Red]

Originally posted by Lurch@Sep 15 2004, 02:46 PM

I certainly never said what the Iranian did was acceptable. However, rather than immediately paint it as rascist, recall, if you will, that both the US and Russia boycotted the Olympics entirely rather than compete against each other. Countries engaged in a conflict quite often use athletes as pawns, and its pretty clear that Israel is in a conflict with the majority of the Middle East.

The US (and most Western countries, Canada included) Boycotted the Moscow games in response to the CCCP's invasion of Afganistan. The CCCP boycotted the '84 LA games in response.

I do not see how this situation can compare. A political one yes, but the Iranian team did not stay home in protest. The Iranian player did not walk away in protest. The Iranians sent a team, the Iranian player trained and was a favorite to win. They found out the match was against an Israeli (a posibility long before the opening ceremonies) and withdrew. No other country in the "Conflict" withdrew, as a team or individuals. Syria, Lebanon, Lybia, the Palestinian authority, Iraq all competed. If you send a team to the Olympics they should abide by the principles of the games, otherwise stay home.
If the germans want to bycott the Olympics to protest US policy in Iraq, let them stay home.

recall the uproar over the Canadian flag bearer being a Quebec seperatist. Canada not recognizing Quebec as a country, sending a team to the Olympics and recalling the men's hockey team just before a round robin game against the Quebec men's team. Very hypothetical for sure, but helps with the picture.

[Lurch]

recall the uproar over the Canadian flag bearer being a Quebec seperatist. Canada not recognizing Quebec as a country, sending a team to the Olympics and recalling the men's hockey team just before a round robin game against the Quebec men's team. Very hypothetical for sure, but helps with the picture.

Exactly my point. This would be labeled political bs, but I doubt people would stand up and say Canadians hate francophones due to their rascist nature as a culture.

[Bleeding Red]

Originally posted by Lurch@Sep 15 2004, 03:15 PM

Exactly my point. This would be labeled political bs, but I doubt people would stand up and say Canadians hate francophones due to their rascist nature as a culture.

Ok, this particular instance can be written off as political BS. The true test would be if the Iranian had a match against a Jewish player from another country like France, Russia or Germany. Refusing to play an Israeli due to National Policy on the conflict is political, refusing to play a German - Jewish player (while comepeting against other Germans) is racist.

[Displaced Flames fan]

Originally posted by Lurch@Sep 15 2004, 02:04 PM

No, mostly I was poking fun at your argument style. You seem to assume it that there is widespread anti-semitism, Israel is completely in the right, and it is due to the rest of the world's racist tendencies that the US is unpopular. In effect, you are saying 'Everyone hates us cuz we're beautiful' and its all everyone else's fault they can't see just how right we are. I just thought this was funnier to put it this way, even though it doesn't quite parallel your argument perfectly.

Actually, that's not even close to what I was saying, but thanks for attempting to make me look like a shallow and conceited jerk.

People who know me will tell you I'm none of the three, even if they disagree with me.

[Lurch]

Actually, that's not even close to what I was saying, but thanks for attempting to make me look like a shallow and conceited jerk.

People who know me will tell you I'm none of the three, even if they disagree with me.

Man, sometimes the internet sucks the fun right out of trying to be subtle. I apologize if you feel my comments were directed at you personally - they were supposed to sound like a stereotypical American as seen by the rest of the world. Your argument struck me as self-serving (America, not you personally) which implied that it was other people's anti-Semitic attitudes and not anything to do with America that is at the root of any anti-American attitudes. I get the feeling you might think I take ra-ra USA arguments personally, which I do not. In fact, I'm more prone to take those same positions if I'm hanging out with some of my more leftist friends. In general, I just like to make people think about why they believe what they do and poke at inconsistencies/poor assumptions.

[Agamemnon]

Originally posted by Lurch@Sep 15 2004, 10:59 PM

Man, sometimes the internet sucks the fun right out of trying to be subtle. I apologize if you feel my comments were directed at you personally - they were supposed to sound like a stereotypical American as seen by the rest of the world. Your argument struck me as self-serving (America, not you personally) which implied that it was other people's anti-Semitic attitudes and not anything to do with America that is at the root of any anti-American attitudes. I get the feeling you might think I take ra-ra USA arguments personally, which I do not. In fact, I'm more prone to take those same positions if I'm hanging out with some of my more leftist friends. In general, I just like to make people think about why they believe what they do and poke at inconsistencies/poor assumptions.

Meh, no need to apologize in my opinion. The joke hit the nail on the head, zing!